What is the average service life of glow plugs?

[diesel-dog]

I think mine are due a change! Having to give her 2-3 doses of preheat before she fires.
The service history shows that they were last changed 110,000 miles ago I would have thought they should be well knackered by now.

[Eric]

I think mine are due a change! Having to give her 2-3 doses of preheat before she fires.
The service history shows that they were last changed 110,000 miles ago I would have thought they should be well knackered by now.

As far as I know chance them when you get starting problems.
No idea what sort of mileage but I'd guess yours are due a change ;)

[mbell666]

I think they are probably 60/72k or 3 years. To be honest just change them when the car doesn't start so well.

[Malachy]

I think they are probably 60/72k or 3 years. To be honest just change them when the car doesn't start so well.

considering they are only used on startup milage is not a good indicater, someone could do 40,000 mile s around town and start the car 40,000 times yet someone else could do 40,000 miles and start the car only 400 times

[diesel-dog]

Good point, this car is used as a taxi, so once started, could be running for hours at a time.
The reason for my question is this;
I thought I had a glow plug problem, but after a few days, the battery was dead New battery fitted, and she fires with no problem! Now I am wondering if a dodgey plug is pulling the battery down! The garage said unlikely, but they couldn't test the old battery there and then because it was fully discharged!

So this leaves me wondering if the glowplugs are at fault or I have an underlying electrical fault!

Jump leads in the boot now, just in case!

[jameslxdt]

the only real way to tell if the plugs are past there best is to check cold starting, i.e. temperature below 5c, if it starts dont worry, and knackerd plugs wont kill your battery