Why no glow plugs?

[mrdonut12]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "transit360"
wrote:
>
> Can someone tell me why domestic car and truck diesels have glow
> plugs and large diesels i.e. buses do not? Just a thought that occured
> to me as I was plugging in my two buses and Mercedes diesel today.
> I've had four buses and none of them have had glow plugs. They just
> start after a few turns of the starter whether air or electric.
> However, every diesel Mercedes, Chevy, etc I've owned and have seen
> has glow plugs. What gives?
>
The only thing I can think of is maybe the glow plugs impair the
fuel distribution or airflow when the engine is running and they
figured they could get more power or economy with them out of the way.
This is pure speculation on my part.
If I have a shore line plugged in, I always pre-heat my engine
before starting, even in the warm summer months. Normal operating
temperature for the engine is 180 degrees, so if it's colder than that
outside, I heat the engine. ;o)
One of the reasons you should never let a diesel idle for an
extended period is the fuel doesn't burn completely and liquid fuel
washes the oil off the cylinder walls and that's bad for the engine.
I use the same logic for a cold start--if the engine is highly
inefficient, that means there's unburned fuel in the cylinders, so I
want to make the cold operation time as short as I possibly can.
My 3208 NA is one of the fastest starting engines I've ever had.
I only need to wave the key close to the switch and it pops right
off. ;o)

George Witt
81 FC 35
Lincoln, Nebraska