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Has anyone have experience using the motorcraft ZD30 glow plugs?
Are they better than the ZD11 glow plugs? I’ve always read to use the ZD11 glow plugs on 7.3’s. I’m guessing the ZD30 is a newer updated version of the ZD11
Just want to know the difference and if putting the ZD30 glow plugs on my stock excursion will hurt it in any way possible
Either will work and be fine...you just need to be certain they are not the knock off cheap china counterfits as there seems to be more of those out there than the real deal...
Either will work and be fine...you just need to be certain they are not the knock off cheap china counterfits as there seems to be more of those out there than the real deal...
Was planning to get them from O’Reilly. They are the only ones where they have it in stock and be able to pick them up same day
There is a thread about real vs fake plugs. I posted when I got my glow plugs. Will say I did mine in 22 with new OEM UVCH each side, really gets me going when I see all the Facebook warriors complaining about 7.3 cold starts. Since doing some mods, mine only gets plugged in cause I’m a sissy. Truck will start no issues unplugged in the cold.
Bag said Ireland, plugs said Germany.
youll be happy when your done!
Last edited by RyeThomas; Dec 9, 2025 at 03:12 PM.
Then they have to be precision made! I know I need these bad because it took four start attempts today and it was only 38 F. Replacing the plug relay also.
So, I just orders a set of the old ZD-11s off ebay for $58. Look original motorcraft but how would you know?
Dang . . Irish glow plugs, gotta be hot!
Hard to tell from the bags, but they should have a breather hole punched in them. I've still seen fakes with the hole. The only way to be certain is to look for the crimp at the top of the unit where the wire clips on. If it has 3 crimp protrusions, they're good. If it is smooth with an indented circle, they're fake.
I HOPE mine are real MoCraf plugs. $58 for a set of 8 kind of worries me now. The ZD-30s were going to cost $124 for a whole set.
You'll be into it for $186 by the time you buy real ones for it and do them twice....and hopefully not a head gasket too when the tips swell and stick in the head.
Chinesium fakes are cheap for a reason and real Motorcraft glow plugs are about $15 (minimum) each for a reason. There's never enough time (or money) to do it right the first time but there's always enough time to do it again.
I'll eat crow if the ones you ordered happen to be real by some miracle but at $7.25 a piece I doubt someone is taking a 50% hit on the sale.
You'll be into it for $186 by the time you buy real ones for it and do them twice....and hopefully not a head gasket too when the tips swell and stick in the head.
Chinesium fakes are cheap for a reason and real Motorcraft glow plugs are about $15 (minimum) each for a reason. There's never enough time (or money) to do it right the first time but there's always enough time to do it again.
I'll eat crow if the ones you ordered happen to be real by some miracle but at $7.25 a piece I doubt someone is taking a 50% hit on the sale.
I was able to get some for about that price...plus the UVCH...from a stealership in Tennessee that was going out of business a couple years back when I did our 2 trucks, but you really have to be careful and know what to look for...
