I changed all of the glow plugs on Madeline tonight. It took me 61 minutes including getting out and putting away tools. This also included fishing a socket and an open end wrench out of the ‘Land of Purgatory’. I am sure that many of you are familiar with ‘Land of Purgatory’. It is that area down, down below between the injector pump and engine block where things fall and you know that you might be more likely to see Jimmy Hoffa than find your tools. This is the 3rd time that I have change glow plugs on a 617 and was the easiest for some reason.

wow, it took me much longer. My #1 and #2 took me almost an hour. The PO screwed up the nut on them.

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1979 240d 216k (W123) Daily Driver
Volvo 245DL 210k

1979 300D FOR SALE
2002 Tahoe 91k FOR SALE

1980 300sd 177k (W116) Sold
1980 300sd Parts (W116) Junked
1979 240D 121k (W123) Sold
1982 300TDT 298K (W123) (Sold)

I always jam a towel down into the IP/block bowels, and try to fold it into a trough. It has caught many a part or piece of hardware.

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

I just keep one of those magnet extension things handy, I usually have to fish out at least one tool. I replaced just my #5 GP yesterday, maybe 15 minutes, including looking for the nut I dropped.

That is pure genius, but then the simplest ideas usually are.
I was busy for a few minutes 'fishing' with my telescoping magnet and coat hanger.

If you take off your metal fuel lines you will be able to do it in even less time that that. (including the time it takes to remove the fuel lines)

Scott

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

I don't have a telescoping magnet, but my handy dandy extra long claw tool is all I ever need to fish that stuff out.

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-justin

1987 300TD, 1987 300TD
2008 R32, 2000 Passat Wagon

That makes me nervous because I've had occasions where a fuel line would not seal all the way after removal/re installation.
It does make it easier, but it could introduce another problem. It certainly makes it easier to adjust valves without them though.......

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Scott,
Excellent suggestion. I just bought a 79 300sd and I am waiting for new return fuel lines and glow plugs to arrive. I've done removed the fuel lines before and didn't have a problem putting them back. Maybe I can whip both out in under 2 hours (maybe just wishful thinking)

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1984 300SD 148K Gold
1979 300SD 142K Cream
2001 Audi TT Roadster 60K
2005 Chevrolet 3500 13K

I changed glow plugs today and it took 31 minutes including dropping one on the floor. To be fair, I did a dry run last night, removing and putting the old ones back in. I am also convinced that my changing glow plugs has resulted in the nice weather we are having (I don't know if there was any improvement in cold starts.)