Whats the best way to clean old glowplugs? Brake Cleaner, some form of alcohol etc? I'm assuming just scrubbing them with a plastic hard bristle brush in such a liquid would be fine?

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

I can't speak for everyone but this is my position. They cost about ten bucks each. They last two years or more. They are a PITA to remove and a PITA to put in. I don't like being stranded. I depend on my car though I have access to other autos.

For 50 bucks I'm not going through the trouble removing and reinstalling them. I want them to do their jobs each and every time I hit the ignition.

That being said, if I were going to clean one I'd want a soda in a sandblaster.

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic

People here have mentioned a Mercruiser product that is apparently magical on carbon deposits, ... but I agree with the above, a good set of Bosch glowplugs is at my local Advance Auto, ... around $15/ea. For $100/ea. I'd be cleaning them.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Do not for any reason buy Autolite gps ,I pulled some that were not working in nov and was back in their this week doing the same job with the same plugs not working ,theyve got a racket going on.Sandpaper cleans the old ones followed by a wet rag.

I have to agree with everything above. The best way to clean old plugs is to dump them in the trash and replace with new Bosch plugs.

Even Bosch quality is slipping today. Beru is the best of the best.

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'84 190D 2.2 5MT (Red/Palomino) Current car. Love it!
'85 190D 2.2 Auto *Cali* (Blue/Blue) *sold*
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For 100 bucks each I'd be reaming the GP hole twice a year and checking on them regularly. I'd probably replace only the ones which didn't work instead of a set every two years.

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic

Getting red hot cleans them pretty well.

The Pencil type glow plugs can be wire brushed with a fine brustled stainless or brass brush by hand. Harbor Freight sells some cheap onse in a three pack. They remind you a bit of toothbrushes. You get a one nylon, one brass and one stainless stell brush.

I have not read of any method of cleaning the loop/filiment type Glow Plugs.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I have a different opinion than most here. I replace glow plugs when they burn out. There's no telling when a glow plug will burn out, new or used. Like a incandescent bulb, they burn out most often when powered up, when it is stressed the most.

To make changing glow plugs easy, I changed the wire lugs to quick disconnects that I can pull off in less than 2 seconds. On my 300D I can change glow plugs 1 to 4 in less than 5 minutes ea. #5 about 15 min.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

I forgot to say it is also important to clean carbon out of the Glow Plug Holes. You can use a Glow Plug reamer or there it threads that have alternative methods.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Pics of your setup?

Sent from my MB886 using Tapatalk

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1982 300sd from craigslist $800 greased on one tank with NO CONVERSION in the Hot Texas Sun. (currently dead & awaiting engine damage investigation and/or longblock swap)
new daily: '03 vw 5speed jetta tdi wagon. bagged&chipped

DIY glow plug quick disconnects- good riddance 8 mm nuts!

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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!

Thanks!

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1982 300sd from craigslist $800 greased on one tank with NO CONVERSION in the Hot Texas Sun. (currently dead & awaiting engine damage investigation and/or longblock swap)
new daily: '03 vw 5speed jetta tdi wagon. bagged&chipped

Thanks to all who've replied. Just for clarity's sake. My current set are Monark's I put in almost a year ago. They had worked fine till I messed up at least one of them when cycling my ignition on and off multiple times in a row to get my antenna up and down to clean it and lubricate it. As I still have the old ones I had removed last year I figured I'd try testing them to see which one is actually bad, and use the others as needed. But they are covered in oil from when I was extracting them so I want to try and clean them before actually testing them.

I did ream out the chambers when I did the job last year but there wasn't much carbon build up in them anyway.

I have the harbor freight brushes which I'll clean them with. How do you glow them out of the vehicle? Would using jumper cables from the battery positive terminal to the body of the plug work?

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S