how long do ya keep the glow plugs on

[redneckmechnic]

Hey. i just installed a turbo on my truck and in the proces of tweeking the firewall to make some room for the down pieps and up pipes i accidently put my glow plug controler switch out of comsion. its an 85 6.9 f250 five speed yes its is a five speed 4x4. so i took a wire ran from the battery to a mometry toggle switch and over to the relay. this turns the glow plugs on just fine. well i was holding the switch on for the count of five mississippi and that worked but took a little bit of cranking to get her going. like 10 maybe 12 seconds. so i diecide to up my count to 6 that worked great first morning. second morning i couldnt get it started. gave it ether and took rite off. so i checked the glow plugs all 8 were bad. and all 8 were autolites. i was planing on replacing themin june anyways with motorcraft. if i new they were aotulites i wouldnt have waited that long oh well. anyways not wanting to burn up my new glow plugs ive lowered my count to 4 this takes alot of cranking to get her going. my question is anyone else that has theres wired this way how long do ya hold them, on when its about 40 degreas out and the engein is stone cold. also any one no of the best place to get a new glow plug controler. best price ive gotten so far is a 120 bucks. reason for the new controler is my gal drives my truck and she aint to fond of this counting thing and dont over count or y'all burn somthen up deal. thanks in advance for the help and sorry for the long post.

[Spectramac]

I always tell guys with buttons, 6-8 seconds and no more than 10 if its really cold out. I haven't bought a screw in controller in a while, but the last one I got came from NAPA.

[Dave Sponaugle]

40 degrees or above = about 6
40 to 0 = about 8
below 0 = about 10

[redneckmechnic]

thanks guys just dont want to have to pull glow plugs again. least the motorcraft wont swell up and be a real pain in the rear.