Probably old hat for most folks, but this is the first winter I have lived through owning a diesel.
A few weeks ago the car was really hard to start with temps near and below freezing, it took around 10 tries to get it started. I had a block heater put in and that fixed it. I don't remember what inspried me to check the glowplugs but I checked them all and number 3 was bad. Replaced it and now it fires right up after a 15-20 second glow without the blockheater and its below 20F now. I'm amazed that that one plug can make that much difference. Woohoo.

Andrew

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Before the 126, I drove a 82 300 TD sedan for seven years. I lived in So.Cal and the temp never dropped below 60. Therefore, it always started. When I moved to Davis, temp dropped to 30's...and the car would not start. It turns out 4 of the glow plugs were bad, and also 17 years old. In So.Cal this was not an issue. When I changed them, it always started perfectly.

If one glowplug is bad, I always replace them all (if they are over 10+ years old & I have no prior maintenance history on the car) - My past experience has been that one good new one will quickly help the remaining old ones meet their maker soon...

Bryan in NC

didget69: Ditto on replacing them all. Some mechanics go by the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" motto but I prefer preventative maintenance. And to go along with that, especially with glow plugs, when you replace them all, that way you're assured that they won't be stuck the next time around because you coated the threads with anti-seize right??

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Regards,
Aaron

Ditto on the anti-seize. I'd never heard of it until I bought my gp's at Autozone. A very helpful manager suggested it and after reading about how they can freeze up in the block I'm glad I used it. One of those things that makes you sleep better at night.

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Seth

1984 300D 225K
1985 300D Donor body
1985 300D Turbo 165K. Totaled. Donor Engine. It runs!!!
1980 300SD 311K My New Baby.
1979 BMW 633csi 62K+++? Dead odo

Dohhhh!!!!!!!!!

yeah the old loop style glow plugs get worn thin when they get old and have more resistance than the new ones. If you put one new one in it usually burns up because it has less resistance and is getting a massive load. or so I'm told.

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"spreading a trail of obnoxious where ever we go"
1981 300sd w/ 341,500 miles

http://www.wecrash.com/pics/ddda_banner.gif

you can change the plug next to the firewall wo taking the pipes off, so if i am in a skinflint mode i might put back a used one there. otherwise i change them all normally.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

diget69,

One new GP affecting the others is only true for the older series type loop plugs not the parallel plug GP.

Biodiesel,

I had 2 GP fail within 500 miles of each other. The engine wouldn't start at all when cold with the 2 bad GP in it. I replace one of the bad ones and it started immediately. WHY it acted this way is a mystery of the universe. Of course I replace the other bad GP but not any others.

P E H

We really are a lucky bunch. Imagine trying to start a gasser with a few dead spark plugs, or even one dead spark plug! You wouldn't have nearly as satisfying of an experience as a diesel with a few dead plugs.

I bought my 300TD with three dead GPs, the PO didn't know, because he lived in texas, where it didn't matter. Up in colorado, on a cool fall evening, it wouldn't start for anything. Ended up boiling up a few gallons of water, gently pouring it over the head to heat it up, glowing the few good plugs as long as possible (till the relay clicked) and then cranking it for about 20 seconds. Finally fired up, and then I didn't shut it off until I was back in MO, where I replaced the GPs.

Keep an eye on those things, folks, they'll kill you on a cold morning. BTW, 7F this morning, and I got a good clean start on the first try, no block heater! Idled a bit rough at first, but wasn't in danger of dying. Not bad for 260k...

peace,
sam

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"That f***in' biodiesel is makin' me hungry."

1982 300TD Astral Silver w/ 250k (BIO BNZ)
2001 Aprilia SR50 Corsa Red w/ 5.5k (>100 MPG)

Budgets tight thats why I only replaced one, but I did buy a spare. How long will glow plugs last?

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Hey, not a fair comparison!

A gasser without spark plugs is like a diesel with low compression. It simply won't go!

A diesel without glow plugs is more like a gasser without a choke, since it might start, but not without difficulty.

My $.02.