Thanks Steve. You gave me a topic to search.

I already knew there were at least 4 factory GM glow plugs used over the years with only the newest being the self regulation type. 5G, 9G, 11G and 60G. People have hooked up a 60G to a battery and left them on 8-24 hours without failure, swelling or explosion. I have 60G plugs in all of my engines.

I knew GM had the CUCV glow plug system, the 1982 initial 6.2 system, a 1984 revised system, the 1988-1992 system and then the 1993-2000 system for the OBD II computer run injection pump trucks with a turbo.

What I learned new is that the self regulating 60G glow plugs didn’t come along with the 1988 controller. I am using the 1988 version controller. All of the non 60G glow plugs hit 1400° just about immediately. But, if left powered more than 12 seconds they could actually explode or at least start to swell.

So the 1988 controller does an 8 second glow cycle. The 60G plugs need 12-16 second glow to get to full temperature. My double cycle of just turning the ignition on, waiting for the wait light to go out, turning the ignition off then back on real quick. Gives me 16 total seconds but not at full heat.

I had seen the diesel performance sellers all had their own “glow extender” kits. Basically, an older Ford starter relay wired to a push button switch inside the cab that could be held down to keep the voltage going. I’m sure they work, but I want a system that works for who ever might be needed to drive my truck without special instructions.

Researching “resistor added to 6.5 diesel glow plug controller “ thanks to Steve resulted in 30 years of people complaining about and fixing this problem. A 5 Ohm 1 watt resistor added to terminal C of the controller plug adds 4-5 seconds to every glow period. A 10 Ohm 2 Watt resistor adds 8-10 seconds.

I think I will do the 5 Ohm mod first and see what results I get.

The reasons I am using the 4 pin 1988-1992 controller are several. It doesn’t need access to the coolant system to function. It has a temperature sensor in it that when the outside temperature is over 80° and the engine is warm, it won’t even turn on the glow plugs. It can also be mounted just about anywhere a person wanted. I have mine bolted to the inside rear of the drivers side head. Central to the wiring and out of the way.