Glow Plug questions and Concerns.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: SW Montana
Glow Plug questions and Concerns.
Curious, wondering what damage may be done if you start truck without waiting for glow plug light to shut off? Due to getting old and forgettful, I have jumped into the truck and cranked it over without letting the glow plugs heat up. Not very often, but I did it for the first time on the 05 the other day. Have to admit, it is way more common for me to jump into the car and turn on the key and wait for a few seconds before reality sets in and I crank it up. The reason I ask, the truck dosn't seem to run very good after doing that. I understand, for a few seconds, poor running would be expected. But after running for a while, engine completely warmed up, still dosn't feel right. Could any damage be occuring? I did notice a corelation between doing the no wait and injectors going out on the 03 truck. Not sure if it was coincidence or related.
Another observation. Difference between 03 and 05. The 03 if the engine was warm, the glow plug light didn't stay lit. The 05, it comes on and stays on for about 5-10 seconds even if the truck is at operating temp. Even then, I try and wait for the glow plug indicator to go out before starting it. Not sure if that is necissary.
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Joined: Aug 2004
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You will hurt nothing on the truck by forgetting to Wait To Start. If it's cold out you might hurt the environment a little by pumping some unburned diesel smoke into it. If it's REALLY cold out, the truck won't start or will run like crap for a bit until it warms up. No long term damage though.
I believe the '03 programming shuts off the WTS light a little aggressively. I can get slightly smoky starts in the deep cold if I crank just as the light goes out, whereas waiting a few seconds longer produces a perfectly clean start. Perhaps on the '05 they just corrected that flaw by making the light timing more realistic? (Remember that the plugs stay on for a couple of minutes or so, independent of what the light is doing.)
Duncan
I believe the '03 programming shuts off the WTS light a little aggressively. I can get slightly smoky starts in the deep cold if I crank just as the light goes out, whereas waiting a few seconds longer produces a perfectly clean start. Perhaps on the '05 they just corrected that flaw by making the light timing more realistic? (Remember that the plugs stay on for a couple of minutes or so, independent of what the light is doing.)
Duncan
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Lynden, WA.
First thing I do when I open the door is put the key in the ignition and turn. Then I stow my drink and jacket. By then everything is ready. If the engine is warm I don't even think about allowing the glow plugs to cycle. When cold, yeah, it starts nicer if I let'm warm things up a bit. No smoke for the friends and neighbors to complain about.
Since I live on a highway, coming down from Mach-II to zero in a matter of seconds, it drives my wife nuts that as I park I let the engine idle for a minute to allow the turbo to cool. Now she carries her set of house keys...
Since I live on a highway, coming down from Mach-II to zero in a matter of seconds, it drives my wife nuts that as I park I let the engine idle for a minute to allow the turbo to cool. Now she carries her set of house keys...
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