Diesel Glow Plugs

Clarky130 · Jan 30, 2012

How long do they last on average? Reason I ask, is that my 2.5 DSE runs like a bag of nails for the first few seconds after cold starting, accompanied by some (not much) unburnt diesel smoke (white) out the exhaust. After 5 secs or so all is fine. Service records say glow plugs were changed 35K ago.

wammers · Jan 30, 2012

I would say you almost certainly have a couple of failed plugs.

Clarky130 · Jan 30, 2012

That's what I suspected, Wammers - just thought they'd last longer than 35k!

Any idea how to test them, or do you reckon just replace the lot?

wammers · Jan 30, 2012

Clarky130 said:
That's what I suspected, Wammers - just thought they'd last longer than 35k!

Any idea how to test them, or do you reckon just replace the lot?

I would change the lot. Get some good ones not the cheapies. Don't know if you have a hot start fitted, but they last less time if you have, being used for every start.

Datatek · Jan 30, 2012

Cheapo's last no time at all, good ones up to 100K depending on the number of starts where they are needed.

Davie F · Jan 30, 2012

Mine was getting a little lumpy on cold mornings a couple of months back so I changed all of them and back to instant starting and smoothness. I took out NGK and put in Delphi, the ones I took out all worked but obviously had degraded a bit over time. As said don't use cheapies, this is a case of buy cheap and you will regret it as you will just have to do it all again.
Davie

Clarky130 · Jan 30, 2012

Good advice, cheers. No hot start fitted on mine - starts ok hot anyways, after a second or two of full-speed cranking.

jamesblake · Jan 31, 2012

Delphi are good plugs then??
I got myself a set being fitted on Thursday also got the inlet manifold gaskets as recommend on here. fingers crossed!! 4/5 time to turn over can't be doing other bits any good!!

Datatek · Feb 1, 2012

jamesblake said:
Delphi are good plugs then??
I got myself a set being fitted on Thursday also got the inlet manifold gaskets as recommend on here. fingers crossed!! 4/5 time to turn over can't be doing other bits any good!!

As long as they are not Chinese fakes branded as Delphi

Davie F · Feb 1, 2012

I am happy with the Delphi plugs but any good make is fine, think I got mine from Island 4 x 4 for about £40, test them before fitting, never know when one could have been dropped in transport, you never know one may be duff, thats what I do anyway. I treat glow plugs like spark plugs, change every 2 years regardless, better than going out on a wet freezing windy morning and the bugger playing up.
Davie

roddy4 · Feb 1, 2012

Datatek said:
Cheapo's last no time at all, good ones up to 100K depending on the number of starts where they are needed.

didn't know they could last so long

Clarky130 · Feb 2, 2012

How difficult are they to do? RAVE is telling me I need to remove the injector pipery!

Don't fancy that - and the inlet manifold!

Is this necessary, or is there another way?

discomark10 · Feb 2, 2012

cant be to bad, seen plenty of guys removing the plugs when they flood the engine in water at 4x4 play sites

jerrytlr · Feb 2, 2012

Clarky130 said:
How difficult are they to do? RAVE is telling me I need to remove the injector pipery! Don't fancy that - and the inlet manifold!

Is this necessary, or is there another way?

You need to remove the inlet manifold, so remember to get 6 new inlet manifold gaskets, but I removed all 6 glowplugs without removing the injector pipework. I would reckon on a couple of hours start to finish assuming you can also do the work without removing injector pipes. This could be one of those EGR/Non-EGR things I suppose, mine is an early non-EGR model.

Cheers,

Jerry

Chrisfrain2007 · Feb 2, 2012

Thinking of doing mine soon, does anybody have the part number for the gaskets?

wammers · Feb 2, 2012

jerrytlr said:
You need to remove the inlet manifold, so remember to get 6 new inlet manifold gaskets, but I removed all 6 glowplugs without removing the injector pipework. I would reckon on a couple of hours start to finish assuming you can also do the work without removing injector pipes. This could be one of those EGR/Non-EGR things I suppose, mine is an early non-EGR model.

Cheers,

Jerry

No need to remove injector pipes just manifold.

Datatek · Feb 2, 2012

roddy4 said:
didn't know they could last so long

Never been changed on mine and it has 106K on the clock. Starts instantly hot or cold

Speedex750 · Feb 3, 2012

It is (just) possible to change number 3 behind the injection pump and 5 & 6 at the back without removing anything at all. Getting the cable back on and tightening the terminal nut is very tricky but just possible if you don't want to strip down further. And three good ones will get you started until you can tackle the rest. All 6 can be done easily (ex-Mini owners know about inaccessible parts!) once you've got the inlet manifold off, you don't have to take the pipe rack off.

Did mine last weekend. You need a deep 12mm or 1/2" AF socket for the plugs and a 8mm for the terminal. Jam the new plug / terminal nut in the socket with a bit of cardboard when you're refitting.

Diesel Glow Plugs

Clarky130

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wammers

No longer with us, RIP

Clarky130

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wammers

No longer with us, RIP

Datatek

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Davie F

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Clarky130

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jamesblake

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Datatek

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Davie F

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roddy4

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Clarky130

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discomark10

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jerrytlr

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Chrisfrain2007

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wammers

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Datatek

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Speedex750

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