Glow plugs...

ok so I'm going to test them first, but based on the poor starting in this cold weather we've been having and the little bit of smoke I get until she's warmed up, plus the feeling that she starts on two, coughs a third into life shortly afterwards, reluctantly brings the fourth into life, and sometime later the fifth comes skipping in...

Well based on that, I'm probably going to be changing my glowplugs soon. Trouble is, having read all the horror stories about snapping them in the head, I'm frit of having at them.

So - am I likely to have any problems?

And - aside from attempting to remove them whilst the engine is hot, are there any other tips and tricks which would help me?

Hi just be careful whilst you change them and as said do so when the engine is still warm

Ps refrain from using cheap ones

Also don't try to wind them all the out in one go. Once they start to move undo half a turn and then back in a quarter turn. Then out half a turn again back in a quarter etc..... Try to feel if the plug is beginning to bind and then wind in again. Better a little at a time and taking a bit longer because a broken one can be a bugger to sort out. Once you get them out use a smear of copper grease when fitting and get in the habbit of loosening them and retightening one or twice a year. Then when you want them to come out they will with no drama.

spot on