Theoretically you should always use the plugs. It puts the least strain on the starter that way. Glow plugs are cheap and easy (relatively speaking) starters aren't.... But that's just my 2 cents

__________________
2004 F150 4.6L -My Daily
2007 Volvo XC70 -Wife's Daily
1998 Ford F150 -Rear ended
1989 J-spec 420SEL -passed onto its new keeper
1982 BMW 733i -fixed and traded for the 420SEL
2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed -scrapped
1997 E290 Turbo Diesel Wagon -traded for above
1992 BMW 525i -traded in
1990 Silver 300TE -hated the M103
1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS -Sold, really should have kept this one
1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Slug" -Sold

My 617 really likes to get glowed. If I do it fires right up. If it's really warm it will start w/o but as a race truck that's only after the run.

My Dodge, on the other hand, doesn't seem to care if it glows or not. Sometimes in the winter (like, 32*F around here) it generally fires up w/o a glow so I often forget to do so.

Dan

I agree 100%

I could even start my 350SDL w/o glow plugs but I needed to have a well-charged battery and an engine warmed by the block heater or it would not work.

That's because all the GPs went out after a while, and nI didn't get around to changing them. Now that's a summer project, lol.


My 2 x 6.2L engines fire up when glowed. Without, it's a strain.

__________________
Strelnik
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1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6