Glowplug removal joy.

[Smallfry]

With my ongoing BMW six cylinder M57 diesel clean and minor refresh, I decide to renew the glowplugs. Always a worry when they have been installed for some years, in this case 20 years, original set. Have applied Plusgas over a couple of weeks to help'

Gingerly apply torque gradually, and hope they come undone without snapping off, or stripping threads in the ally head. Four came out, but two snapped off flush with the head. No surprise really, and wish I had left them ..... as you do.

As easyouts only tend to expand the body and make them tighter, they are not a good idea, and being hard, if it snaps, you really are stuffed, I will not use them. So drilled down the core with a carbide drill bit, then tapped an M7 LH thread in them. Then, using a 12.9 grade LH bolt, tried again. One came out Ok with a lot of force, but the other unscrewed the top end OK, but left the heater probe in place. Tried a magnet on a stick. No joy. Could not get a grip on it with forceps, but not enough remaining to do it.

As the probe can only be held there by soot/carbon/corrosion, I thought I would give it a gentle tap to hopefully loosen it, then try the magnet again. As I withdrew the punch, the probe disappeared and dropped into the cylinder.

At this point, I had to walk away. I am determined I am NOT going to take the head off.

 

[Bullet2012]

it will be fine, it will only rattle until it stops

 

[CompoSimmonite]

It'll be interesting see how you solve the problem with the head still in situ

 

[Bullet2012]

It'll be interesting see how you solve the problem with the head still in situ

simple, undo all the retaining bolts, tie head to planks that are placed across engine bay. raise vehicle to a suitable height, lower engine etc out from underneath. there-bye removing the engine and not the cylinder head that is cleverly supported in situ .
bloomin simple really

 

[premmington]

With my ongoing BMW six cylinder M57 diesel clean and minor refresh, I decide to renew the glowplugs. Always a worry when they have been installed for some years, in this case 20 years, original set. Have applied Plusgas over a couple of weeks to help'

Gingerly apply torque gradually, and hope they come undone without snapping off, or stripping threads in the ally head. Four came out, but two snapped off flush with the head. No surprise really, and wish I had left them ..... as you do.

As easyouts only tend to expand the body and make them tighter, they are not a good idea, and being hard, if it snaps, you really are stuffed, I will not use them. So drilled down the core with a carbide drill bit, then tapped an M7 LH thread in them. Then, using a 12.9 grade LH bolt, tried again. One came out Ok with a lot of force, but the other unscrewed the top end OK, but left the heater probe in place. Tried a magnet on a stick. No joy. Could not get a grip on it with forceps, but not enough remaining to do it.

As the probe can only be held there by soot/carbon/corrosion, I thought I would give it a gentle tap to hopefully loosen it, then try the magnet again. As I withdrew the punch, the probe disappeared and dropped into the cylinder.

At this point, I had to walk away. I am determined I am NOT going to take the head off.

Even if you take the injector out - the injector tip port will be not much bigger than the glowplug tip - but it will be bigger.

Glow plug tip at fattest point 3.9mm - and at thin point 3.25mm (depends which point it snapped at?)

Injector tip (at a guess) 7.6mm

It is direct injection engine - you have another entry port.

Don't start it up - it will not clear the exhaust valve....

Your big problem is - glowplug tip will not stick to a magnet. (try one - I just did in my workshop)


I always drill the stuck tips and turn them into swarf - I can hoover out........

Good luck you gonna need it mate...

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Bite the bullet and accept head removal will be needed ?

 

[roofman]

buy the smallest cam linked to your phone..go in via the injector with welding rod and blue tac...cam down the glowplug hole.

 

[indykid]

With my ongoing BMW six cylinder M57 diesel clean and minor refresh, I decide to renew the glowplugs. Always a worry when they have been installed for some years, in this case 20 years, original set. Have applied Plusgas over a couple of weeks to help'

Gingerly apply torque gradually, and hope they come undone without snapping off, or stripping threads in the ally head. Four came out, but two snapped off flush with the head. No surprise really, and wish I had left them ..... as you do.

