HDI Glowplugs

[imperial21]

Just checking will these glow plugs be ok for my 1999 Xantia 110bhp.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310370672920? ... 1497.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also what are they like to fit ??
Thanks

[Peter.N.]

If they are genuine Citroen you can't go far wrong, your engine will be the same as the 406. If you are having difficulty starting, how fast is the engine turning over, mine starts without waiting for the glow plugs but it turns at a rate of knots.

Peter

[imperial21]

Hi the engine spins over well, the battery was new last year, Its has now become quite cold, as you know as youre down the road from me !! The car turns over fine but not starting straight away as normal & quite smokey for a couple of seconds, I thought as these plugs are cheap its wortha quick try ? I know HDI plugs are only on for a few seconds when cold starting but stay on as pre heaters.

[charentejohn]

Can I piggy back a question on this about how long the glowplugs stay on.
Temp here about -5 or so this morning, garage always colder than outside, and the car starts ok after about 30 seconds turning over at a moderate speed. I never have any doubt it will start just when, I can hear when it is thinking about starting so all in all no problems despite the conditions.

I think (could be imagined) I saw the glowplug light illuminate for about 1 second this morning but could have been mistaken.
I have seen elsewhere here that the temp has to be in serious minus figures to operate the glow plugs so not surprised.

How does the staying on as pre heaters work when starting ? Do the glowplugs act as pre heaters after the engine has started or before ?
Just interested as is it possible to turn on, no glowplug light shows but they are heating anyway so just wait a bit. Or just start immediately as no point waiting because they act as pre heaters only after the engine has started.

[Peter.N.]

I believe they do stay one for a bit, the idea is that they aid combustion to reduce smoke. On the XUD engines you can hear the relay drop out 10 seconds or so after the light goes out but I have not noticed this on mine because even in this temperature it starts within two seconds. Maybe mine is exceptional, it would be interesting to hear other peoples experiences. My XM takes a bit of churning this weather but if you leave it until you hear the relay drop out and then give it another burst of heat it starts fairly quickly.

Peter

[Lighty]

The HDI glows stay on for quite a while after the engine has fired, to aid warm up in those difficult few mins of extreme cold.
We were struggling with our Berlingo as it would cut out once started, new glows (2 were failed) has since cured it, and no horrid unburnt fumes either.

[CitroJim]

This thread contains a table of HDi glowplug heating times, including post-heating durations...

Plus some other useful information besides...

[charentejohn]

The table or glowplug times explains it all very well.
So in my current case, air temp -4 at the moment so car the same, the plugs should come on for 0.5s so got to be fast to see it. More important they stay on for 10s if I don't turn the starter. So I would be best to wait 10 seconds before starting to allow them to heat a little. I usually wait till all the whirring stops and the other lights go out on the dash anyway so no hardship.

They should then stay on for a further 60s while the engine is running. I usually leave it ticking over for 5 mins or more this weather to heat up anyway.