GLOW PLUG
Diesel
engines, unlike petrol engines which rely on a spark to ignite the air-fuel
mixture, function due to the auto-ignition of diesel fuel when subjected to
high pressures. Under high pressure, the temperature of the diesel fuel
increases to a point where the fuel self-combusts. In cold weather however,
this temperature is not always achieved and glow plugs assist by heating the
air-fuel mixture to assist in cold starting.
Put
simply, glow plugs are small heaters.
So, basic
function of a glow plug is to raise the temperature inside the cylinder, so
that sufficient heat is generated to ignite the diesel fuel on starting.
How it works?
A glow plug is an electrical resistor. When electricity passes
through it the resistance creates heat causing the glow plug to heat up. A
light bulb filament works the same way. The
reason glow plugs help start the engine is because diesel engines use heat that
is created from compressing air in order to ignite the fuel. Glow plugs help
warm a cold part of the engine to aid starting. When the engine is cold the
metal in the engine absorbs the heat caused from compression causing the air to
not reach the temperature necessary in order to ignite the fuel. If the fuel
does not ignite the engine will not run. A warm engine does not adsorb as much
heat and therefore the engine will start and run just fine. The glow plugs help
the engine to start so that it can warm up and supply its own heat
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