September 2019

head on, and our focus is firmly on quality from the design stage to distribution. ”As an OEM supplier to many vehicle manufacturers, NGK products have a strong reputation with the OE fitment benefitting end-users. Reliability is key to our success. Vehicle owners can be confident that their engines are fitted with glow plugs which meet or exceed vehicle manufacturers’ specifications. This ensures improved drivability during engine warm up and the ever important reduction of emissions – thanks to outstanding extended post- glow capability.” Fitment NGK recommends the fitment of glow plugs manufactured to OE specification and says alternatives should be avoided. Tim Howes, Deputy General Manager – Supply Chain & Technical Service, comments: “Because the glow plug is now a vital part of the engine management system, as with most other components, it has never been more important to ensure that the installer is fitting the correct specification part. You cannot go for a budget alternative nowadays because the engine management system can pick up very quickly the fact that it is incompatible with the engine management system and OBD. “The OBD system will find fault with the item if it is not to the correct specification and the performance of the vehicle will suffer. My advice is always to fit a plug that was manufactured to OE specification – as all NGK plugs are.” He adds: “With NGK glow plugs, engines run quietly and smoothly. They are kinder on the environment too, thanks to the promotion of clean combustion and lower toxic emissions. For more information, please www.ngkntk.com “ GDI As always, changing requirements means systems are adapted. The increase in the application of gasoline direct injection (GDI) is impacting on ignition systems. Morten Jensen, Bosch Product Specialist for Gasoline, Europe North, says: “As ever more vehicles with GDI systems enter the market, workshops are increasingly turning to Bosch for their servicing and repair needs.” GDI is a key technology in the latest generation of ultra-efficient petrol vehicles, delivering improved performance, increased economy and enabling engine downsizing. Morten observes: “Modern GDI systems feature low-pressure and high-pressure circuits, with an electric fuel pump supplying a high pressure pump (HDP) with gasoline at around 6 bar. The HDP compresses it up to 200 bar and feeds it to the fuel rail, where high pressure injectors push precise quantities of perfectly-mixed 52 AFTERMARKET SEPTEMBER 2019 IGNITION Above: Bosch GDI components www.aftermarketonline.net Left: How GDI works