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Glow plugs Among the parts of the car that need special attention during the winter months are glow plugs. With this in mind, NGK is urging workshops to carry out glow plug health checks on their customers’ diesel cars as we enter the midst of the cold winter months. It recently gave members of its BoxClever independent garage loyalty scheme a special promotional pack to encourage them to carry out a simple glow plug health check using a multimeter on all diesel cars which entered their workshops from September through to November 2019. They received special glow plug health check fliers, posters and mirror hangers for the three-month promotion which was open to all BoxClever members who following the purchase of NGK components were encouraged to collect the single boxes that the products come supplied in and return them in exchange for prize points. Members received 100 points every time they banked glow plug boxes, five times more than normal. In addition, where vehicles had a glow plug health check, NGK reimbursed the winners for the cost of the manufacturer’s recommended service, including parts, labour and VAT. Mark Hallam, Marketing Manager at NGK Spark Plugs (UK), said: “We launched the promotion to encourage BoxClever members to carry out glow plug health checks on their customers’ diesel cars. Preventative maintenance is key at this time of year and a simple multimeter health check of glow plugs can take just minutes and, in most cases, can be carried out without removing the glow plugs from the engine. Carrying out a multimeter check on glow plugs is a great way to prevent potential problems arising before they happen.” Replacement Diesel has undergone a huge amount of change in recent years, but although technology has moved on, the glow plug is essentially doing the same job that it always has done in raising the temperature inside the combustion chamber so that stable combustion is achieved. “Unfortunately,” said Mark, “replacement data is unavailable as glow plugs are not a service replacement item in an engine and no mileages or time recommendations for change are made by the vehicle manufacturers. However, NGK advises the replacement of sets of glow plugs this winter and works closely with its distributors to make sure they always have the right plugs in stock to cope with increased winter demand.” The company believes it is important for distributors to educate garages on the importance of maximising glow plug sales by advising that instead of changing one faulty glow plug, they should ‘upsell’ by replacing all of them. “If one plug has failed,” Mark pointed out, “it is extremely likely that the remaining plugs will shortly suffer a similar fate. By replacing the vehicle set, not only will the tight emissions legislation be complied with, but as the glow plug is now an integral part of the engine management system, the starting and cold drive quality will be kept at its maximum. NGK glow plugs start diesel engines quickly and smoothly, offer an excellent post-glow function and have a long service life. They also offer the latest in high technology for today and tomorrow “Factors, distributors and garages are fully aware that their glow plugs sales spike in the winter months and the NGK Area Sales Representatives can help our customers stock the right profile of glow plugs to ensure they 40 AFTERMARKET DECEMBER/JANUARY 2020 WINTER CHECKS Battery checks in the winter represent an opportunity www.aftermarketonline.net