606 glow plug help, I am stuck - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Racekar · #1 06-07-2008, 04:30 PM

Well I started to get the glow plugs out, only 3 and 6 are giving me trouble. They are totaly screwed out but are stuck and will not come out any further. They turn stiffly with a wrench but I can't pull them out. It makes it harder that they are the only 2 glowplugs that are blocked by the oil filter and the injection pump. the others screwed out by hand after I broke them free. Any ideas other that PB Blaster which I am already using. Is there some type of puller that could get in there? I can just about get a 1/4 in drive socket on these two glowplugs because of the space limitations. Any ideas or help would be appreciated.

Diesel911 · #2 06-07-2008, 04:44 PM

Sounds like carbon build up has the Glow Plug tips trapped or the Glow Plug tips have swollen.
There is a lot of Threads on this problem and a bunch of ways to deal with the problem. Best to do some searches and pick wich way/remedy is best for you. Here is a few of them:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/search.php?searchid=2601116
After you get them out you might want to use a Glow Plug Reamer to ream out the carbon and put a Never-Seeze type compound on the threaded area of the Glow Plugs (another area where they get stuck) so you can easily remove them the next time.

pimpernell · #3 06-07-2008, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racekar

Well I started to get the glow plugs out, only 3 and 6 are giving me trouble. They are totaly screwed out but are stuck and will not come out any further. They turn stiffly with a wrench but I can't pull them out. It makes it harder that they are the only 2 glowplugs that are blocked by the oil filter and the injection pump. the others screwed out by hand after I broke them free. Any ideas other that PB Blaster which I am already using. Is there some type of puller that could get in there? I can just about get a 1/4 in drive socket on these two glowplugs because of the space limitations. Any ideas or help would be appreciated.

When I did mine, I ran into the same problem. I was only able to get the plug to move about 1/4 turn, and when it did, it squeaked. Using a combination of PB Blaster, and another product called Freeze-Off, I was able to finally get it out. It was carbon bound, and required a lot of patience to get it out. I was using a deep, six sided socket, but when I got into tight space, I had to go down to a regular socket. I was able to get the socket on the plug, but could not seat the drive all the way into the socket, but I was still able to turn the plug back and forth until the carbon let it go. The other thing I did was use whatever outward for I could manage on the plug every time is turned it. One pain in the rear job to say the least. Good Luck!!

nhdoc · #4 06-07-2008, 06:25 PM

You might try a tip which Beru said on their site and that is to heat the plug for 5 minutes or so (assuming it is good) which will burn the material around it. You might have to screw it in a thread or two to make electrical ground though and then jumper a heavy gauge wire from the + terminal under the hood directly to the glow plug terminal and hold it on there to heat it...that seems like a good thing to try.

You could try cranking the engine and seeing if compression will help pop them out. One guy on the board ran his while turning a stuck plug which got it out for him but that seems dangerous to me.

Racekar · #5 06-07-2008, 07:23 PM

The idea about heating the glow plug seems like a good idea, I am going to try that tomorrow. Just run a jumper from the battery to the glowplug and let it heat up. I guess you should let it cool off before you mess with it so it shrinks back down in size. I actually got #6 out a few minutes ago using a pair of plires and twisting and pulling. #3 is behind the injection pump and I have no room, Can you remove this easly to make more room?

How far down on the glowplug can you put anti-size? I was thinking all the way down untill it gets thinner.

Just a note, the pcv system on my car was brittle and every connector broke while I was taking it off. I will have to order them, no one ever mentioned that, alot of things are worth changing when you have the manifold off.

nhdoc · #6 06-07-2008, 07:26 PM

Yeah, there's a positive terminal under the hood (one used to jump start the car in an emergency) which you can use to supply power to the GP. It is not easy to R&R the IP but the hard lines are relatively easy to remove if they will give you more room. Seems like you ought to be able to get a vice-grips onto #3 and twist it out without having to move anything though from the photo.

BioPOWER · #7 06-07-2008, 07:30 PM

You can remove the hard injector lines, if that would make it easier to access #3.
Whatever you do, don't jerk the plug too hard, the last thing you want to do is break the tip off in the prechamber.

The dealer should have the PCV parts, that's where I got mine when one broke.

Racekar · #8 06-07-2008, 07:35 PM

What is the thing on the injection pump that is in the way? If it was a turbo I would say it was the ALDA, but it's a non turbo. It has an adjustment screw on top, for what?

Racekar · #9 06-08-2008, 08:42 AM

Success, thank you for the tip about the vice-grips. I was using pliers to try and move the plug but the grips get a much better bite on them. I also used the Freez-off spraying constantly while twisting and pulling. I think it helps the wicking action of the solvent. Now I just have to wait for some parts and put it back together and hope it starts.

pimpernell · #10 06-08-2008, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racekar

Success, thank you for the tip about the vice-grips. I was using pliers to try and move the plug but the grips get a much better bite on them. I also used the Freez-off spraying constantly while twisting and pulling. I think it helps the wicking action of the solvent. Now I just have to wait for some parts and put it back together and hope it starts.

congratulations on your success, and as mentioned in a prior post a reamer will help get rid of the built up carbon. As for the anti-seize, the shop manual does not call for any, but from what I have read, if you want to use some, it is recommended to use a nickel based one. The buru web site also sells a special formulation for use with their plugs. Good luck........

Diesel911 · #11 06-08-2008, 10:29 AM

While I think that the silver colored Never-Seeze type products are better and found at any auto parts store I started the BERU Glow Plug Grease thread a while back. I do not recall that they sold the grease through the thread though.
BERU Glow Plug assembly grease

pimpernell · #12 06-08-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel911

While I think that the silver colored Never-Seeze type products are better and found at any auto parts store I started the BERU Glow Plug Grease thread a while back. I do not recall that they sold the grease through the thread though.
BERU Glow Plug assembly grease

I know I saw it on their web page, but I never found out if you could purchase it directly from them. I ended up using the glow plug reamer, and putting my plugs back without anything on them. There was some mention of not using the copper based formula because of the interaction with the aluminum head.

http://www.beru.com/english/produkte/gluehkerzen/einbautipps.php

nhdoc · #13 06-08-2008, 11:21 AM

yes DEFINITELY ream them out before replacing them, absolutely!!

As for the anti-seize I think either the silver or copper is fine. You can apply it all the way up to the heated tip but not on it.

Racekar · #14 06-08-2008, 01:19 PM

Has anyone used the Beru "Grease"? If it is realy grease, and not anti-sieze, then maybe we should be using a high temp synthetic grease, like brake calaper grease instead? It can take lots of heat and will not harden like anti-sieze. I am very interested, this could solve alot of problems.

Jeremy5848 · #15 06-08-2008, 01:43 PM

Given Racekar's concerns over access to the stuck glowplugs stuck behind the IP and the oil filter, is there room for a reamer? I'd like to know, given that I may have a similar problem with my 606 some day.