As we are entering winter months the world’s leading ignition and sensor specialist, NGK SPARK PLUG manufactures a wide range of premium vehicle components. These include glow plugs, a vital team player in the smooth and efficient running of a diesel engine. Join us for our Q&A below
- What does a glow plug do?
Glow plugs enable optimum ignition conditions and environmentally friendly combustion in diesel engines. Principally, they are used in ignition, receiving electrical energy and heating up to very high temperatures. They generate the temperature boost that diesel engines need to start, especially in cold conditions.
- What are the symptoms of a bad glow plug?
The most common symptoms of a bad glow plug are engine misfiring, hard starting, black or white exhaust smoke, decreased fuel efficiency and rough idling.
- What causes a glow plug to malfunction?
Glow plugs can malfunction for a variety of reasons. These include: excessive heat due to fuel leaking from the injectors, too much voltage caused by a faulty controller or old age.
- Are glow plugs only used for starting?
Improving cold starts is just one of the functions of modern glow plugs. They also contribute towards the reduction of engine emissions by generating a ‘post-glow’ for several minutes after ignition, which helps to ensure the diesel fuel completely combusts during the warm-up phase.
- How long do glow plugs last?
This depends on a variety of factors. An average estimate is around 160,000km but glow plugs can fail before this if, for example, they are low quality ones, or the engine is not being looked after properly. NGK SPARK PLUG glow plugs guarantee long life and quality performance.
- Is it OK to drive with a bad glow plug?
Faulty glow plugs should be replaced immediately as they will lead to a reduction in vehicle performance and hard starting, especially during winter when the vehicle may not start at all.
- Are there different types of glow plugs?
NGK SPARK PLUG manufactures two different types of glow plug: metal rod (sheathed) and ceramic high temperature glow plugs.
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good article
very good article
Very good article – amazing how such a little component can have such a huge part to play.
Very interesting article,thank you.
Very interesting