If your vehicle’s diesel glow plugs are malfunctioning, you will need to have your car serviced. There are several symptoms that might warn you of bad or failing glow plugs. You need to be attentive to how your vehicle is acting and sounding, so you can catch any problems early and make sure you have your car serviced in a timely manner. If you don’t address the issue early on, it might get worse, and you could find yourself stranded on the side of the road.

Glow Plugs vs. Spark Plugs

Glow plugs and spark plugs are two entirely different automotive components. Spark plugs help a gas engine generate the spark needed to ignite the fuel and air mixture inside the combustion chamber. Diesel vehicles don’t use spark plugs because they don’t generate adequate heat for the mixture that is in the combustion chamber. Since there is more intense cylinder compression in a diesel engine, more heat must be generated to ignite because the compression heat alone isn’t enough to do the job. A glow plug can provide the extra heat that is needed to start up a diesel engine.

Symptoms of Failing or Bad Diesel Glow Plugs

Failing or bad diesel glow plugs can have many symptoms. If your vehicle displays any of these issues, you need to schedule service with your automotive technician.

• Usually, a misfiring engine is one of the first signs of problems with the glow plugs. When glow plugs malfunction, the heat needed for diesel combustion isn’t provided, so the engine will misfire.
• Weakened performance of the engine is also a common symptom. When the ignition of the fuel and compressed air isn’t adequate and a misfire results, the vehicle’s overall engine performance will be affected. Low acceleration as you apply force to the gas pedal is a common problem. With a bad diesel glow plug, as you step of the gas pedal, the engine won’t accelerate.
• A decrease in power can be caused by misfires in the engine, both of which are common signs of bad or failing glow plugs. The decrease in power can get so bad that the vehicle will not start at all, and you will be stuck.
• Another common symptom is hard starting. While gas engines use a spark to ignite the fuel mixture, diesel engines rely on the cylinder pressures to ignite the diesel fuel mixture. The engine must overcome that additional pressure to ignite the mixture if the glow plugs fail. The result is often hard starting.
• The exhaust might release black smoke. When glow plugs are faulty, they might disturb the sensitive combustion process for the diesel, which in turn might leave the engine producing black smoke that is released from the tailpipe. There are several other reasons for black smoke, so it should be properly diagnosed.
• Lowered fuel efficiency is another common symptom. After the engine’s performance is weakened, it will have to work extra hard to try to meet the demands of the road. Your vehicle will then see its fuel efficiency affected with decreased mileage. Your miles per gallon will be reduced, so you will spend more to keep your vehicle on the road. If your car has shown other symptoms and then starts showing reduced fuel efficiency, it should come of no surprise to you, and you should get your car to a reliable mechanic as soon as possible.

All diesel engines have glow plugs, which play a major role in operating and starting the engine. If you notice any of the previously mentioned symptoms, or if you suspect problems with your vehicle’s glow plugs, you should have the vehicle inspected by a qualified automotive technician to determine the root of the problem and to find out if the glow plugs need to be replaced.

Getting Your Car’s Glow Plugs Serviced

If you suspect a problem with your cars’ glow plugs, you should have it checked by a qualified automotive repair facility. Das European Autohaus is convenient to Spring and Houston, TX, and is the European auto specialist in the Houston area. Offering superior workmanship and excellent customer service, we go a step above and beyond to ensure your vehicle gets the attention that it deserves on every visit. Call (281) 235—5934 today to schedule your vehicle’s service.