Glow Plug Removal
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Glow Plug Removal
I have a 1989 F350 7.3 idi. It's my snow plow truck and gets less than 50 hours of run time per year.
Had a hard time getting her started yesterday. Through the forum, I was able to trouble shoot the issue down to the glow plugs. 3 were weak and 5 were dead!
Here's the issue. I can spin all of the glow plugs CCW for removal only to find that one could be removed. All others are loose and would spin forever if needed. I can tighten them with no problems back to the original position so I know that the threads are not fouled. They just appear to be stuck.
Any ideas as to why they can be wiggled but an not willing to leave their home? Luckily I'm patient, but it's very frustrating.
Thanks again, Shawn
Had a hard time getting her started yesterday. Through the forum, I was able to trouble shoot the issue down to the glow plugs. 3 were weak and 5 were dead!
Here's the issue. I can spin all of the glow plugs CCW for removal only to find that one could be removed. All others are loose and would spin forever if needed. I can tighten them with no problems back to the original position so I know that the threads are not fouled. They just appear to be stuck.
Any ideas as to why they can be wiggled but an not willing to leave their home? Luckily I'm patient, but it's very frustrating.
Thanks again, Shawn
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thanks for the information. I worried that this would be the case as the one that I was able to remove had a small burr on the side.
I will take you recommendation and search the threads. Due to the upcoming snow season, I may just remove the head and get it done. I'm sure there are many threads on the do's and don'ts of head removal. May be a good time to replace the injectors and rubber supply hoses as well.
I will take you recommendation and search the threads. Due to the upcoming snow season, I may just remove the head and get it done. I'm sure there are many threads on the do's and don'ts of head removal. May be a good time to replace the injectors and rubber supply hoses as well.
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2003
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Just from my experience, get a can of WD-40, let it get down around the glow plugs and start trying to work them out. Be patient, I didn't want to scare you, just giving my experience. Hope you get the glow plugs out OK and yes, it's a great time to do return lines and injectors if needed.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
what i do is run the cylinder up to TDC. chuck the glow plug into a cordless drill and slowly spin the plug while gently pulling up then push it back in and spray. spray liberly with penetrating oil to help keep it cool. the turning while up down motion usually will shave down the swelled tip enough to remove it.
then once out, blow air down into the glow plug hole while a vacuum is over/in the injector hole to get whatever was shaved off out.
then once out, blow air down into the glow plug hole while a vacuum is over/in the injector hole to get whatever was shaved off out.
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2020 and Tom, thanks for the advice. I'm on duty for the next couple of days. I will try your suggestions on Tuesday and post the results for others to learn from.
I've also done some reading on the injectors to find a few posts that say if you mess with them they will probably start to leak. Truth? Is there a good way to test? I'm thinking that if I have to pull them for debris that I should consider replacing anyway due to its age and no knowing its previous history.
Shawn
I've also done some reading on the injectors to find a few posts that say if you mess with them they will probably start to leak. Truth? Is there a good way to test? I'm thinking that if I have to pull them for debris that I should consider replacing anyway due to its age and no knowing its previous history.
Shawn
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i ain't rite
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
it is not the injectors themselves that leak when disturbed, but rather the return line caps and o-rings.
it is recommended to put a return line kit on if you go anywhere near the injectors.
kinda like cheap insurance.
as for replacing the injectors themselves, it is kinda a crap shoot if you have no history of the truck. if mileage is around 150k miles, they are probably the originals and new ones will make a big difference. if they are only around 50k miles old, you probably will not feel a difference.
then you start a slippery slope of spending. if the injectors are new and injector pump is old and on it's last legs, the new injectors will kill the old pump.
i have averaged rite around 150k miles on the injectors and pumps in my trucks. my 88 has a fairly new pump, but needs injectors again. i was in a rush the last time the pump died and did not replace the injectors because i needed the truck up and running the day before it was fixed. then i just got lazy and never put the new injectors in.
.
it is recommended to put a return line kit on if you go anywhere near the injectors.
kinda like cheap insurance.
as for replacing the injectors themselves, it is kinda a crap shoot if you have no history of the truck. if mileage is around 150k miles, they are probably the originals and new ones will make a big difference. if they are only around 50k miles old, you probably will not feel a difference.
then you start a slippery slope of spending. if the injectors are new and injector pump is old and on it's last legs, the new injectors will kill the old pump.
i have averaged rite around 150k miles on the injectors and pumps in my trucks. my 88 has a fairly new pump, but needs injectors again. i was in a rush the last time the pump died and did not replace the injectors because i needed the truck up and running the day before it was fixed. then i just got lazy and never put the new injectors in.
.
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It is an old military truck that sat at an armory prior to my acceptance of it for between 6-8 years. Prior it was at Ramstein (?)Airbase in Germany. It either has 33K or 133K on it. I believe it to be the lesser of the two. I will take your advise and replace the return lines, caps and o-rings. This is my first forum ever, and I have to say that you have all been extremely helpful. Thanks! Shawn
i ain't rite
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
seeing it sat at ramstein, i would say 33k is a safe bet too.
about 10 years ago, the local board of education bought a 81 or 82 GMC 3500 4X4 flatbed with a 454, auto trans, and 320 miles on it that came from ramstein.
it was driven to the dock, drained of all fluids, and loaded on the ship. once in europe, it was unloaded from the ship onto a pallet that went on a train to ramstein. once there, it was unloaded, and left to sit for 20 years. then loaded back onto the train for the ride back to the ship, and back to the states where we picked it up off the dock.
brought it home, replaced all the fluids and put a plow on it.
$500 for the truck, $2200 for the plow, and $400 for us, they got a "new" truck that if they bought new from a dealer would have cost them close to 50 grand.
about 10 years ago, the local board of education bought a 81 or 82 GMC 3500 4X4 flatbed with a 454, auto trans, and 320 miles on it that came from ramstein.
it was driven to the dock, drained of all fluids, and loaded on the ship. once in europe, it was unloaded from the ship onto a pallet that went on a train to ramstein. once there, it was unloaded, and left to sit for 20 years. then loaded back onto the train for the ride back to the ship, and back to the states where we picked it up off the dock.
brought it home, replaced all the fluids and put a plow on it.
$500 for the truck, $2200 for the plow, and $400 for us, they got a "new" truck that if they bought new from a dealer would have cost them close to 50 grand.
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