im gonna be changing the glow plugs on my engine soon. im feeling very worried about doing this procedure, after all the horror stories i've heard about them breaking and falling into the pre-chamber and all, what exactly are the chances that they will break? when im taking them off, will i know they are breaking? should i maybe just take them to a shop and let them do it to take the headaches away?
thanks!
Marko

 

Get a ¼” drive ratchet, a 6” extension, universal joint and maybe a ¼” drive breaker bar. Now take a ¼” drive six point 3/8” deep-well socket and cut or grind (if you grind it keep dipping it in water to keep it cool) it down so it’s about 1.5 inches long. You should be able to get them all out with out having to remove anything from the engine. They should be torqued to 12 foot pounds when they are reinstalled, so get an adapter that will fit the torque wrench to ¼” drive.

Clean around the glow plug area before you remove them. If it’s feels like there is a ball of crap on the end of the glow plug STOP – spray some PB blaster in the glow plug hole – search this site for ideas on how to proceed from there. Probably the best one I’ve seen was remove the injector (cover the end of the line and the top of the injector), bring the piston to the top and work the plug out slowly using vice-grips. If the tip breaks off use a vacuum and compressed air try to blow / vacuum the tip out. Caution - Spraying too much PB blaster or any liquid for that mater in the piston area may cause hydro lock later. If you think you got a little too much in there pull the fuel shut off wire off the ip and crank it over a few time to clear the fluid before putting the glow plug back in.

Or the easy way - Take it to the shop – They break the tip off and then call you and tell you they need $500.00+ to pull the heads and get the piece out, or worse yet just put it back together and send you on your way hoping it will pass through the exhaust…

I pulled all mine out to have a look at them and they were heat discolored but that was it, twenty minute job – no problems.

Good luck…

 

What year truck do you have ...........put up a signature. Do your GPs work ok now, have you tested them with a test light........ The only time they will break off the tip is if it is swelled or possibly held in place by carbon or if the GP is rusted into the threads, then the GP will snap just below the wrench/socket flats. That is rare but can happen........

 

According to his profile he has a 1989 F350

 

thats right, but the truck is an 88, dunno why it says 89, same truck though,
Marko