my glow plugs

[madmazda]

Hi all lately i have been having trouble starting my l400 even when left indoors during the day.... I took my glow plugs out to have a look. The front two were black and a bit sooty, the two rear ones were a light grayish color no sooty film at all. I'm guessing the two rear ones are knackered..... I re-installed with some high temp anti seize and with trouble and a ton of smoke she fired up. I'm guessing I'm going to need new glow plugs would anyone know a bit more.....

[tonydca]

Hi OP. You can test your plugs yourself if you want. All I used was a single one of a pair of jumper cables:

- Clamp one end of a jumper cable to the (-) Neg terminal on your battery,
- Remove a plug from the head and grab the outer body of the plug with the other end of the same cable, so now the body of the plug is electrically connected to the (-) side of the battery.
- Using the cable as a convenient handle with which to hold your plug, reach in and carefully touch the end of the plug (where the nuts thread onto the busbar) to the (+) Pos side of the battery. Be careful not to touch the body of the plug to the (+) side or you'll get a *really* big spark!
- You might see a small spark when you first touch it - normal - but more importantly after about 4-5 seconds, the tip should be glowing orange-hot.

I found 1 duff plug out of 4, which encouraged me to drop the $130 and replace the set.

Edit: PS - Before you try to remove them, it doesn't hurt to spray the base of the plugs where they enter the head with a shot of WD40 and let it soak for 15 min before you start. I was paranoid about having one snap off, and so far so good.

Hyundai OEM replacement plugs from CVI working fine for me so far; first crank this morning at -5.

[madmazda]

well i got mine out with no troubles.... when I put them back in I put some high temp anti seize so when i go to remove them when i change them to new ones I won't have a problem taking them out in the future..... I hope

[jessef]

Take them out when the engine is hot otherwise you risk snapping them off (when cold).

[madmazda]

well i sourced out some glow plugs here in Calgary got them 3 hrs after I ordered them and what a difference....starts first pop when cold....and when sitting all day in a warm car park..... ahhhhh stress is G O N E lol

[snelson]

Jesse - you sure you meant remove when hot? The head expands when hot making them harder to remove no? I've always removed plugs when cold...

[madmazda]

I took them off when warm and cold.... came off no problem.... before I put the new plugs in I smeared some High temp anti seize on the threads so in the future they will come out easier....

[jessef]

I remove glowplugs when the engine's hot. Makes it easier to crack them loose if they are tight.

[madmazda]

Jesse is right they were way easier to get out when warm..... It's because the aluminum expands at a different rate than the stainless steel of the glow plugs.... all i know my van start now with no hesitation and no HUGE CLOUD OF SMOKE

[djelica]

Hey madmazda,

Where in Calgary did you find your plugs and what brand? Price?

Cheers, djelica

[Canadaeh]

I am interested in a Calgary source too! Mine are fine now but I would like some for backup.