Xantia glow plugs

Napoleon · Post by **Napoleon** » 26 Sep 2009, 21:59

Hi, been a while since I was here.

I bought some Beru plugs for my Xantia months ago with the intention of replacing them myself, regardless of the car's history. Never did, of course!

Car has about 79K on the clock (1995).

Anyway, I asked the local garage to do them, and they did so, but said that the ones they took out were in 'very good' condition.

Well, this came as a surprise. Is this normal for a 80k engine? I'e been running for a few hundred miles on SVO, not much really. Could that clean the plugs up, or does it not work like that?

btw, they only changed three, as they said the fourth would need much more work moving stuff out of the way, and weren't convinced that it would need doing anyway.

What do you think?

I wasn't experiencing any starting problems, I just wanted to be belt and braces about it, that's all.

Thanks folks.

HDI · Post by **HDI** » 26 Sep 2009, 22:16

That 4th one will be the one behind the injection pump and it is a bitch !
But , it can be done without removing the pump or anything else major.
You just need the right tools , patience and be willing to lose alot of knuckle skin !
The condition of a glow plug cannot be assessed simple from visual examination. They need to be tested across the battery for current draw and how quickly they glow red.

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 26 Sep 2009, 22:25

Generally you can tell, IF the plug is good working order, when removed it WILL be clean and grey looking on the tip, IF its NOT working, it will be all sooted up!

Dont ask me why, but EVERY one Ive done, has given me this result.

As for the plug behind the pump, it is not that bad to do, maybee Im the only one who doesn't mind dooing it

Tools: screw driver, to remove the small coolant hose thats above it.. remove the small pipe.. you'll loose about an egg cup full of water! LEAVE the expansion pressure CAP ON!!!

8mm spanner to remoce the nut, then the wire off the end of the plug ... 12mm DOG LEG spanner, to undo the plug, and then a MAGNET - one of those small types halfrauds sell them on a flexi stem, this then used to help get the plug out, and guide the new one back in...

Simple!

Post by **CitroJim** » 26 Sep 2009, 22:39

I've never felt the need to remove that hose Paul. Access is OK with a cranked 12mm ring spanner I find. Mind you, it's not a bad idea to slip that hose off every now and again as the spigot is apt to get blocked up with corrosion and that little pipe plays a pretty important role in the general scheme of things.

Blu-tak is your friend and stuff rag behind the pump in case the glowplug makes a bid for freedom behind the pump. You'd never believe how many old glowplugs I've found nestling behind pumps when I've removed them and they're a devil to retrieve

It's not a bad idea to attach a length of soft iron wire to the glowplug as well, that stops them running away and hiding when removing/replacing them.

Good point on the colour Paul, that's generally my finding but like HDI I like to test them by placing them across a battery and seeing they glow quickly and the glow is bright and concentrated at the tip.

Be careful though as they stay hot enough to inflict a nasty burn for a considerable time. How do I know?

Tim, I consider your garage wimped out, not swapping No. 4 but it's a common enough practice sadly.

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 26 Sep 2009, 23:12

I've only changed one set and I did exactly as citroenxm describes only I also removed the lift sensor plug bracket to save blood

Napoleon · Post by **Napoleon** » 27 Sep 2009, 07:40

Thanks all

Jim, the mech at the garage said that he would have had to drain the coolant ALTOGETHER, not just an egg cupful.

Anyway, car was fine starting through the last winter (first I've had it), and I'm confident it'll be good this year.

Tim

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 27 Sep 2009, 09:28

Tim, Thats balls, theres absolutly no need to drain the cooling system.. AS I said leaving the coolant cap on the expansion bottle holds the suction, and only a bit drains out, dont it 4 times now, same result every time!

Paul

Napoleon · Post by **Napoleon** » 27 Sep 2009, 09:43

I hear you.

Out of interest, the price for changing the three plugs and fixing an AWOL o/s brake light was £48.32.

mark21td · Post by **mark21td** » 27 Sep 2009, 19:43

Running SVO will not clean your plugs, but will show up any that are on there way out and any other problems with the engine, injectors ect.

How are you makeing it economical with the price of SVO at the mo, WVO yes but SVO !

You may need to add some petrol as it gets colder 5% to start with then up to 10% when it drops to 0c.

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 27 Sep 2009, 19:50

SVO around here is 60-70ppl
Costco/Makro/Bookers is your friend.

Napoleon · Post by **Napoleon** » 27 Sep 2009, 20:46

! I need to update my sig line!

mark21td · Post by **mark21td** » 27 Sep 2009, 21:04

Xac wrote:SVO around here is 60-70ppl
Costco/Makro/Bookers is your friend.

That's a good price for SVO, but I collect used oil (WVO) for free and turn it into biodiesel, costs 10p per liter

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 27 Sep 2009, 21:53

mark21td wrote:
Xac wrote:SVO around here is 60-70ppl
Costco/Makro/Bookers is your friend.

That's a good price for SVO, but I collect used oil (WVO) for free and turn it into biodiesel, costs 10p per liter

The 50-60p extra for peace of mind is enough for me.
Why bother turning it into biodiesel though? Especially considering the hazards involved.
Just filter properly and change your fuel filter regularly.

mark21td · Post by **mark21td** » 27 Sep 2009, 22:02

I started makeing bio when my wife had an HDI and my 405 had a lucas pump, but now I've just brought a Xantia 1.9td (bosch) and the wife has a 406 2.1td (was lucas EPIC but now running a bosch 1.9 pump).
So I may use the good stuff after filtering and make bio from the crud or when it's too cold for filtered WVO.

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 27 Sep 2009, 22:06

oooooooo mark, thats interesting, what sort of a job was it, getting a 1.9 pump to work on the 2.1?? I know you'd need to change the lucas injectors to, but I tried this a couple of years ago with no sucess...

Paul