I am looking at a 95 E300 D. I have read the various posts about stuck glowplugs. How many of ya'll have had stuck glowplugs that you couldn't get out?

Is there a special tool available for use with the glowplugs on this engine?

Is the N/A 606 as likely to have the stuck glowplugs as the 98 and 99?

Thanks,

__________________
Wayne

the triumph of evil requires only that good men stand by and do nothing

13 Audi A3 TDI, the Wife's!
85 190D 5 speed, 195,000 miles
75 Triumph TR 6 w/Toyota 5 speed
2000 Ford F-250 powerstroke
03 Ml500, 109000

In my time on the forum, I don't remember a stuck GP on a 95 although there may have been some; there have been some on the 96-97's & the 98-99's. Cant say that one is more prevalent than the other.

There is a factory tool (a set of taps, dies and pullers) to aid in removal that is expensive enough that due to the infrequent need and limited number of diesels around that many (most?) dealers don't have it.

Most folks get them out w/o too much difficulty. They just sweat over it.

I won't rule out a purchase because of that issue alone. Is not unlike a W123 whose tranny shifts hard or slips a bit.....

The 95 & 96 got the 722.438 vacuum controlled 4spd trans; 97-99 got the 722.608 electronically controlled 5 spd trans which to me is preferable. An upgrade to the 722.6 occurred in late 97 which resolved some early issues with it. 96 was not quite as computer controlled (ign/security, etc.) as the 97-99.

98 & 99 got turbos, and 99 got a rear curtain airbags also. There are other differences but most of them were pretty subtle creature comfort improvements.

__________________
Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

I got that kit. It had drills, taps, helicores. None of it would fit what we needed for a 606 although it said it was for a 606 too.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Heres the stuck glowplug on mine. Stuck because the idiot who owned it before me had it welded into place. Most likely because someone stripped the thread perhaps.

Nothing I can do about it without spending big money, so its been like that for over 2 years:

Wow, now that's a quality repair job!

__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

The glow plug issue seems to be more about carbon buildup rather than seized glow plug threads. I recently changed out all 6 plugs in my 96 e300d, and as mentioned by other posters, sweat and patience is a big part of the job. The plug nearest the firewall, between the block and oil filter housing was the one that was bad. Using a lot of PB Blaster and Freeze-Off, I was able to get it out after about 6 hours of minuscule movements back and forth. Information provided by other posters indicated that 45 n/m was the failure point of beru glow plugs, and I used a torque wrench in the removal of the plugs, and tried to stay within that value. Very nerve wracking job, but doable with a little time and patience.

__________________
96 E300d

I'll be doing mine in the next couple weeks. In the meantime, I wish people could lay off these spooky threads

I notice that Diesel911 is now making a reamer for the 604,605,606 & 648 engines:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=205862

__________________
Jake
1999 e300d PlantDrive WVO/SVO conversion
**note to self: oil changed at 268k kms**
1990 Toyota 4Runner FrankenDiesel swap

Forewarned is forearmed.............gives you the pitfalls of the job before you enter into it, and some of the solutions to those pitfalls.

__________________
96 E300d

I had one stuck, seized threads were the culprit.
The head had to be removed so the GP could be drilled out.

Don't let GP's change your mind on buying one, though. By all means, E300's are the best of the IDI (non-CDI) diesels.
Do yourself a favor, look for a nice '98 or '99 turbo, and enjoy it!

__________________
99 E300 TD -- sold
01 540i 6 spd

I have a 1999 E300 and have been stuggling for days trying to get the old glow plugs out. Dealer recommended penetrating oil, which has not helped at all. What is, and where can I find, PB Blaster and Freeze-Off mentioned in above message? I live in San Diego. I am sure the threads in one glow plug are stripped as I can move it freely, but it will not come out.

Any help you can offer will be very much appreciated. I would love to be able to do this repair without removing the head if that is possible.

Be patient. Warm engine (with IM off, lil stinky but wont hurt it) and keep working it back and forth.

Retail outlets http://www.blasterchemical.com/display.cfm?p=1661405D-3ACB-43E7-89EFB7A4DF1892A9

Data page http://www.crcindustries.com/marine/content/new.aspx

__________________
Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

You can do it. Just take the precautions of using a penetrating lube on the plugs and letting it soak, and take your time loosening. Just be patient and it's just like changing spark plugs.

I've heard that Sea Foam Deep Creep works better than PB Blaster. How is Freeze Off utilized? Isn't that the wart remover?

John

__________________
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
2002 F250 powerstroke with Plantdrive WVO conversion
1983 300SD 190K miles ,sold
2006 E320 CDI

I live in New Jersey, and Autozone carries both items mentioned above. When I did the job changing out all 6 plugs, it took me about 5 days, and each plug acted exactly like the one you mention. I could screw them out past the threads, but once the plugs were free of the threaded area, they were still held in by the carbon buildup. You may not have stripped the threads, but it may be carbon bound. Freeze-off gets sprayed for about 20-30 seconds, which lowers the temperature of the plug area, and then I would immediately hit it with PB Blaster and let it sit for about 30-40 minutes. I used a torque wrench to stay within reasonable levels regarding the force applied to unscrew or move the plug. I used a deep 6 sided socket with an extension, and applied outward force as I moved the plug back and forth. Even with all the preparation, the plugs would all "squeak" each time I got them to move in either direction. It is not a physically taxing job, but it is nerve wracking when going through the process. The carbon would eventually give way, but I would say that the plug would have to be 3/4 out before it would finally let go. Good luck.

__________________
96 E300d

Should be found in most hardware stores.

I had that too. I screwed it back in and then out and then in and out and finally it came out

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow