Changed my mind on those cheap glow plug testers after a bad call

I had a no-start on a 6.0 Powerstroke last week, and my old cheap tester showed all four glow plugs on the passenger side were good. Spent two hours chasing wiring before I grabbed a buddy's Snap-on unit, which showed two were actually dead. The cheap one just gave a weak light for a bad circuit. Anyone have a go-to brand for a solid glow plug tester that won't lie to you?

3 comments

3 Comments

charles_price1mo ago

Man, that's the story of cheap tools in a nutshell. They give you just enough confidence to waste your whole afternoon. I've learned the hard way that good test gear is worth every penny.

jason_stone1mo agoMost Upvoted

Ugh, that's so true. Honestly, I see this everywhere now, like with cheap phone chargers that die in a month or that "bargain" furniture that wobbles right out of the box. It feels like everything is built to just barely work long enough for you to feel like you got a deal, before it costs you more time or money.

benwilliams26d ago

Depends on the item though, right? Sometimes that cheap charger keeps your backup phone alive for two years, long enough for you to drop it in a puddle anyway. And that wobbly furniture? A shim and five minutes with a screwdriver fixes it for good, way cheaper than buying the solid oak version. Isn't it more about knowing when to gamble and when to buy the real deal?