Glow plug tip fell into engine

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MEMBER
1995 TOYOTA
3.0L
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
250,000 MILES

Hi

While changing my glow plugs the ceramic tip broke off one of the plugs and fell into the cylinder chamber. I did not realize this until starting the engine up which ran for no longer than a minute, It would run fine then really lumpy then fine again.

My question is what can I do now, I know that with the tip in the cylinder head I shouldnt drive the car and I assume the head needs to be removed to assess this further. However by running the car is there a possibility that the tip is now inaccessible and the engine is pretty much dead? I dont want to spend time and money removing the head if this is the case.

Thanks very much for your time if you get a change to read this, much appreciated. Cheers, Matt

5 Replies

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,938 POSTS

Are we talking about diesel glow plugs or petrol spark plugs here?

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Monday, January 19th, 2015 AT 12:15 AM

ONTHEROAD

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3 POSTS

Hi, its Diesel glow plugs.

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Monday, January 19th, 2015 AT 12:19 AM

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,938 POSTS

The glow plug sit in a pre combustion chamber in the head, and not direct into the cylinder, pending how small the bits are they should sit there but if small enough they will make there way into the cyl, with this said, they will be small enough to probably either be discharged out the exhaust or get embedded into the piston crown. I feel that the chards have been taken through the exhaust as with the engine running rough for a while then clearing may have been then passing the exhaust valve being ground up and holding the valve open for a while, if the engine is not running rough now and has stayed the same all may be ok, but a comp test will show any valve seat damage practically a leak down test will be more accurate.

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Monday, January 19th, 2015 AT 12:28 AM

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