What if I use glow ignition all the time?

   / What if I use glow ignition all the time? #11  
On the TC30, my dealer said to use them every time.
 
   / What if I use glow ignition all the time? #12  
I've never had to replace glow plugs in well over 260k miles in two cars. Use them every cold start. Don't need to once warmed even a little bit.

It'll certainly save the starter. Use the glow plugs, and the engine generally only turns about 1/2 to 1 revolution before starting. Don't, and you could crank several seconds. Only starter I've had to replace was on the old 220D at around 160k miles. The 240D at 195k miles has the original starter.

JD is only 1 year old and starts instantly when glowed 2-5 seconds (2 in summer and 5 in winter).

You need to open up the throttle a bit when cold, too. Otherwise, they'll start, shudder and die. Not in summer.

Ralph
 
   / What if I use glow ignition all the time? #13  
Interesting bunch of answers and opinions! I guess every machine is a little different. My JD 4310 starts pretty much instantly at any temperature down to around 10 F, so I almost never kick in the preheater. (The 4210, 4310, and 4410 don't have glow plugs in the cylinders, but instead use a heater in the intake manifold. Don't know about the other JDs)

On the other hand, I had an old Kubota 185DT that needed a full minute of glow plug action in really cold weather, and even then it was iffy. Even in the summer, it needed maybe ten or fifteen seconds to avoid long cranking times.

Tom
 
   / What if I use glow ignition all the time? #14  
My Mitsubishi requires 10 sec min in any weather and still doesn't hit on the first turn but my L2800 with 3 - 5 seconds and she hits everytime.
New technology and slightly different engineering makes them act differently.
 
   / What if I use glow ignition all the time?
  • Thread Starter
#15  
Thank you, all. I somehow got the misconception that the glow plug was for freezing temperatures only, but I noticed glow shortens cranking time noticeably in non-freezing Florida winter.
 
   / What if I use glow ignition all the time? #16  
there is a bunch of videos on this topic under the service section of our website.

Generaly its best to use the glow plugs for every start, HOWEVER you want to make sure that you are not using them for more than 10-15 seconds at a time. Too much heat can cause the plugs to stop working and/or warp the metal.

My experience says this varies by tractor. I don't heat most Kubota's when it warm, however New Holland's machines tend to be more picky about warming it first.
 
   / What if I use glow ignition all the time? #17  
My old Kubota needs to be heated every time unless I've been running it a while. It just has a wire in a hole in the dash that glows when it gets hot, kind of like a 4th glow plug, but not in the engine.
 
   / What if I use glow ignition all the time? #18  
I use Glow ignition every time I cold start as recommended by New Holland dealer. If you have been running the machine for a while, shut it off and restart then you don't need it. If the tractor sits for an hour or so then I use the Glow Plugs. Never had a problem starting. Never had a problem with the Glow Plugs.
 
   / What if I use glow ignition all the time? #19  
A truly accross the board bunch of answers. I rarely use my glowplugs. I do it by sound. When I first turn the key I can tell instantly by the sound whether I need to use the glowplugs, just like when I ran the throttles in the Navy. I could tell by the sound of the steam rushing just how much time to use to turn the shaft 1 revolution. Just something you learn in time. MP
 

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