glow plugs
- Thread starter jasons76
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glow plugs or heater plugs they are both the same thing,so what is the difference in a glow plug and a heater plug then? if you look on euro car parts heater plugs do not exist but glow plugs do,funny that.all I wanted was some advice not an English lesson.
For the similar device used in model aircraft engines, see Glow plug (model engine).
A standard glowplug.
A glowplug (alternatively spelled as glow plug or glow-plug) is a heating device used to aid starting diesel engines. In cold weather, high speed diesel engines can be difficult to start because the mass of the cylinder block and cylinder head absorb the heat of compression, preventing ignition (which relies on that heat). Pre-chambered engines use small electric heaters (glowplugs) inside the pre-chambers. Direct-injected engines have these glowplugs in the combustion chamber. The glowplug is a pencil-shaped piece of metal with a heating element at the tip. This heating element, when electrified, heats due to its electrical resistance and begins to emit light in the visible spectrum, hence the term glowplug. The visual effect is similar to the heating element in a toaster. The fuel injector spray pattern then impinges directly upon the hot tip of the glow plug during the injection of fuel at top dead center. This ignites the fuel even when the engine is insufficiently hot for normal operation, which reduces the cranking time to start the engine.
A standard glowplug.
A glowplug (alternatively spelled as glow plug or glow-plug) is a heating device used to aid starting diesel engines. In cold weather, high speed diesel engines can be difficult to start because the mass of the cylinder block and cylinder head absorb the heat of compression, preventing ignition (which relies on that heat). Pre-chambered engines use small electric heaters (glowplugs) inside the pre-chambers. Direct-injected engines have these glowplugs in the combustion chamber. The glowplug is a pencil-shaped piece of metal with a heating element at the tip. This heating element, when electrified, heats due to its electrical resistance and begins to emit light in the visible spectrum, hence the term glowplug. The visual effect is similar to the heating element in a toaster. The fuel injector spray pattern then impinges directly upon the hot tip of the glow plug during the injection of fuel at top dead center. This ignites the fuel even when the engine is insufficiently hot for normal operation, which reduces the cranking time to start the engine.
I'm not being funny but everywhere you look they are called and classed as glowplugs, being a mechanic myself I've never heard them called heater plugs. All the documentation they come packaged with also states glowplugs. I've had small petrol engines also have 'glowplugs of a smaller size' and they do exactly the same job.
I quote Wikipedia as follows;
"A glowplug (alternatively spelled as glow plug or glow-plug) is a heating device used to aid starting diesel engines. In cold weather, high speed diesel engines can be difficult to start because the mass of the cylinder block and cylinder head absorb the heat of compression, preventing ignition (which relies on that heat)."
Just typed in heater plug into google not a single reference to heater plugs all glow-plug or glowplug.
I do believe they're may well be a heater plug of sorts but what it's for or what purpose it serves I have no idea.
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I quote Wikipedia as follows;
"A glowplug (alternatively spelled as glow plug or glow-plug) is a heating device used to aid starting diesel engines. In cold weather, high speed diesel engines can be difficult to start because the mass of the cylinder block and cylinder head absorb the heat of compression, preventing ignition (which relies on that heat)."
Just typed in heater plug into google not a single reference to heater plugs all glow-plug or glowplug.
I do believe they're may well be a heater plug of sorts but what it's for or what purpose it serves I have no idea.
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Out of interest I checked in one of my old City and Guilds textbooks (Nunney - Light and Heavy Vehicle Technology) and it refers to "Glowplugs also known as Heater Plugs" (Did some of the old City And Guild courses in the 80's as a hobby)
Got a couple of American auto engineer textbooks from the 1980's as well and one calls them Glowplugs and the other Heater plugs so I guess what you call them depends on where and when you learnt about engines.
Some diesels also used to have a Inlet Manifold Heater which I think was called a "Flame Glow Plug" but that's different animal completely.
Hope that helps
Got a couple of American auto engineer textbooks from the 1980's as well and one calls them Glowplugs and the other Heater plugs so I guess what you call them depends on where and when you learnt about engines.
Some diesels also used to have a Inlet Manifold Heater which I think was called a "Flame Glow Plug" but that's different animal completely.
Hope that helps
That's pretty interesting nice to clarify that , I've known about the heater element worked on a couple on the old leyland dafs military trucks , and the old Bedfords since they also have a container for ethanol If I remember rightly for cold starting in sub zero temps.
Myself I've been a mechanic 10 years or so my uncle about 50ish I did query him regarding them and he said he'd only ever known them called glow plugs but we are Uk based so maybe right on the when and where side.
I can understand they were probably called heater plugs when they were first invented and for several years if you like as that's there purpose although I have no idea why the name changed to glow plugs (obviously they glow to an extent) now as in packaged labelled etc but hey ho
Il bear that in mind if anyone mentions heater plugs at least il know that they mean the same thing.
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Myself I've been a mechanic 10 years or so my uncle about 50ish I did query him regarding them and he said he'd only ever known them called glow plugs but we are Uk based so maybe right on the when and where side.
I can understand they were probably called heater plugs when they were first invented and for several years if you like as that's there purpose although I have no idea why the name changed to glow plugs (obviously they glow to an extent) now as in packaged labelled etc but hey ho
Il bear that in mind if anyone mentions heater plugs at least il know that they mean the same thing.
