Motoring Discussion > Glow plug removal Miscellaneous
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New Sun 26 Sep 10 09:06 
 Glow plug removal - -
Following on from a thread on Technical, there can be a big problem with removing glow plugs and indeed injectors from modern diesel engines, resulting in heads being removed.

Which in the case of the first A class MB can't be achieved with the injector in place...that's a real catch 22.

What actually causes this problem, is it the reaction between the two metals or build up of carbon at the end of the plug/injector or something else.

More to the point what can be done to prevent it or to make the removal of these things a bit easier when the time comes.

Millers for instance? oh and my learning to read OP's properly would help too..;)

Oh and i bet a certain high mileage Mondeo still hasn't had a flippin spanner on it apart from servicing...sometimes i think he may have it right, except it's van with windows...
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New Sun 26 Sep 10 09:12 
 Glow plug removal - Runfer D'Hills
:-)
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New Sun 26 Sep 10 09:33 
 Glow plug removal - Dog
Some interesting reading here, if y'all haven't already stumbled upon it ~

forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=21694
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New Sun 26 Sep 10 10:16 
 Glow plug removal - MD
Well done mate, brilliant. have a look at www.extractengineering.co.uk

Regards........Martin
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New Sun 26 Sep 10 10:44 
 Glow plug removal - Dog
>>99.9% of cases the glow plug can be removed without damage.<<

Where there is a will there *is* a way :)
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New Sun 26 Sep 10 10:58 
 Glow plug removal - -
Extract engineering is interesting, i imagine there must be others offering this type of specialist service around the country.

From their site the reasons they give for stuck/broken glow plugs...

''Source of the problem:

- Corrosion between the plug thread and the cylinder head. This comes from the use of different metals.

- Corrosion of the cylinder head caused by damp.

- Plugs dirty with soot from the combustion gases.''

Makes sense, but how to help prevent the problem happening, is there a compound that could be applied to the threads of glow plugs when fitted that would stop the reaction, thinking of coppaslip type here though i imagine the extreme heat could cause it to change properties and become a bonding agent instead.

How do you prevent the soot build up short of periodic removal and cleaning or would it make sense to make glow plug renewal a mid life term preventative maintenance measure for those who have engines known to give these problems?


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New Sun 26 Sep 10 11:05 
 Glow plug removal - -
Too late for the edit, they could well provide an answer for you Martin.
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New Sun 26 Sep 10 11:06 
 Glow plug removal - Bigtee
How do you prevent the soot build up short of periodic removal and cleaning or would it make sense to make glow plug renewal a mid life term preventative maintenance measure for those who have engines known to give these problems?

The DPF injects diesel into the filter which dislodges the soot build up and extreme heat to remove the soot/carbon from the filter.

If these plugs had a similar system were fuel was sprayed into the swirl chamber on the plug after the engine had been running and was at temperature just a small amount and the plugs heated this may releive the problem?

Better still have the plugs fitted into the inlet manifold as a warmer like on many other applications or do away altogether and use good old compression.!
Last edited by: Bigtee on Sun 26 Sep 10 at 11:07
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New Sun 26 Sep 10 11:11 
 Glow plug removal - -

>>
>> If these plugs had a similar system were fuel was sprayed into the swirl chamber
>> on the plug after the engine had been running and was at temperature just a
>> small amount and the plugs heated this may releive the problem?
>>

Not up to speed on newer stuff BT, don't DI and CR engines do without swirl chambers?, the injectors being in the combustion chamber. and the injectors too or are they sited just above the inlet valves out of full combustion.
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New Sun 26 Sep 10 11:15 
 Glow plug removal - Bigtee
These nice big cummins run on compression alone even a engine with 450k starts why can't car manufactures just do away with plugs.

They will put it down to it's not eviromentally friendly......
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New Sun 26 Sep 10 11:22 
 Glow plug removal - MD
Just spoke to my techie who says yeah Ok, but still what about any deposits that may get into the bore. He wouldn't be happy to do it without head removal and he IS NOT a money grabber, just a straight decent bloke.

Van for sale with known issues. 1 owner. 104k miles. Offers!
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New Sun 26 Sep 10 11:29 
 Glow plug removal - -
He wouldn't be happy to do it without head
>> removal and he IS NOT a money grabber, just a straight decent bloke.

If you haven't already why not contact the extraction people Mart, they must have a way of vacuuming debris out, it might be too far for them but they might have an associate in the SW.

Let them know we are watching with interest if you contact them, it can only help.

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New Sun 26 Sep 10 11:39 
 Glow plug removal - MD
I have already e-mailed extract engineering, but they are in Cumbria. I would like to think that there is a closer alternative.
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New Sun 26 Sep 10 11:25 
 Glow plug removal - -
>> These nice big cummins run on compression alone even a engine with 450k starts why
>> can't car manufactures just do away with plugs.

Couldn't agree more BT, i'm the worlds biggest Cummins fan one touch of the starter and it's away.

Funnily enough my old school Landcruiser never needed the glow plugs even in the coldest of nights always fired instantly on all cyls, though the relay timer stayed on for up to a minute on a cold start.

Old school Diesel engines had mechanical pumps with automatic cold start devices, the amount of cranking many new design trucks take i wonder if the cold start enriching devices have been removed.
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New Sun 26 Sep 10 12:19 
 Glow plug removal - -
Been searching for info on this subject, seems to apply to all makes.

Came across this tool from a very reputable toolmaker, i suppose it's a variation on a larger impact driver.

tinyurl.com/2vloclz

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New Sun 26 Sep 10 12:40 
 Glow plug removal - Zero
Check my post in technical, I could be way off beam, but I don't think its just glow plugs.
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New Sun 26 Sep 10 12:59 
 Glow plug removal - corax
>> Oh and i bet a certain high mileage Mondeo still hasn't had a flippin spanner
>> on it apart from servicing...sometimes i think he may have it right, except it's van
>> with windows...

Even if it did go wrong, it wouldn't matter as he's got a decent amount of life out of it now, the show off...
Last edited by: corax on Sun 26 Sep 10 at 13:01
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