LMM: Stubborn seized glow plug..

monster50iii

Member
Dec 5, 2014
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I have the air tool from MA to assist in removal of stuck glow plugs. I've been at it for 3hrs, and have backed it out 1.5 turns id say. I started the engine at operating temp, and have soaked the plug the last 4 days. The engine is now just warm...being the glow plug is backed out some, am I safe to drive the truck to get it back up to temp again to help free this glow plug back up?
 

monster50iii

Member
Dec 5, 2014
329
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I have a small butane torch, and used it to heat up just the glow plug. I'd wait 2min or so after heating the glow plug, hit it with some pb blaster, and try backing it out. This worked for a while, but it seems since the engine has cooled down more and more, its now pretty tight again. I'm going to wait a few hours, and go back out and try getting after it again. I get maybe 1/32 of a turn whenever it moves, and theres alot of time between when it moves LOL. Patience will be my friend with this damn thing..

When I go back out, I'll turn the butane up and try and heat up the head around the glow plug. It'd be ideal to just drive the thing and get it back up to temp, but I'd hate to hurt the head/glow plug bore somehow.
 

kubitza123

New member
Sep 19, 2016
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I had one like this myself awhile back due to inj cup leaking. Coolant and possibly oil cooked around the glow plug probe itself . I thought threads were the prob but I finally got pissed and hooked my 3/8 IR impact on that bitch and spun it for awhile . All the grime etc that was stuck to it and the head broke loose and came right out.
 

monster50iii

Member
Dec 5, 2014
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I dont have the balls to use a 3/8 impact. I'm hoping with patience, and heat, I can get it out. I'd rather live with a bad glow plug, then get overly anxious and break the nut off. I'm already starting to loose hair, and breaking the nut off would for surely speed that process up a bit...
 

Hambone

Always learning
Jan 24, 2016
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You want to heat up the metal around the plug not the plug itself.... heat makes metal expand so heating the plug is just making it expand in the threads
 

monster50iii

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Dec 5, 2014
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Hambone, I told myself the same thing, but for a while it was working :D

I'm going to go back out there soon and get back after it. To be honest I was getting wore out LOL. The nice part is it's cyl2 so its not too bad to get to.
 

monster50iii

Member
Dec 5, 2014
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So I've read! If I dont make much headway heating the head, I'm calling my buddy to run me into town and try and find some.
 

Dozerboy

Well-known member
Jun 23, 2009
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Hambone, I told myself the same thing, but for a while it was working :D

I'm going to go back out there soon and get back after it. To be honest I was getting wore out LOL. The nice part is it's cyl2 so its not too bad to get to.
From what you said it sounds like it was working because the block was still warm.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk
 

bmc1025

Member
Jan 25, 2013
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Big Bone, KY
I have a small dewalt cordless 3/8 impact I use to get them out. You can feel/hear the resistance with it and just work It back and forth until it spins free.
 

kubitza123

New member
Sep 19, 2016
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Impact it , as much time you have spent you could have already pulled the head lol. I'd almost bet $100 it will come right out with impact. Cordless might be better since you can feel more than with air.
 

monster50iii

Member
Dec 5, 2014
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I tried hitting it for about 1-2min straight with freeze-off (glow plug). Wouldn't move. Tried warming up the head around it with my small butane torch, then hit the GP again with freeze-off, didn't move. Heated the GP itself for quite sometime, then hit it with freeze-off, and got a small budge out of it. Im throwing in the towel for tonight. I plugged in the block heater for over night...atleast it might have some heat in it in the morning.

BTW, I dont have a dewalt 3/8 impact here, but I do have a porter cable. It won't budge the GP in either direction.. Man I hope I get it out.
 

monster50iii

Member
Dec 5, 2014
329
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Anyone see any real harm in running the engine with the glow plug ran out 1 1/2" turns?

1.5 turns might be a stretch but it's in that neighborhood..


However on second thought, my ole man has a heat gun...maybe I could set it up and leave it on that area for a good length of time and accomplish the same goal.
 
Last edited:

2004LB7

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2010
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Norcal
I don't think you will have any issues. Can you check your balance rates with it out like that?
 

Burn Down

Hotrodder
Sep 14, 2008
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Boise Idaho
Use a torch with Map gas, heat the head and plug up hot and then quench it with whatever penetrating fluid you like. I'm guessing the plug won't thread back in now?