How to Change Glow Plugs

How Long Do Glow Plugs Last?

Glow Plugs are an important part of a diesel engine, and their life expectancy directly affects the performance and reliability of the engine. The following is a detailed description of the life of a Glow Plug and related considerations:

 

The life span of glow plugs depends on a variety of factors, including usage conditions, maintenance and fuel quality. Generally speaking, the life of a glow plug is between 20,000 and 100,000 kilometers. However, under harsh operating conditions, such as high temperature, high humidity, or frequent starting and stopping, the life of a glow plug may be shorter.

 

There are a few things to consider to extend the life of your glow plug for diesel engine:

 

Regular Maintenance: Regular inspection and cleaning of the glow plug is the key to extending its life. Cleaning the fuel system and keeping the fuel clean will minimize corrosion and damage to the glow plug from fuel residue and impurities.

 

Use high-quality fuel: Choosing high-quality diesel fuel can reduce impurities and contaminants in the fuel and reduce damage to the glow plugs.

 

Avoid frequent starting: frequent starting and stopping will accelerate the wear and tear of the glow plugs, try to avoid short-distance driving and reduce the number of engine starts, which will help prolong the service life of the glow plugs.

 

Timely replacement: Check the status of the glow plugs regularly, and replace them in time once you find signs of damage or aging, so as not to affect the normal operation of the engine.

 

How to Test a Glow Plug

In construction machinery, testing the working condition of the Glow Plug is an important step to ensure the normal operation of the diesel engine. The following is a detailed description of how to test the Glow Plug:

 

Preparation: Before testing the Glow Plug, make sure the engine has been switched off and cooled to a safe temperature. Prepare a digital multimeter or a thermal plug tester to measure the resistance of the thermal plug.

 

Locating the glow Plug: Locate the glow plug according to the machine manual or machine drawing. The glow plug is usually mounted in the engine's combustion chamber, near the injector nozzle.

 

Disconnect Power: Disconnect the power connection cable from the thermal plug to prevent electric shock or damage to the test instrument during measurement.

 

Measure the resistance: Connect the two probes of the digital multimeter or glow plug tester to the two ends of the glow plug to measure the resistance value of the heat plug. Under normal circumstances, the resistance value of the hot plug should be between 0.5 and 2.0 ohms. If the resistance value is outside of this range, the heat plug may have a problem and needs to be further inspected or replaced.

 

Visual Inspection: In addition to measuring the resistance value, a visual inspection can also be performed. Observe the appearance of the thermal plug. If visible damage, cracks or corrosion are found on the thermal plug housing, it may mean that the thermal plug is damaged and needs to be replaced.

 

Reconnect the power supply: If the test results show that the thermal plug is normal, you can reconnect the power connection cable to ensure a solid connection.

 

How to Change Glow Plugs

In construction machinery, replacing Glow Plugs (heat plugs) is a critical maintenance task that ensures proper operation of the diesel engine. The following will detail the steps on how to change the Glow Plugs:

 

Preparation: Before replacing the Glow Plugs, make sure the engine is switched off and cooled down to a safe temperature. Prepare the required tools and spare parts, including a wrench, wrenching gloves, and new heat plugs.

 

Locate the hot plug: Find the location of the hot plug according to the machine manual or machine drawings. The hot plug is usually installed in the engine's combustion chamber, near the injector nozzle.

 

Removing the Hot Plug: Use a wrench to remove the set screws around the hot plug and carefully remove the hot plug from the combustion chamber. Be careful not to damage the combustion chamber and surrounding parts when removing the heat plug.

 

Cleaning the Combustion Chamber: Before installing the new heat plug, be sure to clean the area around the combustion chamber to ensure that the new heat plug will fit and work properly. Cleaning can be done with detergent and a soft cloth.

 

Installing the New glow Plug: Insert the new glow plug into the combustion chamber and secure it in place with a wrench. Make sure the glow plug is securely installed to prevent loosening or vibration when the engine is running.

 

Connecting the power supply: Connect the power connection cable of the glow plug to the appropriate location and make sure the connection is secure. When connecting the power supply, make sure the power is turned off to avoid the risk of electric shock.

 

Test the glow Plug: After completing the replacement of the glow plug, start the engine and test it to ensure that the new glow plug is working properly. Observe how the glow plug heats up when the engine is started and check for any unusual noise or vibration.