Stuck glow plug

[clyde]

It's almost stuck.

Removed other three GPs. At first try, this one turned only about 15 degrees. I blew debris out, appled WD-40. Later it turned a little more. Maybe 30 degrees.

Don't want to break it, so I apply more WD-40, and let it set overnight.

Next day, it turns a little more.

But still seems to "hit the wall"—a spot where it's so tight that I know it will break if I pull on it.

After four days it still hasn't turned more than 270 degrees—less than one full turn.

If it were in the car, running the engine would heat the head and maybe help free the plug. But the engine is out of the car.

One way to loosen the glow plug would be to freeze the plug and heat the head simultaneously, but that's tough.

Ideas? Suggestions?

 

[Joester]

I would try an actual penetrating oil instead of WD-40. Personally, I enjoy "PB Blaster". The fluid itself is actually magnetic so the metal of the glow plug will forcefully pull the fluid down into the threads.

Of course, this is coming from a guy that has broken off a glow plug inside his head, so you may not want to listen to me

 

[KLXD]

Lotsa lube.

Lotsa back and forth to work the lube in past the threads to the junk that's binding it.

 

[Yblocker]

Patience is the key here. I had one that I worked at (off and on) for about a year before it finally gave in. Those other suggestions are the ticket- just don't get in a hurry. I tried the hot engine then spray the plug with canned air routine, but in the end it was the back and forth with PB Blaster as lube that did it.

 

[clyde]

I would try an actual penetrating oil instead of WD-40. Personally, I enjoy "PB Blaster". The fluid itself is actually magnetic so the metal of the glow plug will forcefully pull the fluid down into the threads.

I've used Gibbs, too. Same result. At this rate it will probably come out by January…

Has anyone compared PB Blaster with Gibbs?

 

[Yblocker]

Joester says he "enjoys" PB Blaster. Hmmmm. I guess the stuff works, but the odor PB Blaster gives off would knock a buzzard off a s**t wagon at 100 yards in my opinion. Don't get any on your clothes or you'll be digging a hole in the backyard. The can does provide hours of entertaining reading while you wait for it to penetrate though.

 

[Joester]

Its not that bad! its definitely some potent stuff though and might be worth a try.

 

[GTiTDi]

Its not that bad! its definitely some potent stuff though and might be worth a try.

In my opinion, it is pretty bad, and gets even worse when used in conjunction with heat...

I prefer Zep formula 70, made with soy bean oil just like good bio diesel! Smell is more reminiscent of a farm rather than a toxic waste spill!

PB blaster is more widely available and still works well though if you use penetrating oils 40 + hours a week like myself, you will want to find something better.

The can does provide hours of entertaining reading while you wait for it to penetrate though.

I remember reading the can back when I was a kid (10 years old?) and while my dad was working I grabbed an old foam coffee cup, sprayed some blaster in it, and watched the cup dissolve all over the work bench...He wasn't too amused!

 

[clyde]

I prefer Zep formula 70, made with soy bean oil just like good bio diesel! Smell is more reminiscent of a farm rather than a toxic waste spill…

Does Zep formula 70 work better than Gibbs or PB Blaster?

Quick Google shows Zep formula 70 not readily available. Is it used mainly in the industrial market?

 

[GTiTDi]

Does Zep formula 70 work better than Gibbs or PB Blaster?

Quick Google shows Zep formula 70 not readily available. Is it used mainly in the industrial market?

Yep commercial only. It works amazingly well IMO. Even better is Zep Twister, but that isn't a green product like formula 70, also listed as a renewable resource.

You basically want to soak the glow plug as much as possible, the threads aren't what is holding you up as much as the carbon built up on the tip of the glow plug. Even try applying some diesel fuel to the glow plug when you have loosened it as much as it will go. try working it back and forth to get the solvent past the threads. Patience is key.

 

[Dieselducky]

I had a bad plug took me a while to get it out but i found carb cleaner works the best....it's so think is slips past the threads and breaks down the carbon build up, just be gentle keep soaking it and turning it back and forth it will come free

 

[Yblocker]

Then there is "Kroil". I have used a product made by the same Kano Labs called "Kreen" and I thought it was a good product. The best part is the peculiar but interesting newsletter that you'll get periodically if you order straight from Kano.

Some pretty good testimonials here:

http://www.amazon.com/Kano-Kroil-Pe...dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

 

[schultp]

If the engine is out of the car I would remove the head and apply penetrating oil to the bottom side of the plug too. Perhaps scrape some of the carbon off the tip if possible as well.

Are you heating the head with a blow torch? You have the engine out so you should be able to find and angle to focus a flame to the head right at the glow plug base.

I broke a plug off in my cylinder head and then butchered up the head in an attempt to drill out the remaining stub....should have removed the head and taken it to a machine shop and had them work on it. So, if you remove the head you may want to consider a machine shop too. It would not cost that much and they would be resposible for any screw ups...they have the tools to get this out.

Just my thoughts. Good luck!

 

[pb2au]

Dextron ATF mixed 50/50 with kerosene. This is the hands down best penetrating oil on this planet. Add to stuck glow plug, wait for a day, remove glow plug.

 

[Joester]

Dextron ATF mixed 50/50 with kerosene. This is the hands down best penetrating oil on this planet. Add to stuck glow plug, wait for a day, remove glow plug.

This is no joke. ATf+kerosene is literally the best penetrating oil that's ever existed. I'm just too lazy to always have ATF and kerosene on hand.

 

[clyde]

Quoth pb2au and Joester: "Dextron ATF mixed 50/50 with kerosene. This is the hands-down best penetrating oil on this planet."
Okay, youse guys, I'm gonna try it. If it works you will have almost transformed lead into gold.

 

[Joester]

ATF+acetone is another popular recipe if you cant find kerosene anywhere. I hope it works out for ya.

A study done by Machinist's Workshop magazine in their April 2007 issue looked at different penetrating oils to see which one did the best job of removing a rusted bolt by measuring the pounds of torque required to loosen the bolt once treated. If the study was scientifically accurate, it turns out a home brew works best!
Here's the summary of the test results:

Penetrating oil ..... Average load

None ...................... 516 pounds
WD-40 ................... 238 pounds
PB Blaster .............. 214 pounds
Liquid Wrench ...... 127 pounds
Kano Kroil ............. 106 pounds
ATF-Acetone mix....53 pounds

 

[Abacus]

Liquid Wrench beat out PB Blaster? Not sure I'm buying that one. I've used both and I wouldn't waste your money buying Liquid Wench.

 

[Joester]

Liquid Wrench beat out PB Blaster? Not sure I'm buying that one. I've used both and I wouldn't waste your money buying Liquid Wench.

I agree. I like PB blaster much more than liquid wrench myself, but at least they tried to do some sort of scientific test other than just saying "well I like this one better"

Obviously every stuck bolt situation is different, so there's no real way to test such a thing in my opinion, but its interesting to see just how well the ATF-acetone mix did against the dedicated penetrants.

 

[clyde]

To pbau & Joester: Used kerosene and Dexron ATF. Didn't come out fast, but faster than it had been going. Took about three days of dousing and working back and forth, then came out clean!

Thanks for the great idea!

 

[Joester]

To pbau & Joester: Used kerosene and Dexron ATF. Didn't come out fast, but faster than it had been going. Took about three days of dousing and working back and forth, then came out clean!

Thanks for the great idea!

I'm glad to hear it worked! That thing must have been really stuck!

 

[DubDr.Fransee]

I had one like that.....i snapped that sucker clean off. Had to take the head off to get it extracted by a machine shop. Gave me a good excuse to bake and Sonic Clean the head and EGR system.