Installed brand new zd1a plugs after new head gaskets.. Now after having the correct plugs, all 8. On cold start how long should I glow for? I figured about 8 seconds?

 

that really depends on the block temperature. under 15 degrees, 15-20 seconds.
15-30 degrees, 10-15 seconds. 30-60 degrees, 5-10 seconds. over 60 but under 100 degrees, 5 seconds.

 

yeah that's how id glow if i went manual.
for around 35F or below once you glowed and started the truck up,you can also preform your own afterglow as well to help reduce white smoke,and insure a smoother idle/avoid a stall.
simply glow the plugs for 2 seconds at a time with a 2 second off period after the truck starts.do this for about 5 or 6 times.

 

Awesome thank you Sir!! It's been about in the 20's to 30's in the morning here in susanville ca.. Real test will be here in about 3 hours and hasn't been plugged in, it'll be nice finally being able to start it and not have to worry about having it plugged in or needing a starting aid

 

well technically, glow plugs are starting aids.





































yea, i know, shut up ya smart ***!!

 

Lol hahaha wise guy... Meaning wd40, starting fluid, block heater.. Too early for smart a$$ replies Lol I haven't had my coffee yet

 

You're not that far from me, I'm up by Shasta Lake. We have pretty much the same temps as Susanville, just not as much sn*w. I've never used a block heater in any of my IDIs, don't even know if they work. 10 seconds is all I usually need on my GPs, sometime go to 12 if it's colder than usual.

 

Sweet not that far away at all.. Didn't know that, about to make it breath fire in about an hour.. It will be nice not having to rely on the block heater to start it, not to mention when I go camping having to worry about using ether or something. Just a heads up, if you guys need any Ford parts I'm working at susanville auto center (aka susanville ford) and we have all the glow plugs in stock

 

i went out to plow and my truck didn't start! i never had that happen before.turned over quick.
i cranked for like 4-5 seconds and she didn't even want to fire! i couldn't believe it.
so i glowed the plugs again and she fired right up the next time.
was really cold though well below zero but it just struck me by surprise is all.never cranked it for 4-5 seconds like that before and not had it fire up (short of ip swapped/fuel adjustments of course.)
2nd time was the normal 1-2 second and running.20 below or some nonsense though.i don't blame it.i didn't wanna run either.



WTG pats!
(iv been waiting a decade to say this,this time of year.)

 

Ouch, you couldn't get me to start that cold. Even with a pot of human ether (coffee).

 

i start when it is that cold out, but i make a lot of noise, just like my trucks.

 

I experienced a few single digit to teen days when I had my truck (leaving work at the end of the day), and a couple where I was at my girlfriend's and couldn't plug in my truck overnight.


I will say that after I had all 8 of my plugs swapped to Beru's and a pushbutton, I never had it not start. I believe the longest I ever glowed it was 20-25 seconds and it fired up without too much difficulty.

 

Started perfect this morning with a 30° temp, honestly sounded like ½ to 1 revolution of cranking then she was breathing fire! Lol, even working all day and firing up cold again was no big deal.. Held glow for 8 seconds considering it wasn't that cold

 

The IDI starts easy when the GPs are in working order!

 

Yes and has been awesome not having to worry about if it's going to start or not. I may have to start a new thread on an issue I'm having, cruising down the road plenty of power and then all of the sudden it feels like the throttle goes wide open and I have a burst of power out of nowhere without me moving the accelerator pedal. It happens every once in a while cruising down the freeway, but it did it twice today on me. I don't believe it is air intrusion because it fires up cold no problems, and I just replaced the lift pump when I put the cylinder head on because it was leaking again..