Whassup with these new glow plugs

[jcd]

I had 3, 1 year old Bosch glow plugs go bad. Whassup with quality.

Relay and fuse is good, but this is about the 5th new glow plug that I have had go bad in the last year.

I should have left the original ones in...... right PEH>


JCD

[BoostnBenz]

PEH is on a road trip right now so he can't comment on that.

That is odd that they aren't lasting like that. I would think even if used excessively they'd have to last much longer than that. Have you had to get a jump start? Use ether?

[gsxr]

If you have trouble with very short glow plug life, test to see if the relay is coming back on after the engine starts and energizing the plugs, which wears out the plugs pretty fast. This has been happening more frequently as the relays get to be 20+ years old. I've heard of it several times over on the MBZ.org diesel email list. A new (or good used) relay is the cure. Also if you have disconnected the purple wire as a "cheap afterglow" mod, this also shortens plug life if you don't have a switch rigged up to disable the feature when the engine is warm. If none of that applies, you could have a bad injector spray pattern (which can shorten plug life), or just gotten a batch of faulty plugs! Bosch and Beru are the preferred brands, avoid Monark if possible, probably avoid Autolite too...

[gsxr]

Hey wait - have you converted to the new style pencil plugs, or are you still using those nasty series/loop plugs? Do the conversion if you haven't already, you'll like it a LOT!

[coachgeo]

Originally posted by gsxr
...... Also if you have disconnected the purple wire as a "cheap afterglow" mod, this also shortens plug life......

woooooh, what is this. Need more input LOL

[gsxr]

For the 123.133/193 (and probably other models too), the purple wire at the GP relay is the signal that the engine has started, which normally shuts the plugs off. Pulling it out makes the relay stay on until the internal time limit, which is something like 60 seconds when fully cold. That means you glow for ~10 seconds, start the car, and the plugs stay on for another ~50 seconds. Problem is, for short trips around town, you're running a lot of afterglow that isn't needed. Some folks run the wire to a switch on the dash, so they can have afterglow for cold start only, then switch it back to "normal" operation. Of course the optimum solution is to get one of the afterglow kits which does this automatically - AND has special glow plugs that are designed for the extra use. I think it's about $200 or so. The purple wire mod is handy for a cheap improvement in cold weather starting.

[Stevo]

JCD

Like gsxr said "get rid of the loopers if you have not" Also if you have allot of carbon build up that can cause GPs to burn out faster than normal. Do you get out and drive the car hard now and then?

[jcd]

My commute is about 40 miles one day. It is a combination of stop and go, but about 1/2 of the trip is 70-75 MPH.

Maybe my relay is flaking out. I noticed a little "blinking" of the GP light today, this is after replacing 3 of the 5 glow plugs yesterday.

Any idea where the relay is located on my 1977 model, 123.130. I have heard some people mention it's under the hood on some models, but I think mine is under the dash.

Still using the loop style..........

JCD

[whunter]

Hello jcd
Convert to the new style pencil plugs (now).
you will not believe the difference until you do it.
Have a great day.