Well my post 'What's This' showed it to be a decapitated glow plug!
I'll post one of the pictures here to show what mine looks like.
On closer inspection, this one is the closest to the front of the engine on the drivers (Left) side you can see still has the hex still on so it 'should' be possible to extract it.
Stephenw46 you say Freezer spray, any specific make that works best? I was going to pop down to Screwfix and buy their large aerosol can of No-Nonsence Penetrating Oil and just keep squirting the glow plug over the next few days before I attempt to get it out. Also Stephen you mentioned tapping it to presumably shock the corrosion loose? Any further tips?
The right hand bank glow plug nearest the front has been sheared off close to the surface of the head, sorry no photo yet. This will be a real challenge and needs the services of a specialist. Any recommendations of someone near Cardiff? Fareham, though on my way to my son in Chichester, is a bit too far!
The car starts OK, even in this weather, though I had one time just after I had bought it in December when it didn't start but after leaving for 5 mins did burst into life. I thought it was a key fob problem as both keys were shot button wise, so probably it was the lack of two glow plugs!
My FBH comes up with a fault and error trying to prime it on my IID Tool, so I will have have further look at that.
I'll post a separate query regarding mending the FBH!
Ian
11th Jan 2018 7:37 am
stephenw46
Member Since: 22 Jun 2011
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 1218
The tapping is to shock but don’t be to harsh spray and persevere as for the broken one there were some posts on here about a extraction tool kit have a search when I did mine I only bothered doing five as the high pressure pump was in the way as for the freeze easy spray it comes from specialised aerosols hope this helps good luck
11th Jan 2018 4:40 pm
mallo
Member Since: 10 Feb 2009
Location: Jersey
Posts: 352
Good evening all and Bornpompey and Parky63, as Ianrichardson says soak them all in a good penetrating oil, I continually sprayed mine for a month (or more) prior to having a go at getting them out.
Also try and keep driving the D3 as the heat from the engine heating up and cooling down will help the oil get down into the threads.
I have since heard that there is a penetrating spray that you can use to get injectors out I would also give this a go.
I managed to get all 6 of mine out with a 1/4" drive and although there was 4 working and I hadn't had any starting issues as we use the D3 in the ski resorts I didn't want to have a problem so decided to replace them all.
On re-fitting I have used an aluminum graphite grease to hope they may come out easier next time.
Good luck
There is also a mobile company that can do it or you could take it to them and see what they say
11th Jan 2018 4:47 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10735
So let me clarify the position as I understand it.
Your car starts fine.
It's a cold January (ok its not quite 0°C)
Someone has previously attempted to remove your glowplugs and broken at least 1. Probably meaning they didn't want to come out.
Any you fancy having ago at removing them for a laugh? or "because they are there"
That's all fine as long as.
You have another car to use when it goes wrong
You can afford to get the heads off to sort things out when they break.
and/or you have a nice warm garage to do this yourself.
I think you are hopefully getting my drift!
Just leave them till spring/summer
My optimism of leaving everything as is fell at the first hurdle!
The car was in the garage this morning and the temperature was -1º C, and I tried to start it and no luck!
Nice cloud of blue fumes coming out of the exhaust though!
L left it until the temp got to a heady +1ºC but the battery really didn't want to give a good enough kick, so I put it on charge for an hour or so and then gave it another go with success.
Summary is that I do NEED glow plugs!
I rang around and the mention of a TDV6 brought cries of dismay, they do seem to have a reputation!
I have found one place in North London that proclaims to be the only successful establishment to go to, they guarantee 100% success with the TDV6 engine AT A PRICE mind you, £600 + VAT!
Now that is cheaper than heads off and then pay someone to get them out.
They take between 3 and 5 hours depending on how stuck they are!
I couldn't find out whether it is £100 per glow plug or £600 whatever!
I do have another car by the way, but I need the D3 for my first trip to France in the middle of February.
Ian
11th Jan 2018 10:57 pm
dreynolds10
Member Since: 11 Jun 2013
Location: Berks
Posts: 166
If you are in Pompey (or anywhere in the South) then try Douglas aka the threadmaster (search on tinternet). He is mobile and I have seen his work first hand when it comes to removing stuck glow plugs...and I mean really stuck.
