USA made glow plugs

[DanHoug]

well, i can't believe it but this morning it felt like yet ANOTHER gp died....

i'm trying a set of these

http://www.accuratediesel.com/shop/5.html

anyone know anything about them?

-dan

[Fatmobile]

Price seems reasonable.
Test therrm out for us.

[DanHoug]

yeah, a set is ordered. i should be a good litmus test for their durability.

i can't figure out why i'm blowing so many... maybe the nailing of veg oil at low speed is hard on them. maybe i have a bad batch. maybe all the cold cold starts uses 'em up. maybe very little voltage drop to them from my wiring. i dunno. i don't over torque them, the come out easily without swelling or carbon. frustrating.

-dan

[vanbcguy]

What brand GPs are you using? I don't believe there is any good USA-made GP for these engines. Bosch Duraterms seem to be the only ones that actually work / last. They have a built-in protection circuit to stop them from overheating.

[DanHoug]

always Bosch Duraterms.

-dan

[Quantum TD]

Hmmm. Have you converted to a fast glow relay? If you're running an OEM relay (usually with a #3 or #60 stamped on it), you'll burn up plugs in short order. Or, if your relay is sticking on, it will cook them. Just because the light is out does not mean they've powered down.

[jonny]

I have had good luck with Jack's Meyle GP - about 30K miles out of the set I bought from him and still going strong.

jonny

[DanHoug]

i'm running a fast relay with Duraterms that are supposed to withstand 3 minutes of heating. gp system is modded with Ford relay, separate fused feeds to each gp, manual override and status indicator for energize status. system is working correctly with the time parameters normal, including a brief period of afterglow.

it seems it may be either a mechanical issue stressing the heating element, like pinking or else a bad batch of the Duraterms (all 8 from NAPA, probably from the same case lot). and my paranoia says to not rule out counterfeits, as i've had a counterfeit Pollack valve and had to replace board level capacitors on some equipment at work due to counterfeit Chinese capacitors causing equipment failures.... yes, someone tooled up and counterfeited Chinese capacitors of all things, probably from China if you can wrap your head around that!

i'm switching brands to whoever makes these USA ones and give them a try.

-dan

[Quantum TD]

If you're glowing those for 3 minutes, there's your problem right there. I don't know any glow plug that runs that long and doesn't burn out prematurely.

[DanHoug]

no never 3 minutes... just whatever time the relay/temp sensor spits out.

-dan

[Vincent Waldon]

As a data point: in the MK3 chassis the glow plugs afterglow for 3 minutes routinely... same Bosch Duraterms everyone's using in their MK1s and MK2s.

So I'm wondering what else is going on here... 'cause it really doesn't sound like you're abusing your plugs beyond their design limits.

A couple of random thoughts:

- are they just burning out internally, or are the tips deformed at all?
- are you torquing them in with a torque wrench?
- have you considered measuring your alternator output voltage?

[DanHoug]

hi Vincent-
- no deformation or erosion. just go to 50K ohms internally and look new when they come out.

- i don't torque them with a wrench due to the position but i have fingertips calibrated in inch/lbs <grin>. i'm VERY ginger when torquing them as i know this is a death sentence for glow plugs. copper based anti-sneeze used and they insert/extract nicely.

- alternator voltage is fine and monitored with VDO voltmeter in dash.

i need to re-seal a spare 107A IP and when i get that done, i'll put it in along with those new USA plugs. at lease without the ADA on top the GPs will be easier to get at.

-dan

[hagar]

DanHoug : About USA made glowplugs . This forum has had some very interesting discussions about GP's for many yers. SO ? of course I got sucked inn. . Knowing that you are an electrical wizzard .You know about ballast resistors .. BOSCH Duraterms have them built in. , and they work. . Design voltage 11 volts. duty cycle design 3 minutes on then a cool down ,then another 3 minutes. All mine are 0 250 201 032 France .nevr had any burn out.

Dan do you have a light connected to the fuse out screw ?

Here are some reasons for burnout . Glowplug relay contacts welded together . Here at hagar's we never glow 3 minutes.

I have lots of fine USA made GP"s . I have one in my hand 5 inches long.

hagar.

[hagar]

DanHoug : After reading you post one more time. Lets face it It is not VW . SO ? I have no hope of finding problem.

hagar.

PS : Vincent is hinting at it.