So, my sister came up to me earlier today and showed me that she found the brand-new Bosch Duraterm glow plug that I lost six months ago -- it was in a flowerpot, soaked (yes, I'm absent-minded). My question is, can I still use the glow plug? The threads have rust, but the rest of it looks good.

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

I don't see any reason the glowplug shouldn't work. Personally I would keep it as a spare now.

If you use it, soak the threads in something (CLR, vinegar, etc.) to remove the rust, then apply some anti-seize to the threads before you install it. And make sure it's 100 percent free of dirt or grit.

In a flowerpot? Really? Were you trying to grow more ?

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

it all depends on how bad the rust is.
first thing I'd do is ohm the plug to see if for some odd reason the water killed the element, if it checked out at around .6 ohms, I'd soak the threads in the rust remover, and brush all traces of rust off the plug, and polish the threads well with a wire brush.
one of the bad things on glow plugs is seized threads... starting out with rust pits is not a good sign.
anti-seize can help this, but if the rust is bad, the plug can really wreak havoc with the head.

...
they are only $11 new...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I'd put 12 volts to it and confirm it's operation, clean up the threads and put it in the glove compartment.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

..not off-beat ..consistent
for a guy who puts mulchers in his sig


1984 Mercedes-Benz 300D Turbo Diesel
2004 Toyota Corolla LE 5-Speed
1998 Craftsman 20" Mulcher
Craftsman 22" Self-Propelled Mulcher (Age unknown, newer than the other one)

obviously a gardener

glow plug, grow plug - nearly the same thing!

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Cheers!
Scott McPhee

1987 300D

Oh, and congrats -- I see you had a bumper crop!

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

i wouldn't do it. Too risky to have it seize. As previously mentioned, keep it as a spare and get a new one.

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Current fleet
2006 E320 CDI
1992 300D - 5speed manual swapped

former members
1984 300D "Blues Mobile"

1978 300CD "El Toro"