As easyouts only tend to expand the body and make them tighter, they are not a good idea, and being hard, if it snaps, you really are stuffed, I will not use them. So drilled down the core with a carbide drill bit, then tapped an M7 LH thread in them. Then, using a 12.9 grade LH bolt, tried again. One came out Ok with a lot of force, but the other unscrewed the top end OK, but left the heater probe in place. Tried a magnet on a stick. No joy. Could not get a grip on it with forceps, but not enough remaining to do it.

As the probe can only be held there by soot/carbon/corrosion, I thought I would give it a gentle tap to hopefully loosen it, then try the magnet again. As I withdrew the punch, the probe disappeared and dropped into the cylinder.

At this point, I had to walk away. I am determined I am NOT going to take the head off.

Oh, you poor thing.

My deep commiserations. My brother snapped all 4 glow plugs on his zafira then came to me for a solution. It took 2 weekends but we got them all pulled, but there were some....clenching moments.

If you're not going to take the head off, throw a sheet over it now and forget about it.

 

[cheb]

Do you know any people with telekinetic abilities?

 

[premmington]

buy the smallest cam linked to your phone..go in via the injector with welding rod and blue tac...cam down the glowplug hole.

I got stuff out of tiny ports with - tig rod and blue tac- it your only hope.

Warm "kneaded" blutac....

 

[dobbslc]

Get the most powerful vacuum cleaner you can find then fit a small tube to the end of the hose and see if it'll suck it out, you may need to do it 20 times but eventually the probe will stick 'end on' to the tube and come out.



Hopefully

 

[Migmac]

I’ve used the Blutac method to remove bits before. I now use one of those double sided sticky tape rolled into a ball stuck onto a rod of some sort. Its more sticky than blutac and sticks with the lightest of pressure applied

 

[DanZac]

This is a different "how do I get this out of here" thread. I'm guessing that getting a table out of a van is a piece of cake compared to a bit of glow plug out of an engine cylinder.

Good luck.

 

[winchman]

This is a different "how do I get this out of here" thread. I'm guessing that getting a table out of a van is a piece of cake compared to a bit of glow plug out of an engine cylinder.

Good luck.

I would rather take another table out of the van than do this!
Blue tac on a spoke for me

 

[Bornfree]

I would remove the inlet camshaft and valve collets drop the valve down far enough to pick up the plug tip with a grabber. Turn the engine back to lift the valve back up.

 

[dave h 2]

Don't they still sell those magnet on a telescopic rod tools any more?

 

[premmington]

Don't they still sell those magnet on a telescopic rod tools any more?

Glowplug tips are not ferric metal - a magnet is like going to a gunfight with a water pistol...

 

[premmington]

I would remove the inlet camshaft and valve collets drop the valve down far enough to pick up the plug tip with a grabber. Turn the engine back to lift the valve back up.

This got a chain in it - injector out and blutac - would be my first "attempt"...

What you are suggesting is intake manifold off - I doubt you would get access thru port - not 100% sure - but at rocker off - chain off - you only a little bit away from "head off".

-------------

I once dropped a stainless fitting down an injector port - spent the rest of a Saturday afternoon at workshop trying to remove it - gave up in frustration/temper.

Went on Sunday morning with Grandson to cut hedges - he asked what I was doin to the car in workshop - I explained it to him - he had go - got it out in seconds.

I gave him "a red £50 note" - on the spot - out of my wallet... Aged 13/14 at the the time - he never seen a £50 note.

"You earnt that kid"

 

[cheb]

Would a narrow diameter pipe connected to a vacuum pump be a goer?

 

[dave h 2]

Glowplug tips are not ferric metal - a magnet is like going to a gunfight with a water pistol...

I thought the word probe might imply something steel Doh!