Glow plug help

[ste68blue]

Hi all, went and bought a set of glow plugs for my terrano today, pulled the first one out and found that the electrode bit on the end was about 3-5mm longer than the original ones.

Went back to the motor factor and he ordered me a different set/ manufacturer and then he rings me to tell me they are the same, slightly longer than the original ones...

the first set i got were bosch ones if that helps?

My question is should i fit the bosch ones, being slightly longer or is there another option?

cheers
stephen

 

[makeitfit]

Are you saying that the ones taken out of the engine are shorter than the new ones you bought?:nenau
If so then that's what I'd expect, as the old ones (that were in the engine) will have erroded away . Therefore appear shorter than the new ones :thumbs

 

[ste68blue]

Hi mate, thanks for the reply.

The old ones are shorter, but they don't look eroded and still have the rounded tip on the end, i was a little worried as i don't know how much clearance the ends of the glow plugs have from hitting any moving parts, like the tops of he pistons.....

 

[makeitfit]

Ah, well in that case are all the old ones the same length?
When I did mine last year some were down to the stumps but all the tips were still rounded:augie
Sounds like we need an eggspurt

 

[ste68blue]

I only ended up taking the first one out and when i compared them and noticed a difference i stopped and went back to the motor factors so i dont know what the others are like.....

 

[4wheel]

I had the same problem when I replaced mine.However what I discovered was that there is a difference in thread length.In other words although the overall plug is longer the thread only allows the correct amount to protrude into the cylinder.Perhaps yours are the same ?

 

[ste68blue]

when i measured them side by side the plug itself is the same, its just the electrode on the end that is slightly longer, so if i had screwed it in then the electrode would have protruded further into the cylinder head/ chamber

 

[rustic]

As far as I am aware there are 2 types of glowplug for the Terrano, depending on the year / model, had no problems with my Mk I Mav.

How can these erode away, they are only a low ohm, high wattage resistor in a metal tube after all. Aren't they...:nenau

When mine have gone the side of the tube has split as if the resistor had exploded. The lengths of both the thread and the element, are the same as other manufacturers I have used.
Unlike lots of other things, they don't shrink as they get older...

 

[briggie]

glow plug circuit is mentioned on pages 393 onwards ..... hope it helps :thumb2

http://bebrs.pie-dabas.net/Webs/Terrano/R20/ec.pdf

 

[makeitfit]

Unlike lots of other things, they don't shrink as they get older...

Well they had on mine
Some where just not there, just stumps, and others were half gone :nenau
Maybe the pixies had them :lol

 

[ste68blue]

Well its finally done....i got the correct glow plugs and the length is the same, unfortunately i am sure i read somewhere that lucas plugs are rubbish....guess what kind i have ended up with....

Anyway, fitted and working.

Just one thing though, how do you know if the glow plugs or one of the glow plugs isnt working properly for future reference?

cheers
stephen

 

[rustic]

Just one thing though, how do you know if the glow plugs or one of the glow plugs isnt working properly for future reference?
cheers
stephen

In cold weather, if 1 plug has gone, it will start ok but will seem to run rough.
2 gone, more difficult to start, runs rougher on start up until warm.

3 gone very difficult to start and engine wants to jump out, you need loads of revs to keep it running.

4 gone .... get yourself a second battery just in case you flatten the original.

In warm weather, on cold starting it just takes longer to start. The more plugs gone the longer it takes.

Hope this helps.
best regards, Rustic

 

[lacroupade]

In cold weather, if 1 plug has gone, it will start ok but will seem to run rough.
2 gone, more difficult to start, runs rougher on start up until warm.

3 gone very difficult to start and engine wants to jump out, you need loads of revs to keep it running.

4 gone .... get yourself a second battery just in case you flatten the original.

In warm weather, on cold starting it just takes longer to start. The more plugs gone the longer it takes.

Hope this helps.
best regards, Rustic

Just to clarify what Rustic says, the glow plugs come on and stay on for up to ten minutes after starting, so if your rough running stops after that amount of time its because the engine is no longer reliant on a dodgy plug for starting - so diagnosis should be fairly simple.

I'd love to know what knackers them frankly - my third truck - that Extreme now has - has done obver 200,000 miles and never had any problem with plugs, or MAF for that matter.

 

[Bee Elzebub]

...And talking of glow-plugs - I take it they come on automatically as soon as you turn the ignition key? How long should you wait before turning the starter?

My only experience with diesels is through new "state-of-the-art" company vans with "instant start" capabilities...

 

[briggie]

...And talking of glow-plugs - I take it they come on automatically as soon as you turn the ignition key? How long should you wait before turning the starter?

My only experience with diesels is through new "state-of-the-art" company vans with "instant start" capabilities...

personally i wait till the light goes out

 

[Bee Elzebub]

personally i wait till the light goes out

Ah! Er...em... Did I say I was new on here, too?

Must've been mad to do it, but I just jumped in at the deep end, buying my Mav' on impulse without time to absorb all the bells, whistles & buttons...so, which light's the glow-plug light?

Sorry for being a bit newbie-dumb - I'll look tomorrow in daylight...

 

[briggie]

big yellow light on the dash , near the speedo ( well it is on mine :augie )

 

[Bee Elzebub]

Ta, Briggie - appreciate it!

Got a bit of spring-cleaning to do in mine (Poo! Fag-ash Fred had it, I reckon!), so I'll dabble with the buttons & things when I'm in there...

Thanks folks!:clap

 

[cleangreenm/c]

little yellow light

hi turn ignition on yellow lite will glow wen it goes out continue to turn key to start engine. i personly wait till the lite goes out every timei start mine.best of luck roy:clap

 

[laurieash]

Just to clarify what Rustic says, the glow plugs come on and stay on for up to ten minutes after starting, so if your rough running stops after that amount of time its because the engine is no longer reliant on a dodgy plug for starting - so diagnosis should be fairly simple.

I'd love to know what knackers them frankly - my third truck - that Extreme now has - has done obver 200,000 miles and never had any problem with plugs, or MAF for that matter.

Is that true, on for up to 10 mins after start up?I was under standing that they went off after the yellow light on dash. Laurie.