Does not "glowing" the plugs lead to CEL's

In my completely non-expert opinion, it probably wouldn't cause any issues the cars computer can't take care of. However, it's simply not a good practice. The glow plugs in the Cruze, as I understand it, are very quick to warm up. It just takes a second. And when you remote start, the computer waits for the glow plugs by itself, so you don't have to worry about it there.


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I always glow mine, but I got used to doing that having older diesels. it's always extremely quick, even in winter. I heard somewhere that the glowing process actually starts when you open the driver's door, but i have no proof of that. Mostly, the car was designed so that people don't have to think about that.

When it's warm out, above 50*ish, that glow plug light is doing a light check. With modern direct injection and multi-event injector pulse control, it doesn't need glow plugs.

diesel said:

I always glow mine, but I got used to doing that having older diesels. it's always extremely quick, even in winter. I heard somewhere that the glowing process actually starts when you open the driver's door, but i have no proof of that. Mostly, the car was designed so that people don't have to think about that.

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I know that it doesn't on mine:

One winter morning my wife forgot herself and just engaged the starter, without pausing for the glowplugs. The engine cranked and cranked on its own and eventually started. But would have started within three power strokes had the glowplugs been used.

We always wait for the glow-plug light to go out, as it says in the manual, before starting.

As mentioned above - it takes a few more cranking cycles to start when its cold out, if you don't wait for them.

I always wait, but after the car is hot mine doesn't come on or the light doesn't come on for plugs. With the battery a weak link on these cars and pricey to replace why would you want to crank longer than necessary?:uhh:

I wait on the glow plug light to shut off, but on the CTD it shuts off very quickly in most circumstances. In our VW TDIs it seems to be a simple timer and runs them a set amount of time after each time you turn the key on, while the Cruze Diesel seems to be intelligent and only turns them on as long as needed since they draw a lot of current too.

IndyDiesel said:

With the battery a weak link on these cars and pricey to replace why would you want to crank longer than necessary?:uhh:

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I keep reading that but mine is still going strong on the original, almost 3 years and 77k miles.

Back to the OP's point though, I have once or twice forgotten. It always starts, just takes a little longer and is rough for a minute.

With how quick the glow plugs are in this car, I don't see why you wouldn't just wait as it's designed.

I live in a mild climate in Sydney Australia and apart from the check at start up I haven't seen the glow plug light come on at all. The car is now 4 years old and the coldest it has seen is 2C (about 39F). It has always started without effort and is still on the original battery.

mkohan said:

Who starts without waiting for the glow plug light to go out? What happens if you just jump in the diesel and fire it up? Is there more soot produced during start up and possible senor fowling? I'm just starting to learn about diesels and don't have a clue as to the answers.

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It would be best to try to understand why a diesel uses glow plugs then you will see their importance. Unlike a gas engine that uses spark plugs to ignite the fuel a diesel uses compression and heat only.; With a cold engine part of that equation is missing, this is where the glow plug comes in. Its job is to add enough heat for the combustion process to start. Sure on hot days this may be less necessary but as you asked above could this lead to more soot or sensor fowling? I would think so since without that heat there is more chance for the fuel to not be burned completely.

I've just got in the habit to always wait for the light to go out on any diesel before i attempt to start.

I use remote start and i hear it prime, and i assume glow plugs get hot then when its ready it fires up. When i get in the car i turn key to ready and wait for the electric fuel pump noise to stop and by that time all dash lights are off and i fire it up...takes 3 seconds or so

As a new owner anticipating deeply cold (-25F) winter situations, is there any advantage to waiting extra time for cylinder heating? Will the plugs cycle more than once?

As a new owner anticipating deeply cold (-25F) winter situations, is there any advantage to waiting extra time for cylinder heating? Will the plugs cycle more than once?

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i dont think so. with diesel big rigs you have a switch to keep them on for longer if needed and newer ones keep light on untill ready.... i think cruze is pre set...don't know for sure

pavulon said:

As a new owner anticipating deeply cold (-25F) winter situations, is there any advantage to waiting extra time for cylinder heating? Will the plugs cycle more than once?

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I believe they will only come on once per key cycle and the duration they're on will depend on outside temperature. It should only require one cycle. However, if it has trouble starting, a few more cycles wouldn't hurt.


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pavulon said:

As a new owner anticipating deeply cold (-25F) winter situations, is there any advantage to waiting extra time for cylinder heating? Will the plugs cycle more than once?

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No need to worry about it, assuming your fuel is properly winterized. Here is my car in -9F with fuel that wasn't quite up to the job. There are a few other vids on Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTUmnLrMGL8

pavulon said:

As a new owner anticipating deeply cold (-25F) winter situations, is there any advantage to waiting extra time for cylinder heating? Will the plugs cycle more than once?

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-51 here

wait for the light to go out,car starts normal

pandrad61 said:

i dont think so. with diesel big rigs you have a switch to keep them on for longer if needed and newer ones keep light on untill ready.... i think cruze is pre set...don't know for sure

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never seen such a switch

boraz said:

never seen such a switch

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It works off the ignition key.

Aussie said:

It works off the ignition key.

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was refering to the switches in big rigs he's talkin aboot