bbjordan
Snow Monkey
Having a few 6.9 IDIs, I am all too familiar with the glow plug controller failing resulting in 8 dead glow plugs.
So, as many other have done, I converted to a manual glow plug system. It has worked wonderfully.
No big news there, but not that long ago I was reading a thread on Using Glow Plugs to Super tune the engine:
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/593483-using-glow-plugs-to-super-tune-the-engine.html
This really intrigued me. I like the idea of being able to see what each individual cylinder is doing, but I didn't like the idea of having to mess about with disconnecting and connecting glow plug wires all the time.
Someone on that thread suggested using standard Bosch style relays to allow you to still be able to glow the plugs, but when they are not being glowed be used to monitor cylinder temp.
Well, recently 30 Amp relays and bases went on sale at Princess Auto for $4.99 a piece. I grabbed 8.
So I updated my glow plug system.
Here are the relays installed on the firewall:
Close-up
I stripped out the old glow plug controller wiring while I was at it because I do not intend to go back to the "automatic" system. The white wire going across the top is a CAT 5 solid strand copper wire that goes to the inside of the cab.
As you can see, I have converted to the carrier fuel pump. This is an awesome upgrade. I used to have problems with cold starts. Well, not really problems, but it would take some cranking before it started. Warm starts were never a problem, they were almost instant. Now my cold starts are almost the same as my warm starts: almost instant. I highly recommend this upgrade.
So, as many other have done, I converted to a manual glow plug system. It has worked wonderfully.
No big news there, but not that long ago I was reading a thread on Using Glow Plugs to Super tune the engine:
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/593483-using-glow-plugs-to-super-tune-the-engine.html
This really intrigued me. I like the idea of being able to see what each individual cylinder is doing, but I didn't like the idea of having to mess about with disconnecting and connecting glow plug wires all the time.
Someone on that thread suggested using standard Bosch style relays to allow you to still be able to glow the plugs, but when they are not being glowed be used to monitor cylinder temp.
Well, recently 30 Amp relays and bases went on sale at Princess Auto for $4.99 a piece. I grabbed 8.
So I updated my glow plug system.
Here are the relays installed on the firewall:
You must be registered for see images attach
Close-up
You must be registered for see images attach
I stripped out the old glow plug controller wiring while I was at it because I do not intend to go back to the "automatic" system. The white wire going across the top is a CAT 5 solid strand copper wire that goes to the inside of the cab.
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
As you can see, I have converted to the carrier fuel pump. This is an awesome upgrade. I used to have problems with cold starts. Well, not really problems, but it would take some cranking before it started. Warm starts were never a problem, they were almost instant. Now my cold starts are almost the same as my warm starts: almost instant. I highly recommend this upgrade.