Daryl4
Full Access Member
I've had this 89 7.3 with 195K for a few weeks now. Now that I got some of the more urgent issues dealt with glow plugs are coming up soon. But I'm concerned, this will be my first time changing glow plugs, I rely on this vehicle currently, I have no idea about the plugs that are in it, and the PO started it on ether.
The plugs that I can see actually look rather ok. They aren't rusted, someone has replaced some of the bullet connectors and they look rather recent. But the rig came with a pile of receipts going as far back as 2004 however not a single one mentions glow plugs. That and all evidence suggests the PO was pretty lacking. Very poor maintenance, poor skills, shortcuts, and cheap parts.
I've read starting these on ether is way bad. But the PO was and did for the test drive start it on ether without unplugging the glow plugs. I don't know if this would effect the plugs themselves but I figure it worth mentioning.
I've got it starting better(power wires to glow plug controller were lose) but with it currently about 50 degrees in the morning it takes a double glow to get it started.
Anyway, the point being that it needs to be done but I can't risk breaking a plug or worse a tip breaking off in the head. I just can't deal with that at the moment. So I'm looking for tips to avoid that. Think I'll start soaking them in PB blaster, but what else? It seems that they should crack loose rather easy and then come out easy. But do they feel different before they break, how much force is too much to risk? etc? For example if they won't come with a 6" ratchet and one vein on my forearm popping should I just wait and soak in PB more?
Thanks in advance.
The plugs that I can see actually look rather ok. They aren't rusted, someone has replaced some of the bullet connectors and they look rather recent. But the rig came with a pile of receipts going as far back as 2004 however not a single one mentions glow plugs. That and all evidence suggests the PO was pretty lacking. Very poor maintenance, poor skills, shortcuts, and cheap parts.
I've read starting these on ether is way bad. But the PO was and did for the test drive start it on ether without unplugging the glow plugs. I don't know if this would effect the plugs themselves but I figure it worth mentioning.
I've got it starting better(power wires to glow plug controller were lose) but with it currently about 50 degrees in the morning it takes a double glow to get it started.
Anyway, the point being that it needs to be done but I can't risk breaking a plug or worse a tip breaking off in the head. I just can't deal with that at the moment. So I'm looking for tips to avoid that. Think I'll start soaking them in PB blaster, but what else? It seems that they should crack loose rather easy and then come out easy. But do they feel different before they break, how much force is too much to risk? etc? For example if they won't come with a 6" ratchet and one vein on my forearm popping should I just wait and soak in PB more?
Thanks in advance.
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