How to Free a Stuck Glow Plug

The glow plugs inside of a diesel engine are the components that preheat the fuel/air mixture. This helps ignite the diesel fuel inside the cylinders. Excessive heat, carbon buildup and time can cause glow plugs to become stuck in the cylinder head. The absorption of penetrating oil around the threads of the glow plug will allow the plug to free up from the cylinder head.

Instructions

1

Spray the threaded area of the stuck glow plug with a generous amount of penetrating oil. Allow the penetrating oil to absorb into the threads of the glow plug for about 30 minutes.

2

Place a 1/2-inch drive 6-point socket over the top of the glow plug. Insert a 1/2-inch drive extension into the end of the socket. Slowly turn the socket with a 1/2-inch drive ratchet back and forth about one-eighth of an inch in both directions to loosen the glow plug up from the cylinder head.

3

Slowly attempt to turn the ratchet counterclockwise once the glow plug has loosened. If the glow plug is still too tight, remove the ratchet and socket and re-spray the threads of the glow plug with the penetrating oil. Wait thirty 30 minutes to 1 hour for the penetrating oil to absorb into and around the threads of the glow plug.

4

Slowly attempt to turn the glow plug counterclockwise again with the ratchet and socket. Once the glow plug loosens, finish loosening and removing the glow plug with the flexible piece of vacuum hose. If the tip of the glow plug is swollen, the barrel will come off of the glow plug and leave the probe inside the head. In this case, on Ford Power Strokes, the adjacent rocker arm and push rod will need to be removed before the glow plug can be removed.

5

Loosen and remove the nuts to the adjacent rocker arm with a ratchet and a socket. Pull the rocker arm off and pull the push rod out of the cylinder head. Place the rocker arm and the push rod to the side. Pull the barrel off of the glow plug and grab the probe with the needle nose pliers. Spray the penetrating oil around the base of the probe. Have a helper hold the probe with the pliers.

6

Gently tap down on the top of the probe with a center punch and a hand held sledge hammer to free the stuck probe up. Move the probe up and down with the pliers until the probe works itself out of the hole. Spray more of the penetrating oil as necessary to help loosen up the stuck glow plug.