How often to change glow plug?

[invaderzim__]

How long do you keep each glow plug for?

 

[Nitroaddict]

until they quit working, lol.

seriously - get a couple of spares, and just replace them when they go bad. never put the old one back in your pit bag though, throw it away. I've done this before, then put an old one in as a replacement right before a race.

 

[invaderzim__]

I was just asking becasue once i had a glow plug that worked fine, I replaced it and my car started driving much better

 

[Nitroaddict]

invader - i usually check mine every race, just pull it out and make sure it still glows brightly. plugs are cheap, so i have alot of spares, maybe 20 of em.

 

[Nitroz28]

when should they be replace for performace mine still works but the coil is white and bottom is black and oily?

 

[invaderzim__]

It should glow bright red... If not change it

 

[GilBeQuick]

Cheap?!?!? At $5-10 a piece, that's not cheap! 20 spares, geez, that's a lot of dough in plugs.

Nitroz28, you probably won't be able to tell when there is a performance decrease because it will have happened gradually over time. There's no rule as to when to change your plug for best performance. Sometimes plugs last a tank of fuel, sometimes they last for 6 months, you never know. Like everyone has said, if you're unsure, pull your plug and make sure it glows BRIGHT red. If it's dull, replace it. Also make sure your ignitor is charged up. If it's low on juice your plug will be dull no matter what.

 

[espeng]

I'm changing plugs every race I attend, using the old one for the qualifications and then put in a new one before the finals.

You never know when they go bad! If you keep the old ones, use them for practice or something.

 

[StrechM]

change them often, buy them in bulk if you can or as you can afford them. can't have to many of them. they are not at their optimum for very long.

 

[kwong2001]

Originally posted by GilBeQuick
Cheap?!?!? At $5-10 a piece, that's not cheap! 20 spares, geez, that's a lot of dough in plugs.

Nitroz28, you probably won't be able to tell when there is a performance decrease because it will have happened gradually over time. There's no rule as to when to change your plug for best performance. Sometimes plugs last a tank of fuel, sometimes they last for 6 months, you never know. Like everyone has said, if you're unsure, pull your plug and make sure it glows BRIGHT red. If it's dull, replace it. Also make sure your ignitor is charged up. If it's low on juice your plug will be dull no matter what.

'

It's like $5 a plug here...that's for normal ones, and probably $8-10 for turbo plugs, unfortunately, my novarossi is a turbo

 

[invaderzim__]

can you use regular plugs on a turbo head?

or turbo plugs on a regular head?

 

[espeng]

No you can't, they have different threads.

 

[GilBeQuick]

Invader, turbo plugs have a wider thread, and don't use a copper gasket. Turbo plugs don't use a gasket and rely on the wider thread and compression to keep them sealed tight. If you were to try to put a turbo plug in a standard plug hole, it wouldn't fit.

 

[Skipper]

I've had one on my maxx (original) last a little over a year, and I drove it a decent amount of times. Even with all the abuse, still stood up fine.
Eventually it got real sluggish and bogged alot, changed the plug, and boom runs like new. Still have that plug in my engine.

 

[bkunar5356]

i just burnt mine out....so then i grabbed my one and only spare and as i was heading for the car (with a couple of other stops on the way) i must have lost it cuz i put it in my pocket and now its gone. i think maybe ill buy more spares....

 

[RiceLaxer06]

it depends, during break in a killed one, but I've had the one i have now for 2 months. it depends how rich the engine is running because a lot of fuel tends to wear them out.
Andrew