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Diesel engines are designed different than gasoline-based engines. One of the most significant differences is diesel engines have glow plugs instead of spark plugs. Spark plugs create a spark that ignites the fuel to power the vehicle. Glow plugs rely on compression rates to raise air temperature to the point of spontaneous combustion of the diesel fuel. To save money, here are a few tips on how you can change your own glow plugs.
Steps
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1Find the glow plugs in the engine compartment.
- They are usually on top of the cylinder head.
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2Remove the glow plug wires.
- The glow plug wires are beneath the engine's valve covers. You will find one end attached to the top of the glow plug and the other attached to the engine. Remove the wire attached to the glow plug. Remove the small nut that holds the wires to the glow plugs with a wrench. Push the wire aside. Repeat this process to remove each glow plug wire.
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4Clean each electrical contact and nut.
- Similar to battery contacts, glow plug wires can become dirty, which can result in a poor electrical connection.
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5Use reamer and ream the glow plug hole for each glow plug.[3]
- This is just to clean out the glow plug hole, so ream only long enough to remove any buildup.
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6Replace each plug and tighten them down with a ratchet.
- Tighten them just to the point of slight resistance. If you tighten them too much, the next time you need to change the glow plugs you might break one off trying to remove it. This can result in a costly repair.
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7Reattach the electrical wires to each glow plug with a nut using the wrench.
Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I change glow plugs myself?
wikiHow Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerwikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerFor most vehicles, yes. You just need to make sure you have the right kind of glow plugs for your car, as well as the appropriate tools, such as a manual torque wrench.
Support wikiHow by unlocking this staff-researched answer.
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QuestionHow long does it take to change glow plugs?wikiHow Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerwikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerIt can take anywhere from an hour to about 5 hours, depending on the complexity of your engine. It will take longer if your vehicle has valve covers or other parts in the way that you have to remove.Support wikiHow by unlocking this staff-researched answer.
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QuestionHow much does it cost to replace glow plugs?wikiHow Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerwikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerIf you do it yourself, it probably won’t cost much more than $65-$70. If you have it done professionally, the price may be closer to $300, including parts and labor.Support wikiHow by unlocking this staff-researched answer.
Things You'll Need
- Ratchet set
- Wrench
- Screwdriver to pry off electric cord in the event of corrosion
- Glow plug chamber reaming tool
- New glow plugs
References
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