problems with stuck glow plugs

2901 Views 17 Replies 8 Participants Last post by tim94f250, May 1, 2006

mattl

Discussion Starter · Apr 28, 2006

I just bought a 1993 F250 with the 7.3. My friend who I bought it off of told me that the glow plugs needed to be replaced. My mechanic friend (owed me money) told me that the glow plugs were easy to do and that I could do them myself.

Long story short, I tried to do the plugs myself and got 7 done without any troubles. The number 5 plug however decided to snap flush with the engine. I found last night that the element had managed to fall down into the engine. I have 3 mechanical opinions in front of me on what to do. Which would you guys feel is the best way to go?

1) Remove stuck plug, insert new and pray for the best - can do this myself or with mechanic buddy.

2) Remove exhaust port? and attempt to fish the element out through there. - can do this with mechanic friend.

3) Remove head and go looking for element. - Mechanic says $2,000+. Spent $4,500 on the truck and only worked it one day. Truck isn't worth $6,500.+

Thank you all for your help.

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cdnsarguy

· #10 · Apr 30, 2006

[ QUOTE ]
The number 5 plug however decided to snap flush with the engine. I found last night that the element had managed to fall down into the engine.

[/ QUOTE ]

First question I must ask is:

If the gp is broken off at the head level, then the threads are still in the head right.

How do you know the tip is broken off and is in fact in the engine, did you drill too far..

Was the piston at TDC on that cylinder before begining the removal.

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cdnsarguy

· #13 · Apr 30, 2006

Unfortunately IF your friend drilled too far into the GP the tip would fall off......consequently if the piston was NOT at TDC then it may/would fall into the cylinder. If you tried starting the engine with a hole into the cylinder via the GP you would get an extreme air noise and a backfire possibly. Are you getting any knocking and did the engine roll over completely several rotations.....

You may be lucky if the gp tip is hanging by a thread, so leave that cylinder at TDC. Work on the GP with easy outs and release agent, remember to remove the excess liquid fron that cylinder before installin the new GP should you be lucky enough to get it out. The black stuff is carbon from the precup.

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cdnsarguy

· #17 · May 1, 2006

I like that approach Wheeze, CO2 fire extinguisher may work too... watch your eyes for back splash.......

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