Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Glow plugs are the heart of any diesel engine.Most engines can start if one glow plug is faulty. If two or more candles are out of order, the engine will not start. It is important to know if your glow plugs are in good working order. Go to step 1 for how to check your glow plugs.

Steps

1. 1 Find the glow plugs in your engine.
   • Glow plugs resemble a short metal pencil with a threaded end. Usually candles are located one on top of each cylinder.
2. 2 Remove all plugs for easier inspection.
   • There is a method for which you do not need to unscrew the candles to check, but it is still easier to unscrew them.
   • Disconnect the electrical wires from the spark plugs. Do this by unscrewing the small nuts on top of each candle. Then, using a ratchet wrench, unscrew the candles and remove them from the holes in which they are located.
3. 3 Use a charger to test your candles.
   • Connect the “minus” terminal to the candle body.
   • Connect the plus terminal to the glow plug clamp
   • Observe, the tip of the glow plug should turn red from heat.
   • If the tip of the glow plug is not hot and does not turn red, the glow plug is defective and needs to be replaced.
4. 4 Check the rest of the glow plugs in the same way, discarding any plugs that are not heating up properly.

Tips

• Signs of a defective glow plug include: heavy starting, especially on a cold morning, uneven starting with visible exhaust fumes, and generally not starting the engine.
• If you are deciding which battery charger to use for testing spark plugs, choose one that produces 10 amps. This will provide enough current to heat up your glow plugs.
• In addition to old glow plugs, check new ones in the same way.

Warnings

• Be sure not to leave the glow plug connected to the battery for longer than is necessary to test its functionality. Because of this, the candle can "burn out" and become unusable.
• Make sure you haven't lost the little nuts. New nuts are not included with new glow plugs.

What do you need

• Ratchet wrench set
• Small adjustable wrench
• Portable charger
• Glow plugs