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Information - Heater plugs

Glow plug: replacement and selection

When and why it is necessary to replace glow plug

Lifetime limit of the glow plugs reaches 60,000 of car mileage and depends on fuel system condition, quality of diesel fuel used, and conditions of vehicle operation, particularly, air temperature. Common defects of the components are short circuit, formation of thick carbon layer on a tip, swelling of a glow tube. Usually they are caused by improper installation of the glow plug, exceeding of supplied voltage, and usage of the plugs not suitable for the engine type.

Breakdown of the glow plug can be suspected if the engine doesn’t start at all, or starts only after a few tries, especially at low air temperature. Also defectiveness of the part can be indicated by white-bluish smoke from the exhaust pipe.

You should take into account that the whole set should be replaced at breakdown of one plug. Replacement of the plugs should be performed carefully, with the help of a special torque wrench, which allows to follow required tightening torque. Any inaccuracy during glow plug installation may shorten its operational lifetime.

How to select glow plug

The glow plugs vary according to production material of a heating element tip: it can be made of ceramics or heat-resistant alloy. It is considered that the ceramic parts heat fuel-air mixture faster. Also the components differ by quantity of heating coils, encased into the heating element: there can be one or two. The components with two coils are self-adjusting: there is no need of special auxiliary control systems to maintain their optimal temperature.

It is advised to prefer products of famous brands, when selecting the glow plugs. Such companies as Bosch, NGK, Febi Bilstein, Vemo, D and others gained excellent reputation.

Buying the components, consider their heat rating, compatibility with your car engine type, thread parameters and dimensions. It is also important to pay attention to requirements for installation, especially, recommended tightening torque.

Our customers ask

Is it possible to replace glow plugs on your own?

It is not recommended to replace the glow plugs yourself. As the engines, operating on diesel fuel are notable for high formation of soot, the glow plugs are covered with carbon deposits during operation and fixed very tightly in the mounting seats. That is why there is high risk of tip damaging during their unscrewing, which can lead to demounting of the cylinder head cover and its expensive repair. Special equipment will be required for removal of fragments of the glow plugs. Moreover, it is very important to follow tightening torque, noted in the car operation manual during installation of new parts: improper installation can cause compression loss in the engine and fast breakdown of the glow plug itself.

Where are glow plugs and glow plugs relay located?

The glow plugs are located in the underbonnet space directly on the car engine. But they not always can be seen by opening the bonnet, as exact location of the components depends on the motor construction. Typically, on diesel engines of modern cars they are located overhead, under the valve cover or decorative cover. The relay of glow plugs is located in the relays and fuses block in the engine compartment or under the dashboard. More information about parts location in your very car you can learn in car technical documentation.

How to check glow plugs yourself?

It is not advised to examine the glow plugs yourself. In order to perform diagnostics you need to be proficient in car electrics, have certain skills and know information about nominal parameters of the parts inspected. That is why it is better to entrust these works to professionals. They will check the glow plugs for wire breakage with the help of a multimeter and perform computer diagnostics if necessary.