cold starting

This morning I went to start my truck, 2.5dhse. I let the glow plug symbol go out and then fiddled with the radio before i tried to start it, it took forever to fire, i appreciate how the plugs work, but it was only a matter of seconds past the plugs light going out. Am I best just replacing the glowplugs ?
(given i don't know when they were last changed, leak off's already done).
and yes I will get some decent ones.

There is only energy to the plugs when lamp is lit. If you don't start straight away they cool PDQ. Why did you not just switch off and cycle them again.

As Tony said. You need to crank the instant the light goes out, something I had difficulty getting my wife to understand. For her waiting for the light to go out was the time to adjust the mirrors, seat etc, she thought as long as the light was out it was OK to try and start it.

Thanks, I thought I had been an arse as well, but tonight it took me 6 glow plug cycles to start her up, then a huge smoke cloud. Up until Saturday she started perfectly, that's why I am now thinking a plug or two has failed, it's unlikely to be the relay has failed as is does start eventually. Thoughts please. Thanks.

bigsmellydaddy said:

Thanks, I thought I had been an arse as well, but tonight it took me 6 glow plug cycles to start her up, then a huge smoke cloud. Up until Saturday she started perfectly, that's why I am now thinking a plug or two has failed, it's unlikely to be the relay has failed as is does start eventually. Thoughts please. Thanks.

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You need at least three consecutivly firing cylinders to have good plugs. So it only needs a couple next to each other to go down to cause bad starting.

Thanks, that's what I thought might be the case, I will get a set tomorrow and swap them out, don't want to have grief before going to Goodwood with the kids on Thursday. Deep socket, what size ?

bigsmellydaddy said:

Thanks, that's what I thought might be the case, I will get a set tomorrow and swap them out, don't want to have grief before going to Goodwood with the kids on Thursday. Deep socket, what size ?

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12mm, you may need a wobbler on number two.

By the way Wammers, l love your plane, we are lucky enough to live near a guy with his own Hurricane, it was out playing yesterday evening. I never fail to run outside and watch, i just love the thing.

bigsmellydaddy said:

By the way Wammers, l love your plane, we are lucky enough to live near a guy with his own Hurricane, it was out playing yesterday evening. I never fail to run outside and watch, i just love the thing.

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Gone now, flight surgeon says my eyes are no good. I said, "Yeah but i can see the Sun and that's 93 million miles away". He said, "Yeah i know, but it's the bloody runway you struggle with".

I replaced all but no.2 this evening, couldn't get to 2 without taking the inlet manifold off, and I didn't have time for that today, it now starts fine. the ones I took out were the originals,so 155k miles isn't bad.
also changed the pump for the rear window jet, screen wash running down my arm and in to my armpit - lovely. At least the bugger works now, it has been bugging me for ages.