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glow plug for 6.2/ 6.5

Will L.

Will L.

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This really started from me wondering about more MADE IN USA products. I must have bumped my head...

For anyone that has not learned, there are only 2 that are worth buying. If you want to ask about a different one, please do and watch the sharp shooters here fill em full of holes. Or maybe, you found the newest, best one available.

Bosch 80034, made in China
AC Delco 60G, made in Germany (ironic, right)

We know from testing the Bosch got up to temp quicker, and lasts days powered up non stop due to a great self regulating system. I unplugged them after a week.

The 60G is a tad slower, but gets to the same temperature. Also self regulating, but failed after several hours of continuous power.

I tried contacting both companies in pursuit of MADE IN USA. Basically blow into a tornado is where that ended.

Bosch rep over the phone said they get a lot of flack about Europeans wanting production back in Germany, and they are still building infrastructure in China.

AC DELCO responded via email on build location, and phone follow up about chances to move it here:

"Dear Mr. :

Thank you for visiting the ACDelco website.

The part number you have provided, glow plug 60G, is made in Germany. Please be advised that ACDelco is committed to providing the quality products that people have come to know and trust. Yes, some of our parts are made overseas, but the manufacturers have strict engineering specifications and guidelines that they must follow in order for the parts to pass the ACDelco standard of quality.

We appreciate your business.

Regards,

ACDelco Internet Response Team "

They would not comment about what it would take to move any production here, nor would they comment about the rumor the old Bosch plant & equipment is being used to build the German made AC Delco glow pugs and spark plugs.

I mentioned the simple bench tests I performed 2 years ago, as well a Bill Heath test comparing them in. The rep did say they have made an improvement in the regulator inside the glow plug since then. I've read multiple people quoting Bill Heath that Duraterms win hands down, I never read his write up, but it matched my results what I've heard. So if anyone else is up for a test again, let us know what happens. Especially if your a video making pro.
 
The ac delco's are made by a company called BERU, thats why they are made in Germany. Beru is a top notch manufacturer building most of the OEM glow plugs. I know my AC's in my F URAMAX have BERU stamped right on the side of them.
 
Ok, thanks. That squishes the old Bosch plant rumor. Beru has been around for decades making good parts for European cars. That explains why AC Delco won't make it here, they don't make it.

I don't know of anything being made in Germany that is not high quality. All the tooling that comes from there is top notch too.
 
There IS a made in USA glow plug out there for the 6.2/6.5's. DIESEL RX makes the DRX00050 which is for the 6.2/6.5L engines. Price seems to be $7-8 a plug from what I can find, but not many vendors carry them. I haven't tried them because in the DURAMAX world they have an iffy reputation because they sell the same 11 volt glow plug for the LB7 as they do the LLY, and the LLY uses 4.7 volt glow plugs. This, and they appear to be WAP glow plugs, and I know how good there reputation is for the 6.5's.
 
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I need to buy glow plugs for my 84 6.2 soon, Does anyone have info or opinions on Kennedy Diesels quick heat plugs? How do they stack up against Bosch and Delco?
 
On the WAP, they supply for hmmwv in 24 and still suck.

I'm not sure what kind Kennedy is selling. If it's the same as the "instaburn-up" as Ss diesel- RUN AWAY.
I would call him and ask what brand they are.

Afaik, Bosch is still top dog. Which being made in China, kills me to admit. Give the devil his due I guess.
 
Last box of Rockauto Bosch Duraterms I got for Patch says made in France.

Both the Duraterm and 60G are slower to heat than the original design. They make a non-regulated "quick heat" plug, but, you will be buying Leroy's glow plug extraction tool from swelling.

The controllers (stand alone pre 1994 non ECM controlled) are also a mess to replace as IMO aftermarket don't work as well as the OEM. Sadly the OEM controllers start to short cycle with age: This means they don't get even the OEM plugs hot enough. Aftermarket, specifically the Bosch controller I put on the 1993, will allow you a full time cycle when you shut the ignition off and turn it back on. This double or triple glow time would pop the non self limiting plugs. The OEM controller is 100% internal thermoresistor controlled so it won't cycle if it is hot and thinks the plugs are hot.

