OTC 3673 Diesel Glow Plug Tester

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How to Test Diesel Glow Plugs | YourMechanic Advice How to Test Diesel Glow Plugs | YourMechanic Advice

Injected diesel fuel ignites if the cylinder charge temperature reaches 850° C during compression. However, this temperature may not be achieved with cold ambient air conditions and engine components. In these circumstances, the glow plugs are activated to heat the cylinder charge and ensure adequate combustion. The simplest way to test glow plugs is with a clip on current clamp, either on supply wire to glow plugs or on engine earth, with glow plug light on you should see 15-20amps for each glow plug fitted, 4 cylinders would be approximately 60-80amps. Different types of glow plug are available, with rapid glow systems replacing the traditional direct current type. The later systems tend to use ceramic glow plugs, reducing the glow wait time by more than 50%. Their operating temperatures are in the range from 1000° to 1100° C. Manufacturer specifications vary but these systems are not activated with ambient temperatures above 9°C or if the vehicle is driven and engine speed exceeds 2500 rpm.A glow plug is a heating element that heats incoming fuel and air to encourage efficient fuel combustion in a diesel engine. The fuel combustion starts your engine so that you can drive. Each cylinder of your engine has one glow plug, either in the pre-chamber (pre-chambered engines) or in the combustion chamber (direct-injection engines). The multimeter should now give a reading. This is when you can adjust the range setting on the multimeter to give more significant figures, if required. Glow plugs are basically large electrical resistors which heat the air or air-fuel mixture in an engine, to help with combustion. They are useful for diesels because diesel fuel cannot ignite when it is cold. The flash point (i.e. minimum temperature for ignition) of diesel fuel is usually between 52 and 96 °C (126 and 205 °F). Biodiesel’s flash point is even higher, usually at least 130 °C (266 °F). For comparison, gasoline’s flash point is about −43 °C (−45 °F), which is why gasoline engines start more easily in the winter. The reading on your digital multimeter must be at least 1 ohm for a good glow plug. Keep in mind that the actual reading might differ based on your engine’s temperature, the quality of the earth connection, the accuracy of the multimeter, and other factors. Phase 3: Post-heating. BERU glow plugs continue to be heated for approximately 3 minutes after the engine has been started. This extended glow plug operating time helps to complete the combustion process and to decrease noise output as the combustion chambers heat up.

How to Test Glow Plugs - General Technologies Corp. How to Test Glow Plugs - General Technologies Corp.

Champion offers a range of quality glow plugs and glow plug control modules suitable for all types of diesel engines. Discover the full range for yourself.Make sure the engine is cold, and the glow plugs are turned off. Some glow plugs will not turn on if the engine is warm.