Hey all!
My glow plugs are slowly dying on me. I managed to get through the winter with the plan to change them out when the weather was more favorable.
I've watched and read quite a lot on doing the job and feel pretty comfortable doing it but knowing what needs to be done to get to the plugs I was wondering if there was anything I should do while in there and have so much taken out.

A little history on my truck, its pretty much stock with a PHP Phoenix tuner.
I have an Edge insight and an EGT sensor, and a modified air intake ( I forget which one I have but it is similar to the 6637 only the filter is reusable). I think that is about it, the truck has 230000 on it and runs really well other than the hard starts in the winter and the related check engine light and codes.

I'm not looking to do anything crazy in there just some preventative maintenance and standard upgrades.

Any and all input is appreciated!

 

I would inspect your UVCH's while you are in there, and do the "50 cent mod". Also a good time to change your CAC boots if your existing ones are looking like they have seen better days. Inspect your turbo wheel, re-torque your injectors and your rockers at the very least, maybe even pull the injectors and change the external O-rings (use only Alliant o-rings, Riff Raff sells them). Check your cups also if you pull the injectors, make sure none are cracked. You could let it idle and watch your oil ports in the injectors too. This will be a brief visual inspection on your injectors to make sure the oil side of them is operating correctly.

 

I think Rikster covered it pretty thoroughly.

 

Thank you for your replies Rikster and Pete.
So to watch ( this may sound dumb ) the oil ports in the injectors it is ok to run the truck with the valve covers off right? Is there a time limit on how long is too long or nothing to worry about?

 

Perfectly fine, no time limit, just make sure nothing can get in there or your open intake plenums or the open turbo, the last one will make a mess of anything that inadvertently gets sucked in! (No need to reinstall the CAC tubes and everything for this if you hadn't picked up on that.)

The oil ports direct the oil from the injectors back to the head. You should see a healthy squirt of oil from each one as it operates.

 

Awesome! Thanks again Rikster, I'll be doing this in the next few weeks as weather permits.

 

Really good advice above, safety first!!! Hawk all areas and have someone with you.

Good wishes.

Denny

 

Don't be where dust/dirt can get in there. Common sense, I know, but it had to be said...

 

I appreciate all input guys.
I was told to wash the top of the motor off to make the work area clean, should I use a degreaser and garden hose or power wash or...?

 

Don't pressure was, water gets into connectors too easy. Cover the alternator and the PS cap with plastic bags. Spray a cold engine with simple green. Let it sit for several minutes, then rinse with the garden hose. Repeat if necessary.

 

Easy enough, thanks.

 

Yes sir. Let us know how it goes.

 

Ok I did it and it went very well! Wow is that passenger side a lot harder than the drivers side. Anyway I cleaned everything as I went so looks awesome under there now.
I did have to replace the Crankcase air filter gaskets and the next time I have the valve covers off I will replace the drivers side as it was pretty corroded.

Its all back together now and running fine but....I'm still getting the same trouble codes, P0676 and P0674 which is why I did the glow plug job to begin with. I know I should have investigated more first but I figured that with 240k miles and having replaced the GPCM last spring it was a no brainer.
Now I need help figuring out what those codes really mean.

 

P0674 Glow plug #4 circuit failure
P0676 Glow plug #6 circuit failure


if wiring is good from GP to GPCM it could be the GPCM it self if you put new ones in

 

It's a crying shame to think that the GPCM might have failed in one year of operation, but it happens, and CAN happen even faster than that.