Should you replace glow plugs at a specific interval
 

Hello,

85 300TD, bought it 4 years ago, with 180k miles, and a brand new crate motor from Stugartt with 30k miles in it. So now its been 5 years, and 70k miles, and was wondering is it time to prophalactically replace glow plugs?

Any ideas are appreciatted, damn I cannt spell today, musta been all the beer yesterday. and the KrappyKreme Donuts at wrok today. Thd Kid

The glow relay will indicate a bad plug with a flashing glow light after starting. I see no reason to fix what isn't broken.

Unless they stick in your head from years of sitting there. The glow plugs for that engine are cheap and easy to change. But otherwise, indeed there is no need to change them early.

Unfortunately, mine do require replacement at 100k mi intervals, they're not so cheap, and not nearly as easy to change. It also appears that 100k may be too long of an interval for the OM606, as they do tend to stick badly.

Okay, so if I need to replace my relay, then what should I do for the part, the kit with the glowplugs seems like it is a good deal, and the performance is better? or not?., and so where is the best place to get a glowplug relay, yes I know I should have a spare from the junkyard, but I didnt think I would need it so I sold it on ebay.

Secondly, is there a way to short the relay to light my glowplugs to start the car, it is like 25 in the morning here.


Thanks for your thoughts on this.

85 300 TD

so kid,
 

are you having a starting problem?

cant tell from your posts. if they arent working at all check the strip fuse on the glow plug timer. the timers dont go out often but they can.

if you are wondering if the glow plugs could all go out at the same time....not likely.

tom w

Well, I was having a starting problem, where the car starts and then dies immediately when it is cold, but not when warm, and it only happens first thing in the morning, not when it is cold in the afternoon. Like air in the fuel or something, maybe time to change a fuel filter. But now the indicator on the dash was not illuminating, and not starting without cranking it for 10 seconds. So then I moved the wires around on the relay and now the light lights up and the car fires right up. So any suggestions would be good, thanks,

The Kid

No, replace when they fail. Unless you have a 606 then you really should remove and ream them every year.

so it sounds like maybe you do have some bad ones. or just a loose wire which you fixed.

tom w

So just check the glow plugs with an ammeter/resistance at the engine? The Kid