Diesel Engine Glow Plugs

You don’t have to be an engineer to understand what goes on inside a car. If you have a diesel car, you have probably heard about glow plugs. They may sound like spark plugs, but they are different and are used specifically for diesel engines. Read on to understand more about glow plugs.

What does a Glow Plug Do?

A glow plug works in a diesel engine as part of the starting process. When an engine starts up, it moves cylinders in order to produce the movement that makes the car go. When an engine starts, though, the engine block and cylinder casings are cold and don’t react well to being heated suddenly by the friction of fast-moving metal cylinders. A glow plug works to heat up the portions of the engine that need to be heat-treated during the starting of the engine.

How does a Glow Plug Work?

A glow plug’s most simple function is to produce heat in the right part of the car engine. This is done in a way similar to the way a light bulb or toaster produces heat. One end of the plug is made of a material that gets a high electric charge. As electricity runs through this metal, it heats up, and, like the heating elements of a toaster, it begins to glow. This is where the name “glow plug” comes from.

What does a Glow Plug Look Like?

If you are trying to find replacement glow plugs, it is important to know what they look like. A glow plug is usually long and narrow, like a pen or pencil. Some may look like a thick bolt, depending on what kind of engine they are designed for. They have threads on the side of them like a screw, but only on part of them. This is where the plug is secured to the engine block.

How Much does It Cost to Replace a Glow Plug?

As with spark plugs in a gasoline engine, you may find yourself in need of a new glow plug or two. Short glow plugs for smaller engines are going to cost around five dollars. Larger engines will require long glow plugs, which could vary widely in price from $10 to $25. For the most part, glow plugs are easy to replace, as they screw in and out. You should not need to pay a mechanic to install them.

Glow plugs are an essential part of running a diesel engine. This becomes especially true in cold-weather areas where an engine can’t get hot enough to start running. Luckily for diesel engine car owners, most glow plugs are relatively cheap. You can find glow plugs online or through an auto parts store with ease.