The Secret of Glow Plugs and How it Works

Glow plugs, mainly found in diesel cars. Being a life line to most diesel vehicle’s during winter/snow season. Glow plugs can simply be define as a hot bulb fitted in the swirl chamber of diesel engines. Its also known as heater plug.

Glow plug is a tiny long thin piece of metal with a heating element at the tip. It’s made of material that resists high temperatures.

When cold starting direct injection diesel engines, heater plugs are use as a heating device.

These plugs are built and design with a timer know as the glow plug timer, it’s a component that controls the glow plugs, setting the time that they stay powered on.

It’s advisable to always check the time range to prevent future damage or wear when heating cylinders based on timer.

Besides, glow plugs often are controlled automatically in modern diesel cars and are made of high electrical resistance.

Few diesel cars are built with manifold heaters, these heaters are made with electrical units fitted inside the manifolds to pre-heat the air as it passes through the inlet to the cylinder.

However, continuous use and exposure to heat can cause diesel glow plugs to fail. It’s mainly advisable to check for bad glow plugs if vehicle start to perform strangely and refuses to start in cold seasons.

Diesel plugs are mainly to last for as long as 100,000 miles, but always make sure you cover up the symptoms of bad diesel glow plugs before taking any additional step.

Furthermore, they works together with glow plug control module, glow plug combustion sensors and glow plug relays in reducing emissions.

There are few ways to diagnose or test a glow plug if its low in resistance. Here are basic steps one can follow to get your glow plugs test.

How to Test Heater Plugs

Need help in testing your diesel glow plugs, then this is for you. Get yourself an ohms meter if you have one. You can also use a test light.

Make sure you disconnect the glow plug wires before you begin this process.

Step by step guide

• Firstly, get your self a test light.
• Connect the positive wire of the test light to the positive terminal of the battery.
• After step 2 is complete, use your test light to touch each terminal of the glow plug.
• The test light will light up if working and the brightness level of the test light will reduce if glow plug is getting bad.

Once you have get to know the steps and guide on how test a glow plug, lets dive deeper by know the tips and tricks in removing a diesel glow plug.

Glow Plugs removal and Installation Tips and Tricks

Before we commence with the glow plug removal and installation guide, you need to get make sure you use the right tools for the job to prevent future damage or broken plugs.

Also, refusing to the use right tool for the job will generate unexpected damage or cost.

The use of wrong tools have been rampant and glow plugs always found broken inside cylinder heads. This requires additional time and right diagnostics to get the job done.

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Here are few tools you can bring on board when performing such task;

• Pliers
• Vice grips
• Torque wrench
• Regular tools
• Glow plug hole reamer
• Lint Rag
• Air compression hose

Here are additional tips and tricks to help you out.

• Make sure you use the right plugs for your vehicle.
• The use of penetrating oil to free corroded portions.
• Clean debris and carbon out of holes before you begin installation.
• Application of anti-seize to glow plug body and threads.

I believe the above information could help and would like to hear from you, what are your suggestions, drop them at the comment section.