Swollen glow plug
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Senior User
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 286
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From: Salem, OR
Swollen glow plug
Originally posted on the wrong forum!
I have an 86, 6.9L w/a swollen glow plug in the #2 hole.
I can unscrew it totally but can't pull it out. I have read articles on removing them, one method is to spray wd-40 or ??? around the gp, let it soak, throw a heavy blanket over the gp and turn it over w/out starting. What is the very best stuff to spray around the gp? Has anyone had success w/this? I am open to any different/better suggestions.
Thanks
I have an 86, 6.9L w/a swollen glow plug in the #2 hole.
I can unscrew it totally but can't pull it out. I have read articles on removing them, one method is to spray wd-40 or ??? around the gp, let it soak, throw a heavy blanket over the gp and turn it over w/out starting. What is the very best stuff to spray around the gp? Has anyone had success w/this? I am open to any different/better suggestions.Thanks
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 1
I've had good success with PB blaster. I haven't tried WD-40.
I just soaked the plug for a day or two and then tried gently twisting it out, and it came out intact. I did not try cranking the engine with the plug loose in the hole.
I just soaked the plug for a day or two and then tried gently twisting it out, and it came out intact. I did not try cranking the engine with the plug loose in the hole.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,448
Likes: 5,518
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
i spray with pb blaster, then chuck the plug into a cordless drill. slowly spin the plug as i pull up and push down , all the while spraying pb at it. this will cut the swelling off the plug so it comes out. i take my time, and never had a problem doing it this way.
make sure you only put motorcraft/beru ZD-1 glow plugs back in it, or you will have the same problems again real soon.
make sure you only put motorcraft/beru ZD-1 glow plugs back in it, or you will have the same problems again real soon.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 286
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From: Salem, OR
Thanks guys, this sounds like a better, safer plan. I will loosen it and spray it w/pb blaster a few times a day for a couple of days then see what happens. I'll let you know how it goes, I really don't want to have to pull the head,
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 35
From: Virginia
Does anyone know how the head (iron/water jacket) is made up in the glow plug area? If someone has to remove the head for some reason can a glow plug modification be made by making the hole bigger without damaging the head? This would permit a larger opening for the tip (not the threaded part) to be removed in case the Motorcraft plug swells or becomes damaged.
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i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,448
Likes: 5,518
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
the problem is the tip of aftermarket plugs swells, and then it will not come through the threaded part.
you do not have htis problem with motorcraft glow plugs
you do not have htis problem with motorcraft glow plugs
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 35
From: Virginia
Thanks for posting that photo. Anything can fail. I think I read somewhere that a bad spray pattern can cause damage to the GP. When I changed my GP's out, I think two had swollen and were difficult to remove but when I put the new Motorcrafts in I noticed there wasn't much clearance between the GP element tip and the head. The VW's I've worked on seem to have a considerable space around the GP element tip.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,229
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Both are simply not true. All glow plugs can swell. It doesn't matter who makes them.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 20,347
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From: Mi'kma'ki
to clear this up a bit:
everything has a failure rate.it just so happens that we (most of us) all know that motorcraft plugs have the lowest failure rate of all the options.research,research and then research a lot more and you'll see that finding threads about motorcraft glow plugs getting stuck in the head are hard to find.
everything has a failure rate.it just so happens that we (most of us) all know that motorcraft plugs have the lowest failure rate of all the options.research,research and then research a lot more and you'll see that finding threads about motorcraft glow plugs getting stuck in the head are hard to find.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,448
Likes: 5,518
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
agreed. while motorcraft glow plugs do burn out, they very rarely will swell if the controller is working properly.
the only instance where i have ever seen a motorcraft plug with a swollen tip was caused by the owner putting a push button in, and someone holding the button in for way too long.
and they last a lot longer than other brands when installed in Fords simply because our system was designed for them.
i put the third set in my 88 around 15,000 miles ago.
that means i got around 480,000 miles out of 2 sets of glow plugs.
the only instance where i have ever seen a motorcraft plug with a swollen tip was caused by the owner putting a push button in, and someone holding the button in for way too long.
and they last a lot longer than other brands when installed in Fords simply because our system was designed for them.
i put the third set in my 88 around 15,000 miles ago.
that means i got around 480,000 miles out of 2 sets of glow plugs.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 276
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From: Orange County NY
I buy NGK now.
I had a glow plug issue with one of my machines and the rep was very kool. Very helpful and honest.
Usually, when I call a company with tough questions and weird Frankenstein applications, they are all secretive and cryptic. Like they're going to get sued or something.
Like on Futurama last night. Leila asked a space fast food guy what was in his fruit cups and the answer she got was "You got a warrant?!"
I had a glow plug issue with one of my machines and the rep was very kool. Very helpful and honest.
Usually, when I call a company with tough questions and weird Frankenstein applications, they are all secretive and cryptic. Like they're going to get sued or something.
Like on Futurama last night. Leila asked a space fast food guy what was in his fruit cups and the answer she got was "You got a warrant?!"