Glowplug Changing Tips

[StevenN]

Can the Black Death cause a Glowplug error?

Got the cover off and had a look and No1 Cylinder has a bit of black tar like deposit around it.
This plug shows a reading of 1 on the meter where the others are less.

The top of the engine didn't look too bad though so it looks like if I get it cleaned and reseated all will be good.

Thoughts please?

Ta Steve

 

[StevenN]

Has anybody had cause to reseal a Injector?

Steve

 

[Dieselman]

Can the Black Death cause a Glowplug error?

No, the injectors and glowplugs are separate entities and far enough apart so the carbon couldn't affect the glowplug connector.

 

[StevenN]

Hi DM
Looks like more digging and testing

Thanks

Steve

 

[Dieselman]

If you have a plug reading over 1 Ohm, then it's suspect.

The weather is lovely at present, get yer spanners ooot...

 

[StevenN]

That's plug No1 then. The rest were under.
Just a shame it's the one underneath pipes and cables.

Do the leads just push on?

 

[Dieselman]

Yes but take some force to unclip them.

 

[StevenN]

Hi Dieselman
Did another check with the meter today.
Plug 1 reads 1 on the meter so must be the fly in the ointment
I will get the bits ordered and start soaking the plug with plusgas

Fingers crossed it comes out ok

 

[corned]

Just done my #3 plug. The old one came out without any kind of struggle. I went for a run around to get things warmed up and got the 10mm socket out. After an initial panic, thinking that I would need to go out and buy a longer socket (the plug is quite tall with the height of the connector terminal on top, and my sockets were not deep enough for the drive to properly fit when the socket was on the glowplug). However, I dropped the socket over the glowplug and there was just enough purchase on the drive for the socket to turn. After very little effort the plug cracked off, and unscrewed very easily.

I may be fortunate because my engine bay generally is quite clean, and the recesses where the glowplugs sit in the head are still clean, and showing their shiny machined finish.

Even the old glowplug was perfectly clean, apart from the heating element tip which was lightly coated with a thin film of the usual black soot.

I hope you find the same with yours, Steve.

 

[StevenN]

Hi Keith

Glad yours went ok

Still more thought than action. Not sure if it's apathy or dread. I have to get the service things ordered tonight to give me a fighting chance for Fri/Sat
Hope mine goes well too
Lots of gubbins around my plug No1 though

Thanks

Steve



Steve

 

[corned]

I guess I'll see tomorrow morning if the job worked properly. As the engine was hot afterwards, I doubt the plugs went through their usual cycle, if they cut in at all.

If you want a hand, or moral support, let me know!

 

[StevenN]

You never know I might hold you to that yet!
I have orderd some service bits and a plug.
I will have to start to spray the plug

 

[StevenN]

Had a closer look at plug No1 and I will have to move some fuel lines out the way to get the tools in.
There feels like enough flex in one line to get on the plug but there is another line that has some kind of yello plunger type thing attached.
This is held in place by a Tx-star bolt. Hopefully a bi-hex socket will undo this so I can get to the Glowplug.
Either that or bottle it and take it into Mercserve.
If I damage a line I will have a panic to get fuel line parts.

Still soaking the plug either way

Steve

 

[Dieselman]

I guess I'll see tomorrow morning if the job worked properly. As the engine was hot afterwards, I doubt the plugs went through their usual cycle, if they cut in at all.

The relay still does a plug resistance check even with a hot engine.

 

[holbay]

All going well my glowplugs are getting changed tomorrow at a mates garage and its a manifold off job. I am down to only 2 plugs working now and i have checked the controller for blown fuse links and it appears all blown plugs have went open circut, so no soldering to do on controller. So will see what happens.. George.

 

[StevenN]

And there's me moaning

 

[Paul64]

Just done No 4 GP on the 124 E300D - approx 15 mins total! Bought a brush cleaning kit to ream out the hole beforehand but the old plug was spotless.
Used some 1100C copper based anti-seize compound smeared onto the shaft of the new one and torqued up to 20Nm., about 15lb/ft.
Luckily, this one needs only the air manifold cross pipe to be removed for access - I think I'll get a full set and do the rest at the next service in 1000 miles.

Interesting that the MB service card gives 20Nm whilst there are a variety of figures around the internet, all a bit higher than that.... Here's hoping MB knows what they're doing!

Incidentally, the old one was Beru part number 0100 226 175 / MB A 001 159 15 01. That was the part number of the new one too however, on the Beru website, that number doesn't get recognised in their catalogue.....

Paul

 

[Lord-WYBMAnE220]

Grease the one you put back(it's a special grease) and don't over tighten them! They only need to be nipped up.
The mercedes torque recommendation is too tight- trust me! Use feel and common sense and your be fine.

For low torque applications, lubrication and judicious nipping up is acceptable.
But bear in mind that frictional resistance is all you're torquing against.

Lubricating a thread massively decreases resistance/torque - so by the time you reach spec. torque, the axial load has reached many times that on the unlubricated bolt.

And NEVER remove a glowplug from a hot engine (lightly warmed is permissible). The only thing protecting that hole from thermal distortion (and being unable to re-accommodate the glowplug) is the glowplug ... so wait a good while for it to cool first.

 

[Paul64]

Had another glowplug go this last week, No6 when tested at the connection box plug....
just changed it this afternoon and again, it was really easy to remove and well sealed at the chamfered shoulder, rather fortunately... Again, a smear of anti-seize and 20Nm torque.

I was going to replace the others too whilst everything was in pieces however, I checked and the others are really tight so I think I'll leave them for the moment. Perhaps I'll get the local indy to do it as he's got the removal tool if thngs go a bit Pete Tong...

I measured the resistance of them all and they're now all 0.6 or 0.7 ohms to earth with a Fluke so hopefully, I'll be OK for the moment.

Paul

 

[Lord-WYBMAnE220]

Had another glowplug go this last week, No6 when tested at the connection box plug....
just changed it this afternoon and again, it was really easy to remove and well sealed at the chamfered shoulder, rather fortunately... Again, a smear of anti-seize and 20Nm torque.

I was going to replace the others too whilst everything was in pieces however, I checked and the others are really tight so I think I'll leave them for the moment. Perhaps I'll get the local indy to do it as he's got the removal tool if thngs go a bit Pete Tong...

Dude, try loosening them off (only) when the engine's hot.
But under NO CIRCUMSTANCES remove them until the engine's cold - or there's a high risk of thermal distortion of the plug threads while the engine's cooling down.