Glow plug and regen C5 mk1.5

[peterg]

The glow plugs on my 2007 2.0 HDI C5 don't work.....when it's very cold my engine chugs a bit after starting - I can live with that but a local mechanic mentioned that he didn't think the DPF regen would work without glow plugs? Is that correct? Replacement looks to be a pain to do - several hours of torture posisbly!

[GiveMeABreak]

No not correct. The Glow plugs are sometimes used to help raise temperature post ignition for a matter of a second or 2, and are only used to aid regeneration if required - again for a second or 2, but will not stop regeneration. The engine ECU employs various strategies for raising engine temp including the switching on of consumer equipment like the heated rear screen for example to increase power requirements and the increase the engine loading.

[peterg]

No not correct. The Glow plugs are sometimes used to help raise temperature post ignition for a matter of a second or 2, and are only used to aid regeneration if required - again for a second or 2, but will not stop regeneration. The engine ECU employs various strategies for raising engine temp including the switching on of consumer equipment like the heated rear screen for example to increase power requirements and the increase the engine loading.

awesome thanks.....no need to worry about those little blighters then!

[GiveMeABreak]

They are not used as much for starting on HDi common rail diesel engines unlike their predecessors, but if you are having cold starting issues and a few of them are out, then it may be worth getting them replaced at some point.

[Gibbo2286]

There's a pretty good video here for the glow pug change job on the C5 2.0L