I keep going through glow plugs
 

I go through glow plugs like crazy with my tnx 3.0. I will use one plug for a few runs, then when I go to start it up again nothing and when I check the plug it doesnt work. When I install a new plug it runs fine. The glow plug is a light brown like it should be so I dont think the tuning is causing this. Also, while on the subject, what glow plugs would you reccomend? I've been running os a3's and have run a #8 before so I dont have any other plugs to compare performance too.

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

A3s are great plugs. What kind of fuel do you use?

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

I used to use monster horsepower 20% when my lhs carried it but am now sadly switching to blue thunger.

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

Do you use afterrun oil, or does that stuff have it in it?

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

Usually that is caused by running too lean. I've had them go out from running out of fuel under throttle too. I use OS #8 glow plugs in mine.

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

He says that he has tried tuning...

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

I think I may have found the problem since it's not running too lean with a tank full of fuel but I have run out of fuel at throttle quite often. I'll try to avoid that from now on and see how it goes.

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

I had this problem with a megatech .16 engine, after trying so many different things I was told to try to add a head shim. It worked and glow plugs lasted as they should.

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

The following is just my opinion - and it is just an opinion.

Normal wear on a plug should leave it looking gray and over time, fewer and fewer of the coils stop glowing. Discolored (brown) plugs show a too rich running condition as deposits are being left on the element. You want your plug to be shiny for as long as possible, then it should begin to turn gray. An overly lean condition will not only turn the element gray very fast, is usually distorts the coil, possibly even having it break off and cause damage. If someone burns out plugs from running out of fuel, then you are tuned to the point of getting the absolute most out of your engine. Many racers do this, but many of those also get there engines for free... Most people want to run slightly rich of that point.

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

I agree with rc truck racer. When I am tuning for performance, the glow plugs tend to go quicker.

The general rule is too lean=glow plug life shortened. I use OS 8 plugs on my savage 4.6 and tnx 3.0 with no problems.

Keep in mind most nitro vehicles suffer from some form of half tank lean, some more so than others. If you tune for max performance at full tank, it WILL be too lean by empty.

I think glow plugs last longer on a big block for me because they are more powerful and I tend to spend less time tuning for max horsepower and usually leave it too rich ...

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

I have about a gallon on the first plug I put in an Axial spec1, that includes break in. I bought a dozen of the Med. tower brand plugs from tower, because I was killing plugs like crazy in my last engine, from what I have learned, it was running way too lean, so yeah, I think you are probably running lean, and burning them out.

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

At full tank I'm running a little rich but at the bottom down to the last drop it's possible I'm running lean. It doesnt even bog until about 3 second before it runs out of fuel though.

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

your runnin 2 rich or 2 lean ur gonna have to mess with ur tuning

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

Yeah, your tuning is off. Your glow plug should be silver when the engine is tuned correctly.

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

I'm defineatly not too lean because it never bogs and there's quite a bit of exhaust smoke. Seems like when I lean it a bit though, it bogs every once in a while.

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

Well here we go again. I ran a little over a tank in the morning and it ran great. I ran it later and about 5 mins into the run I had just let off the throttle after a full speed run and wat do ya know, it stalls. I go to fire it back up and the glow plug is bad. What gives? I think I'm running a bit rich but whenever I lean it it bogs.

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

Well, I just took the plug out and the end is silver, but the element is blown completely down into the plug, the element isn't white or black either, looks new. Is it possible i had a faulty plug?

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

what plugs are you using?, and what engine? I'm 2 gallons plus on my first plug, in my axial, I went through plugs like crazy on my tower .25 engine.

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

It's a tamiya 3.0, essentially it's an O.S .18. I'm running OS a3's.

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

What do you mean by the element being 'blown completely down into the plug"? Are the coils distorted?

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

Try a slightly cooler plug, something like an OS 8.

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

The coil is broken from the top and compressed down into the plug.

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

I ran os #8's before and I'm pretty sure they went just as fast : /

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

You are suffering from detonation. You need to add a head shim, and might also need to go to a colder plug. Add the shim first, if that doesn't completely solve the problem (I bet it will), then also go to a colder plug.

RE: I keep going through glow plugs
 

Guess I might as well get that stuff since I went to start it today and the engine completely seized, the rotostrart locked right up and I made sure it wasnt a rock stuck in the starter gears byt turning the flywheel and sure enough it didnt budge. Nitro really is getting to me[:'(]