A little knowledge...

Big lumps of metals and spanners.

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Fozzie
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A little knowledge...

Post by Fozzie »

Because this raises an interesting philosophical question I'm tempted to post this in General Chat. But I actually have a genuine technical question I'd like an answer to.

Our 1.6TD wouldn't start because of 3 dead glow plugs. Advice here is it's doable, but a swine of a job, especially if it means taking out injectors, and I eventually chickened out and gave it to local grumpy-but-apparently-competent mechanic (GBACM). Sorted. Except two postings about removing the injectors in this thread stick in the mind...

Titus A Duxass wrote:(don't forget that you'll need new heat shields under the injectors
Simon Baxter wrote:Use new flame traps for your injectors upon refitment... DO NOT SKRIMP ON THE FLAME TRAPS or you injectors won't last 2 minutes.

So, on pickup, this conversation ensued:

Me: did you remove any injectors?
GBACM: only number 2
Me: did you fit a new flame trap? Only the Club experts say it's really important.
GBACM: Oh ffs... Blxxdy internet, now everyone's an expert... Look, I've been fitting these things since Pontius was a pilot, and I've never renewed one of them... I refitted the old one like I've always done... It's just a 20p copper washer, ffs... (etc)

And here's the problem. How right is Simon? (Yeah, I know, but I have to ask). And what do I do now?
1. Agree he's probably right, Club members are just a fretful bunch, and not bother - and keep my mechanic
2. Tell him he's got to do it, which he will, but suffer the consequences of peeing him off big time; or, I suppose...
3. Tell him he's right, but fit the thing myself, which kind of obviates the point of asking him to do the work in the first place.

He's right on one thing - all customers are "experts" in the internet age. (It's certainly true of my business.) Advice (constructive) would be most welcome... :?

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HarryMann
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Re: A little knowledge...

Post by HarryMann »

3)

It is good practice because they are replaceable items... they deform to seal and presume the heat 'sets' them.

PS. If in Desert and Rommel is chasing you, then by all means, put the old one back and get the hell outa there !

Pretty sure they're not copper as well.. looked like hard steel to me. And cost pence

The glowplugs also have a quite critical torque because they swage over a lip seal when tightened (details in Bentley), think its about 15~22 ft-lb, prob also in Wiki.

The 80-90 Tech Wikipedia Your 1st port of call :idea

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