Glow plugs are ******* me off

KyleJamesBrockman · Mar 14, 2023

Have a 90 7.3 idi. Bone stock. My glowplugs were fouled out so I replaced them, system seemed to work fine before replacing just weak. Since replacing, the plugs will kick in for about 20 seconds, then click on and off rapidly for a minute or so and the cylinders are not warm enough to start. I replaced the plugs(diesel rx) , relay, and all of the gp boots. What do I need to look into next.

IDIBRONCO · Mar 14, 2023

It sounds like your controller is working perfectly. I may be wrong, but I don't think that the Diesel RX glow plugs have a very good reputation. Those could be your problem.

Rdnck84_03 · Mar 15, 2023

Thread 'Diesel Rx Glow plugs' https://www.oilburners.net/threads/diesel-rx-glow-plugs.92203/

Hopefully this link will work, first time sharing a link so not sure i did it correctly. if not just search the thread title.

James

rreegg · Mar 15, 2023

Have heard some not so great things about diesel rx plugs as well - but a lot of us on the forum probably are reading the same threads so maybe a bit of an echo chamber effect happening.
I have manual GPs so not sure how the automatic controller is supposed to work, but the biggest issue with my truck has been battery cables. Weak and corroded grounds and terminal connections are one thing to check of the list rgards to poor GP performance.
Another possible thing is the GP harness if the GP/controller happens to be functioning properly. Have had good luck crimping on some female bullet connecters to replace the original harness connections (if remembering correctly what they look like)

CDX825 · Mar 17, 2023

Diesel Rx plugs are junk but you should be attempting to start the truck when the light first goes out. If you are waiting for the light to stop flashing on and off the cylinders will have cooled down.

Greenie · Mar 17, 2023

CDX825 said:
Diesel Rx plugs are junk but you should be attempting to start the truck when the light first goes out. If you are waiting for the light to stop flashing on and off the cylinders will have cooled down.

I've noticed that too. All 8 glow plugs and the controller work properly on my truck - however if I don't start it immediately after the GPs end their first cycle the starting takes much longer even though I hear the GPs cycling on and off. It's counter intuitive - thinking that the longer the glow plugs heat the easier the start will be. The opposite is true.

Cant Write · Mar 17, 2023

Did you ohm them before installing?

My system would act the same, from research it usually means 1-3 of them are not working properly.

I found 2 bad ones, replaced only those due to deadline with ZD-9’s and my rig is a whole different animal.

I use to worry about it starting around freezing without plugging it in, now I don’t worry at all.

franklin2 · Mar 17, 2023

Greenie said:
I've noticed that too. All 8 glow plugs and the controller work properly on my truck - however if I don't start it immediately after the GPs end their first cycle the starting takes much longer even though I hear the GPs cycling on and off. It's counter intuitive - thinking that the longer the glow plugs heat the easier the start will be. The opposite is true.

The cycling is just for emissions and the tree huggers to keep the smoke down after the engine starts.

Old Goat · Mar 18, 2023

franklin2 said:
The cycling is just for emissions and the tree huggers to keep the smoke down after the engine starts.

Yeah that may be true....gotta keep the idiots happy.
Mine are manual, with this colder winter than usual, I glow 10 sec, start the engine. If she is running a bit rough, give her a few 5-6sec glows and she smooths right out. They need the heat.

Goat

franklin2 · Mar 18, 2023

Old Goat said:
Yeah that may be true....gotta keep the idiots happy.
Mine are manual, with this colder winter than usual, I glow 10 sec, start the engine. If she is running a bit rough, give her a few 5-6sec glows and she smooths right out. They need the heat.

Goat

In my experience, let it run 5 seconds longer and the missing cylinders will clear up by themselves anyway. I see no permanent damage coming from a cylinder that is not firing on a cold morning for a few seconds. It just shoves the unburnt fuel out the exhaust pipe as white smoke. Yes, it does stink and pollute the air some.

Trevtron · Mar 25, 2023

Lol, reminds me of cold starts in Alaska growing up w/ dad’s old 85 6.9

Truck could buck like hell as 2 cylinders start to fire,,, then it’d slowly smooth out as the rest would eventually start to hit, or would stall out after 5-10 seconds. Some of those cold starts were a violent event!!

IDIBRONCO · Mar 25, 2023

Trevtron said:
Lol, reminds me of cold starts in Alaska growing up w/ dad’s old 85 6.9

Truck could buck like hell as 2 cylinders start to fire,,, then it’d slowly smooth out as the rest would eventually start to hit, or would stall out after 5-10 seconds. Some of those cold starts were a violent event!!

It looks like you have found a way to avoid that issue. LOL

Glow plugs are ******* me off

KyleJamesBrockman

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