Another glow plug thread

I've owned by 1995 6.5L Tahoe for over 13 years and 175K + miles, and have never had to touch a glow plug in that time period. However, over the past several weeks, I've noticed she was getting harder and harder to start when cold, even when plugged in. The final straw was last weekend when returning from a trip with friends, and I went to start the Tahoe after sitting for 36 hours in 20 degree weather without being plugged in, and I was wondering if she was going to start or not.

I had checked all the plugs I could get easy access to, and all appeared to be good, but I decided it was time for some fresh plugs anyway. I ordered up a set of Kennedy's Quick Heat plugs, and set aside this past Saturday to do the job.

I tackled the difficult passenger side first. With information I had gleaned over the years here at the Diesel Page, along with a few Youtube videos, I tore into the job by removing the steel inner fender and dropping the exhaust pipe from the turbo. I was pleasantly surprised that the job wasn't as bad as I expected. I spent around 2.5 hours replacing the plugs on the passenger side, and about 10 minutes on the driver side.

I checked all the plugs I removed, and, surprise surprise, the 3 plugs I couldn't access easily during my initial checks were all dead! I was surprised she was starting at all with 3 cold cylinders.

This morning she fired right up, better than ever, even without being plugged in! I am quite pleased thus far with the Kennedy Quick Heats. Thank you, Diesel Page.

Casey

Casey, Good plugs can make all the difference during the winter.

I've replaced more than one set of 6.5TD glow plugs by simply removing the right front tire (vehicle setting on a jack stand so you can physically get into the wheel house), removing the flexible inner fender splash shield, and the cylindrical heat shields surrounding plugs #4 & #6. The #8 glow plug can be R&R'ed on a creeper from beneath the vehicle. The plug for cyl #2 is the easiest to change.

Didn't have to remove the steel inner fender or turbo downpipe, and it didn't take that long as I recall. Jim

Quote:

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Originally Posted by More Power

Casey, Good plugs can make all the difference during the winter.

I've replaced more than one set of 6.5TD glow plugs by simply removing the right front tire (vehicle setting on a jack stand so you can physically get into the wheel house), removing the flexible inner fender splash shield, and the cylindrical heat shields surrounding plugs #4 & #6. The #8 glow plug can be R&R'ed on a creeper from beneath the vehicle. The plug for cyl #2 is the easiest to change.

Didn't have to remove the steel inner fender or turbo downpipe, and it didn't take that long as I recall. Jim

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Perhaps it's my aftermarket downpipe, but there was no way to access # 6 without dropping the pipe. I wouldn't want to try getting to # 8 without removing the inner fender on mine, either!

Thanks,

Casey

Been a while, but I used to do #8 from above. # 2,4,6 with steel liner in place. Pretty sure I had to release the downpipe to access #6

Back when... I R&R'ed two sets of 6.5 glow plugs on the same day when doing the piece on glow plugs (Quick Heats & AC-60G comparo). This was on our 1994 Blazer with a Kennedy downpipe and The 6.5TD Project with a BD downpipe. Don't remember it being that big a deal. I didn't change the R&R Guide's instructions for changing the glow plugs after that, so I'm guessing it wasn't an issue. It's been a while...

No longer than it took to remove the inner fender, I think I would recommend doing it that way in the future, at least for me. Wide open and easy access made the job quite simple.

Removing the inner fender only requires removing the air filter housing, and then a few bolts around the perimeter of the fender. Quite simply, really, as long as the bolts and nut clips haven't rusted in place....

Casey