changing glow plugs in a 94 Disco

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C

Cyberwraith

Guest
Hi folks, I was considering changing the glow plugs in Edie, they have been
in for three years now. After saying that should I even bother if they are
OK? I have never owned a diesel before and so am not sure, with sparks I
cleaned and set and changed when called for.


 
Cyberwraith wrote:

|| Hi folks, I was considering changing the glow plugs in Edie, they
|| have been in for three years now. After saying that should I even
|| bother if they are OK? I have never owned a diesel before and so am
|| not sure, with sparks I cleaned and set and changed when called for.

If it starts on the button and idles smooth and fairly smoke-free, I would
leave well alone.

--
Rich
==============================

I don't approve of signatures, so I don't have one.


 
On or around Sun, 6 Aug 2006 17:35:49 +0100, "Richard Brookman"
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>Cyberwraith wrote:
>
>|| Hi folks, I was considering changing the glow plugs in Edie, they
>|| have been in for three years now. After saying that should I even
>|| bother if they are OK? I have never owned a diesel before and so am
>|| not sure, with sparks I cleaned and set and changed when called for.
>


TDis almost never need glowplugs anyway - if the battery and engine are in
good nick it'll start without 'em.

Generally, one fails first and isn't noticed, then another goes, which can
make for slightly bad starting in very cold weather. If you notice it
firing up on less than 4 when it's cold, then it's a good bet that you've a
plug or more missing.

I wouldn't bother changing them just on spec, though - you don't know
(unless you've had the motor from new) how much use they've had - more
stop-start use of the vehicle will use the plugs more, which if you accept
that they have a MTBF based on number of times they've been heated, means
they fail sooner.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
Soon shall thy arm, unconquered steam! afar Drag the slow barge, or
drive the rapid car; Or on wide-waving wings expanded bear the
flying chariot through the field of air.- Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802)
 
On Sun, 06 Aug 2006 16:15:05 GMT, Cyberwraith wrote:

> Hi folks, I was considering changing the glow plugs in Edie, they have
> been in for three years now. After saying that should I even bother if
> they are OK?


Assuming it starts well from cold without producing white smoke leave
alone, if it ain't broke don't fix it! Glow plugs aren't "consumables"
like spark plugs, they can last the life of the engine.

--
Cheers [email protected]
Dave. pam is missing e-mail



 
On Sun, 06 Aug 2006 16:15:05 GMT, "Cyberwraith"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Hi folks, I was considering changing the glow plugs in Edie, they have been
>in for three years now. After saying that should I even bother if they are
>OK? I have never owned a diesel before and so am not sure, with sparks I
>cleaned and set and changed when called for.


Last winter I found that my 1997 300TDi Disco was a bit reluctant to
start so I checked the glow plugs - all dead.

I managed to fit two new ones. They were the two left over when my
mate tried to change his. (Two of them are awkward to get at.)

I reckon I'd been starting the vehicle fine with no working plugs and
only noticed when the weather got very cold. I would echo what others
have said and not bother looking at them unless you're having trouble
starting.

Judith
 

"Judith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sun, 06 Aug 2006 16:15:05 GMT, "Cyberwraith"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Hi folks, I was considering changing the glow plugs in Edie, they have
>>been
>>in for three years now. After saying that should I even bother if they are
>>OK? I have never owned a diesel before and so am not sure, with sparks I
>>cleaned and set and changed when called for.

>
> Last winter I found that my 1997 300TDi Disco was a bit reluctant to
> start so I checked the glow plugs - all dead.
>
> I managed to fit two new ones. They were the two left over when my
> mate tried to change his. (Two of them are awkward to get at.)
>
> I reckon I'd been starting the vehicle fine with no working plugs and
> only noticed when the weather got very cold. I would echo what others
> have said and not bother looking at them unless you're having trouble
> starting.
>
> Judith


Thanks folks, I think I will leave well enough alone, Edie has always been a
good starter except for the battery bought at a certain large superstore
last winter. I am just having the oil changed and filters.


 
Cyberwraith wrote:

|| Hi folks, I was considering changing the glow plugs in Edie, they
|| have been in for three years now. After saying that should I even
|| bother if they are OK? I have never owned a diesel before and so am
|| not sure, with sparks I cleaned and set and changed when called for.

If it starts on the button and idles smooth and fairly smoke-free, I would
leave well alone.

--
Rich
==============================

I don't approve of signatures, so I don't have one.


 
On or around Sun, 6 Aug 2006 17:35:49 +0100, "Richard Brookman"
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>Cyberwraith wrote:
>
>|| Hi folks, I was considering changing the glow plugs in Edie, they
>|| have been in for three years now. After saying that should I even
>|| bother if they are OK? I have never owned a diesel before and so am
>|| not sure, with sparks I cleaned and set and changed when called for.
>


TDis almost never need glowplugs anyway - if the battery and engine are in
good nick it'll start without 'em.

Generally, one fails first and isn't noticed, then another goes, which can
make for slightly bad starting in very cold weather. If you notice it
firing up on less than 4 when it's cold, then it's a good bet that you've a
plug or more missing.

I wouldn't bother changing them just on spec, though - you don't know
(unless you've had the motor from new) how much use they've had - more
stop-start use of the vehicle will use the plugs more, which if you accept
that they have a MTBF based on number of times they've been heated, means
they fail sooner.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
Soon shall thy arm, unconquered steam! afar Drag the slow barge, or
drive the rapid car; Or on wide-waving wings expanded bear the
flying chariot through the field of air.- Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802)
 
On Sun, 06 Aug 2006 16:15:05 GMT, Cyberwraith wrote:

> Hi folks, I was considering changing the glow plugs in Edie, they have
> been in for three years now. After saying that should I even bother if
> they are OK?


Assuming it starts well from cold without producing white smoke leave
alone, if it ain't broke don't fix it! Glow plugs aren't "consumables"
like spark plugs, they can last the life of the engine.

--
Cheers [email protected]
Dave. pam is missing e-mail



 
On Sun, 06 Aug 2006 16:15:05 GMT, "Cyberwraith"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Hi folks, I was considering changing the glow plugs in Edie, they have been
>in for three years now. After saying that should I even bother if they are
>OK? I have never owned a diesel before and so am not sure, with sparks I
>cleaned and set and changed when called for.


Last winter I found that my 1997 300TDi Disco was a bit reluctant to
start so I checked the glow plugs - all dead.

I managed to fit two new ones. They were the two left over when my
mate tried to change his. (Two of them are awkward to get at.)

I reckon I'd been starting the vehicle fine with no working plugs and
only noticed when the weather got very cold. I would echo what others
have said and not bother looking at them unless you're having trouble
starting.

Judith
 
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