Glow plugs; out with the old or not?

jeepdan · **Posted:** Mon Jul 04, 2011 3:35 pm

Damned if you do, damned if you don't. With all of the glow plug horror stories, I would like to rid my engine of it's ceramic glow plugs. But, I'm afraid of something going wrong and needing to remove the head to remove a lost piece. What is the popular opinion on this now? I have already purchased the new glow plugs and controller. :juggle:

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 04, 2011 4:30 pm

I'm hoping a glow plug fails in the next 20K miles so the dealer has to take te head off under warranty and then will do the timing belt for me for free.

DOC

TJ2 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 04, 2011 6:01 pm

I'm going along with Keith's suggestion. Leave them alone if they're working well; they may never go bad.

camo · **Posted:** Mon Jul 04, 2011 8:35 pm

I had a bad plug#2 and had to buy the new 5v GPs. When I was replacing them GP#3 head snaped off leaving the GP housing inside the head. at the end it wasnt expensive (about 50 extra $$) but it was a big ordeal to get it out and I was about to give up and take the head off when it finally came out. so, if you dont have any GP code now just leave it alone but if you have a bad one it is better pay the extra money to an experience CRD dealer (might me dificult to find one but worth it when you find it) so they take it off with an air impact driver with special torque setting for jobs like that.

Ajamant · **Posted:** Thu Sep 01, 2011 5:03 pm

Air impact driver on a glow plug?!?!?!?! Seems like a little over kill to me. I replaced all my plugs after #2 went bad. There are some good write ups on the process. The hardest part is removing the crap to get to the #3 plug. Take your time and use a torque wrench (non air impact worked just fine). I had GDE reflash the system and was good to go. Just leave it unplugged until you get the reflash. It will throw some cels but doesn't hurt anything.

onthehunt · **Posted:** Thu Sep 01, 2011 5:28 pm

Reminds me of the plugs on the newer Ford v-8's. Leave them in until you have a problem because they are taking the threads on the way out no matter what.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Thu Sep 01, 2011 5:42 pm

Hmm I was seriously looking at replacing my ceramics soon as a precaution but I have the 7/70 powertrain warranty thru at least June 2012 (second owner build month 7/05, haven't bothered to figure day and don't know date of original sale but have hard copy written proof of warranty transfer to me) so I may hold off and see how the Etecno1 7v replacements work out especially since GDE is in on the testing.

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Thu Sep 01, 2011 9:27 pm

Keep your fingers crossed that the new metal 7V ones get on the market: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=62346
With all the horror stories the VW TDI PD owners went through with the 5V glow plug reflash crap, do you really want that to happen to you? I don't.
I also heard a rumor that Beru will be coming out with a 7V CRD Glow Plug, sit tight if you can.
Also use good cetaine fuel and not the cheap crap. Faster ignition reduces peak cylinder pressures and helps the glow plugs and head gasket live longer. Cetaine booster may be a good investment too, just in case you are traveling and pick up crap on the way.

Ajamant · **Posted:** Thu Sep 01, 2011 11:10 pm

They don't even sell the ceramic glow plugs anymore, they are metallic. That is what I replaced on mine. Slickest trick I found on this forum: When you are putting in the new plugs, use a 1-2 ft piece of rubber fuel line. It slips over the end of the plug so you won't drop it while feeding it through. It also has enough grip to help start the plug in the threads but then easily pop off when you give her a tug.

Squeeto · **Posted:** Fri Sep 02, 2011 11:24 am

Ajamant wrote:

Slickest trick I found on this forum: When you are putting in the new plugs, use a 1-2 ft piece of rubber fuel line. It slips over the end of the plug so you won't drop it while feeding it through. It also has enough grip to help start the plug in the threads but then easily pop off when you give her a tug.

I often use this trick; it's a good one. I just wanted to highlight it so those (like me) who skim read don't miss it.

Glow plugs; out with the old or not?

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