Citroen XM Forum

Clearing the head ready for skimming, the injector bodies are very STUCK so tops off before applying a "stronger force" (to prevent damage as I did not know to remove the injectors BEFORE taking the head off)

4 & 3 released fine and all internals lifted out fine with a magnet so I carried on, in 2 & 1 the base is stuck.......so how do I remove these ?

Ideally slacken the injectors in the head before it's taken off the block as you can apply more torque as the block and car holds the head..

You could sit an old gasket on the block in the car place the head on and stick 4x old bolts in to hold the head you can then apply more torque with a loooooong bar to crack them off..

Just to save me going up to the garage, off the top of your head.....what is the socket size for the injectors ?

Twenty....... Oh. Balls. Urrmmm seven..

Cheers.....

Well at least I can use a large standard socket and a big "sod-off" rattle gun to remove the bottom part now .....oooops, nobody told me to take them out before removing the head


Will order up a 27mm Slot type socket to replace them.

I would have avoided stripping the injectors down as they will now need calibrating before use, also the needle lift sensor might not take kindly to being dismantled.
Ensure you fit new heat shield washers on assembly.

For stuck injectors in aluminium heads just apply some heat.
Aluminium expands at 50% greater rate than steel, so loses its grip as the metals expand.
As the engine is at fairly cool ambient temperature the aluminium is gripping the steel tightly.
As said, you may need to remount the head to be able to restrain it sufficiently, but resting the rear flat surface on a wood block and a hefty clout on a 27mm ring spanner should see them loose.
The spanner fits in for refitting fully built injectors saving the requirement to buy an injector socket.

Be careful when using an impact wrench to undo stuck steel into aluminium threads...there is a risk of stripping the aluminium thread.

This is why one always runs a a diesel engine to fully hot before trying to remove glow plugs. I have resorted to unscrewing them with the engine idling to keep the head hot.

Some really good tips there, Will, so thanks.
I've just been lucky (so far) with injector and GP removal.
Last time I had a set of four (off the car) Bosch injectors serviced/recalibrated, it was just €70 for the set. New washers were supplied.

White Exec wrote: Thu May 06, 2021 7:01 am I've just been lucky (so far) with injector and GP removal.

The short plugs fitted to indirect diesels rarely snap.
Long plugs fitted to multivalve engines, snap readily.

Well (using a 3ft long extension) I have removed the injector bodies now, wow that took some effort !
One thing I just noticed was the angle of the glow-plug chamber.....All the others are like the left hand one as are those on the "spare" head.

It's rotated in situ but not sure why.