E300D glow plugs - WOW - that was easy!! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Oldwolf · #1 02-03-2011, 12:19 PM

I always thought you were not supposed to work on hot aluminum heads. The threads are supposedly easier to strip hot than when cold. I guess not. How hot was your engine?

sokoloff · #2 02-04-2011, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldwolf

I always thought you were not supposed to work on hot aluminum heads. The threads are supposedly easier to strip hot than when cold. I guess not. How hot was your engine?

The engine was hot from a one hour trip that I just returned from. So by the time I got the manifold off and was at the glow plugs it had cooled off only a few degrees I'm guessing. Fortunately there wasn't anything too hot in the areas where you had to work - very few third degree burns.

jim-sokoloff · #3 08-20-2011, 04:43 PM

Debated starting a new thread, but decided to tag onto the old one here. Had #1 glowplug fail on the wife's car and after being part of the tail end of my dad's nightmare original change, I wasn't looking forward to the possibility of the same, especially on a car we need everyday and having it down a few days while I futzed with it wasn't going to go over well.

#1 is the only one reachable without taking off the intake manifold, and I let the car idle for a few minute after a short trip while I got my tools out. By the time I was ready, the engine was definitely warm and I actually left it running while I broke the #1 GP free. (You can't loosen it much like that, so I just broke it free and then shut the engine off.) You can get at it with a 6-inch or longer extension. I used 1/4", but you could probably make a 3/8" work.

Proceeded to remove it, ream it, and install the new one. I chose not to use anti-seize as the one that came out didn't have any and came out very easily. Hopefully I don't regret that down the road.

Total time was right around half-hour, and fully a third of that was trying to determine if the MIL would go out just by starting the car a couple times. Seems it wasn't, so I cleared the code with my scanner and cleaned things up.

GregMN · #4 08-20-2011, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim-sokoloff

#1 is the only one reachable without taking off the intake manifold

#4 can be changed by only removing the crossover pipe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim-sokoloff

I chose not to use anti-seize as the one that came out didn't have any and came out very easily. Hopefully I don't regret that down the road.

You will. There is NO excuse for not using anti-seize.

TMAllison · #5 08-21-2011, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregMN

#4 can be changed by only removing the crossover pipe.

You will. There is NO excuse for not using anti-seize.

Turbo's don't ahve crossovers; only 95-97's do.

I've never used anti-sieze on mine; neither does the factory or dealer. Mine have been replaced once. CUrrent set has almost 200k on them.

sokoloff · #6 08-22-2011, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMAllison

Turbo's don't ahve crossovers; only 95-97's do.

I've never used anti-sieze on mine; neither does the factory or dealer. Mine have been replaced once. CUrrent set has almost 200k on them.

After the horrible experience I had breaking off a glow plug, I lather my plugs now with anti-seize just for peace of mind. However, I'm not so sure that the anti-seize is really needed. I think removing the glow plugs with the engine hot is the ticket. However, it's unlikely that I'll stop using the anti-seize.