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Well both for all intensive purposes provide heat for combustion either to aid with starting or as a continuous running since I have the nitro engines you talk of I know what your on about.
What the op was on about was the name glow-plug.
What you think is the correct terminology or not as that's your opinion. Google heater plug nothing comes up google diesel glowplug -glow plugs come up.
Google model engine glowplugs the small glowplugs come up.
As say it's a bit of a conundrum since I have several books Haynes manuals, alldata, autodata, and my books from the city and guilds course state glowplugs and you go to buy glowplugs they say glowplugs on the pack.
So it's not a case of what we think we know it's in black and what for all too see just different areas call it different things it's like a cars bonnet or car hood lol.
I think most will know what your on about which ever you ask for.
I understand both and quite honestly don't mind which is called what lol
Just googled diesel heater plugs directly and it still came up glowplugs go figure.
What the op was on about was the name glow-plug.
What you think is the correct terminology or not as that's your opinion. Google heater plug nothing comes up google diesel glowplug -glow plugs come up.
Google model engine glowplugs the small glowplugs come up.
As say it's a bit of a conundrum since I have several books Haynes manuals, alldata, autodata, and my books from the city and guilds course state glowplugs and you go to buy glowplugs they say glowplugs on the pack.
So it's not a case of what we think we know it's in black and what for all too see just different areas call it different things it's like a cars bonnet or car hood lol.
I think most will know what your on about which ever you ask for.
I understand both and quite honestly don't mind which is called what lol
Just googled diesel heater plugs directly and it still came up glowplugs go figure.
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I read your post and understand it perfectly. I didn't comment on the spiral side of things as I didn't deem it relevant.
A spiral however is a 2d shape a spiral stair case is in the shape of a spiral when veiwed from above and a helix staircase is completely different structure design to a spiral staircase but anyway that's off topic.
The only reason people commented on the heater heater plug comment was probably down to the fact most people whether mechanically minded or not know them as glow plugs. But instead of saying do you mean heater plugs? I know them as heater plugs (which is no problem at all) you continued to try and correct a person asking for help by saying his terminology was wrong when undeniably it is for all that have probably now double checked 100% relevant.
I apologise for saying they both have the same purpose since clearly they do not albeit similar in nature.
I hold my hands up and say I've never heard them referenced to as heater plugs but if you asked me about them I'm pretty sure I'd say I know what you meant and I wouldn't dispute the terminology of someone unless they were 100% wrong.
Not sure where the technology comment has come from but don't worry I use a map book half the time.
Unless you mean the old google, ok I have in front of me a VW manual glow-plug warning symbol which lists as Glow plug system (alternative to EPC). So there you go hard copy. Same as the guy above posted he has references to both so I say ok neither is wrong both right let's move on.
Shame this is well off topic since the first bit of advice regarding the lamp not illuminating for a faulty heater/glow- plug spot on.
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A spiral however is a 2d shape a spiral stair case is in the shape of a spiral when veiwed from above and a helix staircase is completely different structure design to a spiral staircase but anyway that's off topic.
The only reason people commented on the heater heater plug comment was probably down to the fact most people whether mechanically minded or not know them as glow plugs. But instead of saying do you mean heater plugs? I know them as heater plugs (which is no problem at all) you continued to try and correct a person asking for help by saying his terminology was wrong when undeniably it is for all that have probably now double checked 100% relevant.
I apologise for saying they both have the same purpose since clearly they do not albeit similar in nature.
I hold my hands up and say I've never heard them referenced to as heater plugs but if you asked me about them I'm pretty sure I'd say I know what you meant and I wouldn't dispute the terminology of someone unless they were 100% wrong.
Not sure where the technology comment has come from but don't worry I use a map book half the time.
Unless you mean the old google, ok I have in front of me a VW manual glow-plug warning symbol which lists as Glow plug system (alternative to EPC). So there you go hard copy. Same as the guy above posted he has references to both so I say ok neither is wrong both right let's move on.
Shame this is well off topic since the first bit of advice regarding the lamp not illuminating for a faulty heater/glow- plug spot on.
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Wow. . . . . .
Well we clearly have bumped into the wrong guy in here never mind.
In answer to that daft comment ,google spiral staircase you get a spiral staircase- look closer at a helical staircase dude come on big difference between the two subtle but big hence why I said it wasn't relevant shapes similar structure different. Getting bored here.
In a nutshell;
OP's terminology was spot on.
So you could be er what's the word a little bit more gracious.
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Well we clearly have bumped into the wrong guy in here never mind.
In answer to that daft comment ,google spiral staircase you get a spiral staircase- look closer at a helical staircase dude come on big difference between the two subtle but big hence why I said it wasn't relevant shapes similar structure different. Getting bored here.
In a nutshell;
OP's terminology was spot on.
So you could be er what's the word a little bit more gracious.
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you don't deserve 5 stars,what I failed to mention was that I have worked in the motor industry for 25 years and in all that time myself or my colleagues have never ever used the reference of heater plug they are universally known as glow plugs,it will even call them glow plugs in your owners manual,i suggest you get busy with your pen and paper and start writing to all the glow plug manufacturers and car manufacturers explaining to them that in your eyes they are wrong and see how far you get.i asked for some helpful advice you have been a **** my car is fixed,number 3 glow plug was faulty it says glow plug on my invoice.
and by the way the 76 refers to the year I was born.
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