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  #1  
Old 02-19-2015, 09:59 AM
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Do extremely cold starts affect glow plug longevity?

Do extremely cold starts adversely affect glow plug longevity? Just wondering if using the block heater may extend the life of my glow plugs. I've been plugging in my 98 pretty consistently this winter....more because I can than any perceived need to.

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Old 02-19-2015, 10:20 AM
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That was my assumption when I installed my manual glow system. Only glow what you need and extend the life of the plugs was my working hypotheses.

An incandescent light bulb is a close analog....at least so it seems.
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  #3  
Old 02-19-2015, 10:31 AM
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I used to get 3-4 years out of glow plugs even with the afterglow system that ran them 3 mins every time I started the car...

My current setup is a straight 40 second glow every startup....haven't had a plug fail yet, they've been in there almost 2 years now.
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Old 02-19-2015, 10:41 AM
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My logic says yes, if only because with a block heater there isnt a need to double glow and much quicker starts without the engine struggling for a minute to smooth out. I've been using the block heater on the 300TDt since it got cold and the e300 is much much happier since I finally installed the BH cord 3 weeks ago.
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Old 02-19-2015, 11:33 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shertex View Post
Do extremely cold starts adversely affect glow plug longevity? Just wondering if using the block heater may extend the life of my glow plugs. I've been plugging in my 98 pretty consistently this winter....more because I can than any perceived need to.
I say yes to the shorter Glow Plug life. When the Glow plug gets voltage the amperage shoot up above 60 amps (that is as high as the Ammeter would go) until the Glow Plug gets hot and then goes down to around 16 amps. The longer it takes the Glow Plug to get hot the longer it is pulling higher amperage.
Using the Block Heater is also benefit to saving your Battery and your Starter.
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Old 02-19-2015, 01:05 PM
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Hmm I would imagine so but probably not something that I would actively worry about.

My 300D had its glow plugs changed December of 2012. That was nearly 60,000 miles ago.

Car starts well at any temperature. Now whether or not it runs well is another story..I think I've got air getting in places it shouldn't be.
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  #7  
Old 02-19-2015, 01:22 PM
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I am more analytical than others. It is my trade.

I would say NO as there is lack of information. The GP may last longer if the OP disconnects the GP relay AND plugs in the block heater. He is not doing anything different than what is done during every start up.

If the engine fires up quicker then the answer is may be. This info is lacking.
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Old 02-19-2015, 02:12 PM
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What James Dean said, probably has some impact but not something to worry about unless you are the type to run the glowplugs until they die. That isn't a winning strategy to begin with, less so if you live anywhere where it gets seriously cold.

Also if you have that on your lists of questions, your fleet must be behaving really well these days .
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  #9  
Old 02-19-2015, 03:34 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zacharias View Post
Also if you have that on your lists of questions, your fleet must be behaving really well these days .
Haha...very perceptive. When all my cars are working perfectly (like now), I tend to wonder about minor things!
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  #10  
Old 02-19-2015, 04:43 PM
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YES....the longer they are on....the shorter in time they live!
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  #11  
Old 02-19-2015, 04:49 PM
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That's why I only use my glow plugs on the first cold start of the day. After that, I generally start the car like I would a gasser.

Dkr.
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  #12  
Old 02-19-2015, 05:08 PM
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YES....glow plugs have a pre-determined life.....the longer they are switched on...they run a clock....and clock hours on GP's the shorter the life...regardless of outside or inside the environment.
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  #13  
Old 02-19-2015, 05:55 PM
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Not that I need to re-glow the plugs very often in TX weather but I would say, changing plugs on an OM60x is not as fun as an OM61x.

At the same savings of glow plugs, you might be wearing on your block heater more. I have no idea how hard those are to change but if it burns out to save the plugs, you need to look at which job is less fun/costly.
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  #14  
Old 02-19-2015, 06:07 PM
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@Eaton...I switched out a non working block heater on my OM603 and plugged it in every night throughout Dec thru March...instant heat...a warm car in a minute or two. Block heaters help starts, but with MB's, you still need the GP's
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  #15  
Old 02-20-2015, 09:06 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BenzBUSY View Post
@Eaton...I switched out a non working block heater on my OM603 and plugged it in every night throughout Dec thru March...instant heat...a warm car in a minute or two. Block heaters help starts, but with MB's, you still need the GP's
When the weather was warmer and all the GPs in my 350SDL were gone, I was able to start the car on some mornings after plugging in the block heater.

However, as the weather got colder....not so much.

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