Get back to adventure with a glow plug replacement

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You may have heard of a spark plug, which ignites the fuel in a petrol combustion engine, but if you’re driving diesel then it’s all about the glow plug. For many diesel engines, a glow plug provides the extra boost needed to start the combustion process when you first turn on the car, especially in cold weather.

If they are worn out and faulty, the engine might struggle to turn over, and you’ll likely notice a few other signs and symptoms, too. Suspect your glow plugs aren’t firing up like they should? Give the helpful crew at mycar a call and we’ll get to the bottom of things.

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Need a glow plug replacement? Call the best in the business

At mycar, we know all the tricks of the trade when it comes to getting your car fired up and ready to roll. Before you visit your local shop, give us a call and we’ll chat through what’s been going on. This gives us a head start on diagnosing and fixing things up.

When you bring your car in, we’ll use a tool called a multimeter to check the health of the glow plugs. If they’re looking worse for wear, it’s time to pull them out and install quality replacement plugs. Expect a glow plug removal and replacement to take about 1-2 hours all up, but on certain vehicles this could be longer.

How much does glow plug replacement cost?

The good news is that glow plugs tend to last a really long time—on average, you should get about 160,000km from each plug. When they do go, costs can add up pretty quickly. Glow plugs can range in price depending on the make and model of your car, and how many plugs you need to replace. That’s why we offer upfront quoting, so you can budget around actual prices.

Need some extra time to pay your bill? We offer Zip Pay and Afterpay, letting you pay on the day and make manageable instalments over time.

Keep an eye out for these bad glow plug symptoms

Diesel engines work by using super compressed fuel which becomes extremely hot, and acts as an ignition source. In some engine styles, the initial cold temperature of the engine can make it harder to ignite the fuel and get the car started. Glow plugs work by preheating the cylinder so that it burns readily. If one or more glow plugs are no longer working, you will likely notice some or all of the following signs and symptoms of glow plug problems:

Engine struggles to start when it’s cold
Exhaust pipe blows white or black smoke
Engine runs rough in the cold
Dash light may illuminate, depending on the make and model of car

Glow Plug Q&A

What happens when glow plugs fail?

When glow plugs fail, you’ll find the cold starting hard and can lead to issues with the fuel/air mixture, causing problems such as rough idling and smoke blowing from the tailpipe. This is because as glow plugs burn out and fail, they are no longer able to heat the fuel in preparation for ignition.

Can I drive with faulty glow plugs?

If your car will still start, you can continue driving with faulty glow plugs. However, it can place extra stress on the engine and lead to further issues, so your best bet is to book in with your mechanic as soon as possible and have the glow plugs tested and replaced if necessary.