Best way to check the glow plug system for short cycle (not enough glow time) is remove the #1 injector. Turn on the system and see if the #1 glow plug glows. Any glow including a dull red counts. No glow means not hot enough - smoke alone doesn't count. Yeah, "Glow Plug" means Glowing hot!

Personally I have the ECM programmed to use longer glow times with self limiting plugs. For the harder to start DB2, because I always have worn used or wonky pumps, I use as manual override. Any system older than 1993 I recommend upgrading to the 1993 system or the adjustable controller. Frankly the older and 1993 systems are dangerous if they loose a ground and bring the plugs on at full temp. Peninsular sugar coated it with 'burn out the plugs'. No, if you are doing 65 MPH at full temp and the glow plugs turn on the non self regulating plugs will be blown clean in half and you will be removing the impacted debris from piston tops and heads. Not experienced this with self regulating plugs, but, can't be any worse than the non self limiting T-Shirt I got.

Manual override
http://leroydiesel.com/products/leroys-glow-plug-relay-override/

Complete new adjustable time controller.
http://www.peninsulardiesel.com/WP-PENTEST/?wpsc-product=2337953-glow-plug-timer-upgrade-kit

So again the best plugs are The Bosch Duraterm with the weaker AC Delco 60G being a second choice. Both plugs need more glow time via a override switch or ECM program.

There isn't ANY reason to run anything but self limiting glow plugs in your 6.2/6.5 after you see the downsides of swollen plugs.

I have removed burned out Duraterms from my engine without issue. (Years of override and over advanced timing abuse.) The engine that burned a hole through a cracked piston only had nubs of the 60G's left. Timing being too advanced will erode glow plugs. Ether can kill hot plugs instantly.

Ether doesn't start and make the diesel engine run. (Gas engines use a low compression spark so it's different and not as bad.) Ether heats the diesel cylinder up so the diesel will burn. As the either lights off (explodes is a better term) before TDC and attempts to run the diesel engine backwards you risk bending rods, breaking rings, ruining/blowing the starter clean off the engine, or blowing the heads off the engine. Be easy on the amount used with the understanding you may be rebuilding/replacing the engine you are trying to start. This said disable the glow plugs or grid heaters before use. Better to fix the starting issue than use it. Emergencies: you can write off the engine...
 
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Looks like nobody's stocking the Bosch plugs anymore. Kennedy's are on sale, I'll have to ask him what brand and if they're self regulating.

edit: Heath has the Bosch plugs but at double the sale price of Kennedy's I don't know.
 
NAPA used to carry them locally.

I was looking at some Bosch plugs from an online distributor for $10.95 US ea. Pricks wanted $239.00 US shipping. I run into that a lot, really pee's me off. Then add 50% for exchange rate.:eek:
 
I asked in vendor request thread. Hopefully. If I can support a vendor here for them, I'll feel better about the China thing.
 
Well yeah, if you don't plant a tree , you can't have it to burn later to release the carbons into the air!
 
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Just got off the phone with Kennedy, their plugs are made by WAP in the USA. They are self regulating. He assured me that they will not swell or break and that they never hear any problems with them. I need to order plugs asap, my truck is in my apartment parking lot and I'm stranded until I can get her to fire. Keeping in mind that I'm staying with the stock 84 glow controller at least for awhile, what do you guys think I should do? Bosch or Kennedy's? I'm ready to make an order but afraid if I get the Bosch's they won't heat fast enough with the older style controller. I installed brand new 800CCA batteries just a few days ago FYI.
 
floyd400 said:
Just got off the phone with Kennedy, their plugs are made by WAP in the USA. They are self regulating. He assured me that they will not swell or break and that they never hear any problems with them. I need to order plugs asap, my truck is in my apartment parking lot and I'm stranded until I can get her to fire. Keeping in mind that I'm staying with the stock 84 glow controller at least for awhile, what do you guys think I should do? Bosch or Kennedy's? I'm ready to make an order but afraid if I get the Bosch's they won't heat fast enough with the older style controller. I installed brand new 800CCA batteries just a few days ago FYI.
Click to expand...

