[Vwdiesel] What is the candle wax GP extraction trick ?

[Roger Brown]

Shawn Wright wrote:
> 
> On 31 Jan 2005 at 10:46, Smith, Michael <Michael.Smith at rvh.nb.ca> wrote:
> 
> > I've been spraying WD-40 and every other day some penetrating oil, on my
> > stuck and dead GP, but someone offhandedly mention a "wax trick".
> > For some reason I am unable to search the archives from here at work. Web
> > geeks have site blocked or something.
> > Who can give me a real quick explanation of what that's about please?
> >
> > Also, do you think that trying to extract said glowplug while engine is
> > still hot would help at all ?
> 
> I believe it involves dribbling candle was over the part when hot - it should melt and
> wick up the threads (in theory). I've never tried it. Definitely remove them hot, and
> perhaps even heat the area around GP with a torch also. I had to use a torch to
> remove the valve cover studs from the head - I was surprised how stuck they were,
> and how much heat had to be used. Since aluminum expands more than iron, just
> head the head, not the GP.

I've had good results on occasion with candle wax melted onto the stuck fastener. You want the item hot enough to melt the wax
and since the wax will wick towards the higher temperature, you could probably run the engine until it is just hot enough to
melt the wax on the surface.  Have never tired this on glow plugs but found it has worked well for removing difficult studs.

--
   Roger