2H glow plug life ?

[mcmlxxxv]

I guys .... Changed my glow plugs last year and they seem to have failed again ....

I have a set of 24v Bosch installed , with a Wilson switch and aftermarket relay. I don't really like it ... I think it's the reason my glow plugs keep dying

Not sure what's left of the original system and what I need to make it work fine or if it even worth it .... Thing is Canadian winters are quite cold in QC and I need a solution.

I know voltage is different than 24v on some systems so if I fix it I want to get the good ones.

So 2h owners ... What do you have that last ... And work fine ?

 

[duncanrm]

I tend to change them around the 10year mark, but even this seems premature when I pull them out. This service life is more about making sure they come out cleanly before there's an issue. One year service life, even in your arctic climate, is terrible - you've had a test lamp on them to confirm? How long is your glow operation taking on a cold morning?

Mine really dont work very hard really.. even in winter a 7 second glow on my 60 is enough - 10.5V plugs in a 12V system. Our winter is pretty mild though, rarely drops below 0°C and most winter mornings are more like 5-6°C.

The glow plugs in my little 2L powered LN85 are coming up on 15 years now and will be swapped out soon.

NGK is the pick of the bunch in my opinion.

 

[mcmlxxxv]

Well lol ... 5-6°c is what we have now . It will drop around -20°c in normal winter days and the worse can be around -38°c , that's why I want to make it right before the "real" cold weather starts.

My truck is on 24v and I know the OEM system use 12v plugs . That's why they were all toasted when I got the truck.

Only 24v plugs I found were Bosch , they did fine all winter last year . But I'm pretty sure they are toasted now as when I push my switch the voltage in the cluster don't even flinch a little ....

I will look it closer this week end and find what's wrong .

There is 2 resistors that seem to preheat the intake ... They are not wired at the moment but I would like to have them working too , might be worth it

 

[duncanrm]

There is 2 resistors that seem to preheat the intake ..

I may be wrong, I dont believe the function of those two resistors is to pre-heat the intake.. especially given their rear location. Its my understanding the resistors just provide a voltage drop for the two stage Superglow operation. The intake is just a convenient place for them to dissipate heat from operation, certainly not enough heat to help with starting. If I'm wrong, I'm keen to be put right!

Your reported winter temps are entirely incomprehensible to me.. -38 is quite insane!

 

[mcmlxxxv]

I may be wrong, I dont believe the function of those two resistors is to pre-heat the intake.. especially given their rear location. Its my understanding the resistors just provide a voltage drop for the two stage Superglow operation. The intake is just a convenient place for them to dissipate heat from operation, certainly not enough heat to help with starting. If I'm wrong, I'm keen to be put right!

Your reported winter temps are entirely incomprehensible to me.. -38 is quite insane!

Yeah not white hell like North Quebec ... But still very cold .

You are probably right about those resistors ... Still any heat is welcome . Will read more on this

Will inspect the system this week end and see if it can be improved .

 

[mcmlxxxv]

Look's like I have too much missing components to get the automatic glow system to work. Changed the solenoid witch was clicking but faulty and everything works again.

Still ... I messed up a bit with the engine timing and even with 2x 10second of glow startup are less fun than in summer. No big deal at home since its plugged but at the end of the day at work its less fun and its not even cold yet. Run like a charm once heated up tho ...

 

[fjwagon]

My guess is if the glow plugs wear out prematurely it may be getting to much current. Something with the circuit is not right. So if you replaced them after a year the circuit is not working correctly or they sold you the wrong plugs(maybe defective). Resistors usually creates a voltage drop hence lessen the current. Not sure if these resistors are part of the circuit you mentioned. But if it is part of the circuit it is not getting a voltage drop and its current load is higher than normal at the glow plug. So it may be getting to much current.

The other possibility could assuming everthing is working correctly, is it may have a loose connection(s). And this is a trick question in itself. If this is the case, your circuit does not increase current, however, it could possibly create high current surges. I've found loose circuits that blow fuses and most generally a cold solder joint or a loose connection is all I fix and the blowing fuses problem goes away.These kind of problems are hard to troubleshoot. Try putting volt meter when the circuit is in use at the glow plug. You can also check the current going to the glow plug when the circuit is active. Anyhow, that is my guess.

 

[mcmlxxxv]

Your guess was almost on the spot . A loose connection blew the solenoid.

I would really like an automatic glow system but like I said I'm missing too much components to make it work.

The glow plugs were good but the solenoid was not, even If I could hear it click.

Seem like I will use 24v plugs with a Wilson switch for a while ahaha

 

[fjwagon]

You could go through the circuit, clean every connection on the negative and positive side. Clean every terminal with wire brush. Simple but time consuming. Sometimes you may have to replace part of the wiring. I say this because this circuit is the most taxing when comes to current in the whole rig. You basically shorting it out...or least that it what feels like when the the toaster looking thing comes on when I'm glowing the plugs in the 45. I would not be surprised if you need to open the wire loom to fix your problem. Anyhow if a wire oxidizes because heat over time it will cause the circuit not work like it should. Best to just replace it. I like to go the junk yard and the exact same color and gauge.