glowplug replacement
 

how often is it recommended to replace glowplugs, is the replacement procedure straightforward? bryan

You WILL get several differing opinions, but if I were you, I would replace my glow-plug ONLY when one of them fails. At such time, I would than replace all of them. The others, (4 or 5 Depending on your model) are sure to fail shortly after.

Glow-plug life is not milage dependent, nor time dependent. Their useful life is mostly determined by two factors, (a) the number of cold starts, and (b) the ambient temperature at the time. The lower the ambient temperature, the longer they stay on. Hence all of the glow-plugs in the same car, will have a similar longevity. Thats the reason to change them all when one of them goes.

Phil

Depending on your model... if you have a 617 motor like I do, I recommend removing the IP lines to the injectors to ease GP install. It would make install about 60-90min as opposed to nearly 3 hours reaching around the IP lines. That's if you have pretty big hands like I do. I simply can't get around stuff.

It's not a hard swap, just takes a decent amount of time.

To me, GP's are like light bulbs, to be replaced individually when they fail. I lost my first GP and didn't know it, thought I needed a valve adjust. When I lost the second GP the car would only start after a long run up on the starter, the first one was still burned out. I ordered 5 new ones, changed the burned out ones and 3 are still on the shelf for a rainy day. The ones I had to change were no treat, #1 was tough, #5 was a b*tch. #2, 3 and 4 seem like they are no problem and may leave them to see if they cause problems or not. Checking them is a simple test to ground from the start relay plug.
:sun_smile

When to install them is one question....

When to buy them is another... and the answer is NOW... put them into your glove compartment or some place safe... then if they fail you on a Sunday morning when the Dealer is not open.. or if this is the same car you would need to drive to get the parts you are " prepared"...

Good advice! You don't want to spend 2 hours starting your car with a pot of boiling water and a hair dryer just to get to the parts store to buy a GP. Its faster to pull and replace one than it is to go through that hassle, so buy a set now and just keep them around, you'll need 'em eventually.

In terms of 'when', I'm in favor of the 'wait till one fails, then replace the set' method. I had one fail, then I replaced it, then a week later, another one failed, then a week later, another one. I would have saved time by just doing them all at once when the first one failed.

peace,
sam

I did mine in 1 hour with the line in place....on my 617.....but I did skin my knuckles up doing it...and I DO have large hands.

I'm sure this has been covered but what makes them (GP's) so difficult to get out that it takes 1 1/2 hrs to change.. ( I ahve not done mine yet)
is there a pre soak or special way to remove them ?
Curious to know.. opinions or links appreciated.. :)

The thing that helped me out the most was a 12mm gearwrench.. they can be had at your local sears, or sometimes even the local car parts store.

I an pull the glow plugs out in about 10 minutes, and it takes me another 10 to get them back in.

I never remove the IP hard lines, and I have bigger hands than anyone I know. :rolleyes:

Try and get your hands in there with a wrench....then all will be made clear..... :angel:

One major tip...

FILL that stupid space between the engine and the IP with towels... the place directly below where you will be working...

Anyone who replaces glow plugs one at a time has never owned a 603 or 606! :D Getting to the stupid things is a job in itself on a 603, so all 6 should be done at the same time.

Now the 606 is a different animal, they are fairly simple to get at but have a habbit of breaking off. If I owned a 606 I would remove the plugs and ream the holes once a year. I would replace those every few years, or when they fail because they are somewhat simpler to get at.

!always! put either something under the glow plugs or have a magent with a string on hand and be working over concrete, because the da#$ little nuts that hold the electrical leads onto the glow plugs have a tendency to fly off down into the black hole between your injection pump and engine block. I had to go to Home Depot to buy new ones...they had none of that size except ones which lock (have soft plastic strip after threads). I guess I'll have a good time putting in new ones eventually... Also, if one of those falls in the grass, you're done, because they blend right in with the dirt. It's funny how the simplest jobs always wind up taking the longest.

Thats the best advice on here. especially when you drop the small 8mm nuts!

Its about a 20 minute job. Be sure you have a reamer on hand when you do it.

tools needed: 1/4" ratchet with long extension, swivel joint and 8mm socket.
3/8" ratchet, long extension, 12mm medium depth socket with built in swivel (13mm socket needed also if your reamer is 13mm)
a 12mm doesn't hurt to have if you can't get to the plug behind the canister housing.

job is pretty simple with these tools, no muss no fuss!

OM 603 nuts are captive on end of GP wire, and can't fall off. No rag needed! :D

Best Regards,
Jim