glow plug question

[snatchal]

I'm putting in glow plugs today and the two front plugs on the passenger side don't want to thread in to the head as far as all the other ones did. I can still see a few threads sticking out where-as the rest seemed to go tight to the head. Is this normal or a problem. I'm using anti-seize on all of them.

 

[mdkarle]

All should go in the same at the same depth as mine did. Sounds like a cross thread problem or the threads are perhaps very dirty. If just dirty threads, those can be cleaned. Cross thread problem is more expensive to deal with. Cross threading will more likely damage the glow plug threads than the engine threads. Check the threads on the glow plugs for damage. If no damage is found on the glow plug threads then cleaning the engine threads should take care of the problem.

 

[Russ]

Take an old glow plug grind the end off(part that goes in first) then cut a slot across the threads (long ways, like a tap) using a dremel tool with a cut off blade or something like that. Knock off the sharp edges on your new tool and use that to clean out the threads in the heads. also look down in the heads to see if the seat are clean (no carbon build up). Use anti-seize on the new glow plugs.

 

[Agnem]

Wouldn't hurt to take out the injector and blow compressed air in there while your doing that.

 

[snatchal]

Could I run a regular tap down there or is it an odd size ?