PS. I have no affiliation to Douglas. Just passing on a recommendation and alternative option
Thanks dreynolds10 Pompey is probably better for me than North London (Injector Removal Service).
Being the adventurous kind of bloke and being retired with time on my side I might soak all the glow plugs in penetrating oil for a week or so an then have a go to see how many I can extract myself, any that are stuck solid leave for the specialist.
The sheared off one (so far) will have to have specialist treatment, if it is only one then 'maybe' leave alone as a V6 with 5 working glow plugs should start OK whatever the weather!
Ian
12th Jan 2018 9:39 am
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10735
It's not really the threads that cause the problem, is the carbon inside the head (and the fact the plugs aren't perfectly straight)
Air guns on a low torque are meant to be good. If you have a compressor.
or hire ???
you also need an appropriate socket, (well got for that broken off one)
To get to the passenger ones, you need to remove a large number of items.
Last edited by Pete K on 12th Jan 2018 12:17 pm. Edited 1 time in total
12th Jan 2018 12:15 pm
mallo
Member Since: 10 Feb 2009
Location: Jersey
Posts: 352
Ian if you have time on your side, I would soak them in penetrating oil and/or injector removal spray and keep running the engine to heat it up cool it down for a good while (as long as you can leave it) and then try it with a 1/4" drive socket/torque wrench in reverse and if it doesn't move leave it for a bit longer......
Have a look at this video
It may help.......
Good Luck.
12th Jan 2018 12:17 pm
dreynolds10
Member Since: 11 Jun 2013
Location: Berks
Posts: 166
As Pete says, its the carbon build up that is the problem which can be seen in the pic below from one of my removed plugs.
If they wont come out then you need to drill, tap, pull then hope it doesn't snap. If it does snap then you have to repeat until the thing comes out. The plug below was on the last drill/tap before there was nothing left to drill/tap into. At this point there is a a risk that the tip could fall back onto the cylinder head if you run out of plug to drill (if it keeps snapping). If that happens its a heads off job.
You also have to be very precise with the drilling otherwise you can easily knacker the threads on the head and then you need to insert helicoils to reseat the new glow plugs.
Good luck Disco3 project
12th Jan 2018 12:35 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10735
that carbon trace is nothing compared to what is in the head
Impossible to drill the rear passenger side though.
DIfficult to do rear drivers side straight.
Middle ones are right by the open oil filter, which is the last place you want drilling swarf
That NHK video is useful and I really want an automatically opening bonnet along with a torque wrench that does everything by itself!!
It is good to see that a manufacturer acknowledges that there are replacement issues.
I have ordered a 1/4" reversible torque wrench so I can try and stop a plug shearing.Pete you idea of an air gun, I have a 3/8" Milwaukee impact wrench which as about half the torque of its big 1/2" brother, I might try that. Maybe constant light shocks will help with my Milwaukee impact screwdriver with a 10mm socket?
Dedicated Glow plug sockets, any advantage to the normal long reach sockets?
Oil. time and more oil with use in between seems to be the answer as long as it isn't too cold and starts!
I have started the penetrating oil treatment, but I can only really get to the closest glow plugs with the spray. A longer straw is needed!
Ceramic grease, anybody got a favourite brand? There seems to be a big price range. Granville would appear the cheapest for a 500g tub and Febi the best price for a 50g tub both around 11 quid! Is the Febi stuff that much better?
I'm tempted to get both and use the Granville for brake things mostly and the expensive Febi product for the glow plugs!
Ian
13th Jan 2018 7:50 am
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10735
Pete that looks an interesting tool, especially as you can set the torque for undoing. My Milwaulkee is set and a 3/8" impact tool is too powerful, hence my interest in this tool.
I have a compressor, mostly used for tyres, so no problem there.
But first patience with loads of penetrating oil going on evey day!
Ian
13th Jan 2018 11:16 am
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10735
you also need to get the engine warm too.
So you need your FBH working.
Once you have taken a few parts off, the engine gets cold very quickly
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