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Glow plug life.

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Old May 2, 2012 | 01:12 PM
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Jayme Duty's Avatar
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Glow plug life.

I know that everybody on here uses beru zd9 plugs and so do i but i have been going through what seems like a lot to me. They are only lasting about 6 months. Is this normal or do i have something else in the system wrong. Like a controller maybe?? It was 25 degrees this morning and with the plugs not working like they should it was not a happy truck.
 
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Old May 2, 2012 | 03:36 PM
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How r they when u take them out? Are they just not glowing anymore like they burnt out or r they damaged like tips r cracked or missing? Also how long does your controller keep them on for?
 
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Old May 2, 2012 | 05:31 PM
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im still on the first replacement set i put in, when i first got my truck back in '09 and approx 40k miles latter Jayme, if this helps.
ZD-9's.
here's a thread to help you trace out the '87+ gp system step by step:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...low-plugs.html

we read often that too much timing advance can burn up gp's too fyi.
 
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Old May 2, 2012 | 06:00 PM
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I have about 5 years and 50K miles on the set I put in when I bought my truck. They're still working great!

I'll second checking out the controller, or your timing, something there isn't working right.
 
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Old May 2, 2012 | 07:46 PM
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493,699 miles, second set of glow plugs. the ones in there now have been in there for around 200,000 miles, and 10 years.
 
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Old May 3, 2012 | 02:45 AM
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well...im in a conundrum too...the brand new ZD-9's I put in when i did the rebuild....are dead...its been 2 months!!
 
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Old May 3, 2012 | 07:34 AM
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are you guys that have dead glow plugs using a push button to over ride the controller?
 
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Old May 3, 2012 | 05:26 PM
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Well if the light goes out they should be out. Run a new light off the relay to indicate when the plugs are on and off. Its done all the time on the powerstrokes. Only way they should burn out is if they stay on. Even with timing I'm having a hard time seeing why this should burn them out if they're not on. Maybe I'm wrong but I haven't seen anything yet to change my mine.

Chet
 
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Old May 3, 2012 | 06:01 PM
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my light only stays on for about 4 seconds right not the 8-10 like it should.
 
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Old May 3, 2012 | 06:40 PM
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The newer style as u have "senses" burned out plugs so iirc (i have the old style which i converted to manual) will not keep them on as long. That should be in conjunction with a lot of clicking. Best bet is gonna be to override it controller and make them manual then u have control of when they fire and will keep a controller out of the mix. As the plugs burn out the voltage across the rest of them will increase shortening there life. The only way I would guess they would burn out in less then 6 months is a bad controller. If the r physically damaged then you have other issues, timing and or fuel.
 
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Old May 3, 2012 | 08:32 PM
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I have not pulled these ones out yet. The last ones looked just fine but were dead. They would not heat at all. How does timing hurt the plugs. My truck is only timed be ear right now as i have not been able to find anybody around the gallatin valley that has the right equipment to time it correctly
 
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Old May 4, 2012 | 01:38 AM
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If they looked fine then timing should not be your issue. Way advanced timing or excess heat from to much fuel can cause the GP to be physically damaged like missing tips or cracked plugs. If ur plugs simply burned out then if it were me I'd would suspect the controller being faulty.
 
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