This is not the best plan. Your OEM plugs gave up for a reason, aside of age, likely the controller is going bad. Maybe you jump started the truck and that took them out. I assume you have tested and verified the plugs are bad? (Several other possible reasons a 6.2 won't start.) The round thread in controllers were not very reliable. Further you may have a bad time getting the old plugs out.

Just hook one WAP in a vise and power it on till it fails and you have your answer. I have a stack of them in a box from military surplus engines, but, I won't send them out as I don't want to be sued for engine damage from them. Last time they told us the glow plug 'brand x' were not going to swell up was 1990 and they were blown in half in the engine from a bad controller... For grins I recently burned some Wellmans up for entertainment value - including the quick heat plugs my 1992 project had and yes, they still swell up.

WAP aka formally known as Wellman well just Google them and then ask Mr. Kennedy why he is being so stupid as to carry that garbage? Is he going to help you remove swollen glow plugs like Wellmans are famous for, esp. from military use?

Even the 1993 looking controllers used on 1998 weren't that great. 1993 has an internal temperature kick out to keep the plugs off while starting a hot engine. The 1988 design used a switch on the rear passenger cylinder head that opens when hot. Further it had a large internal capacitor on the circuit board subject to engine vibration. When the cap came loose it would chatter the glow plug controller on/off and overheat the glow plugs. (The controller cycling vibration would bounce the cap causing it to switch on/off rapidly.) Then the switch in the head went bad heating the plugs on a hot engine.

Quick and dirty is to use the self regulating plugs and an override switch powering a Ford starter solenoid. The Ford Solenoid powers the glow plugs. 30 seconds is the max time you will need. Do not glow while the engine is running - never-mind the short afterglow the 1993 controller does for emissions/white smoke reduction as you are not that quick and the risk to plugs and your engine isn't worth it.

The 1993 controller is a simple 4 wire hook up. In no order: ground, ignition power, glow plug sense, and crank sense. You already have most of these at the old controller.

The peninsular diesel adjustable time controller is also a good upgrade for use with self limiting plugs.
 
Afaik Kennedy does not have a bad reputation, but I have a hard time believing a 6.5 parts supplier has not heard of all the problems from wellman, unless he never realized WAP= wellman auto parts? Did I miss something here guys?

Maybe I wasn't clear about my wellman statement. NEVER RUN WELLMAN GLOW PLUGS, regardless of voltage range your using. They are the worst at ruining engines. If you have them, install them into the trash can. Place them in a pile of firewood under the oilpan and use the flame to pre heat instead.

Don't be afraid of the self limiting, they are better. Worse case scenario is turn on key, wait for light to go out, turn off key, turn key on and wait a second time. Later when you can upgrade your controller or program, it's easier, but the newer glow plugs are they way to go.

I spoke to my flap (they also sell online) about the Bosch not being in stock this morning, he said they are flying off the shelves is why. I think there is another forum out there that just learned the magic or we have a lot of new visitors and all those guys are jumping on the Bosch bandwagon.

I hope Bosch is making most of them in France now- I like their fries...(hey- I'm funny on my home planet, ok?)
 
I agree that Kennedy has a solid reputation and I've bought from him before. But, I'm just not feeling lucky enough to gamble on those quick heats though, as WW said, John won't be there to help me get them out when/if they cause me grief. And I've read enough horror stories on the forums to be mindful of the warnings. I called all the parts stores, no one has Bosch. Summit Racing is out, Amazon has 3 in stock lol, The site JMJ posted is the only place that has them and it comes out to $99.63 shipped to my door. First, I'm going to see if I can even remove my old glow plugs before I order. Wish me luck!
 
Also, I haven't tried jump starting the truck. Maybe a previous owner did at some point, who knows. Guy in my apartment said I should use either, I said hell no, not on my diesel!! haha. I cleaned up all the grounds and battery connections. I feel like it's not turning over fast enough, but with new fully charged batteries the only things that could be causing that are shitty cables or a worn out starter. My cables aren't the greatest and I plan on making new ones with top post terminals and all in the biggest gauge I can get but it's just not in the cards at the moment. I'm going to try to get ahold of a long extension cable and plug in my block heater.
 
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