How many glow plugs are in a diesel Ford?
Glow plugs in Ford diesel engines generally equal the number of cylinders: four for a four-cylinder engine, six for a six-cylinder engine, and eight for an eight-cylinder engine. In other words, the count matches the engine’s cylinder count on most Ford diesels.
Diesel glow plugs heat the air in the cylinders to aid cold starts, and Ford’s lineup includes four-cylinder EcoBlue diesels, six-cylinder Power Stroke variants, and eight-cylinder Power Stroke engines for heavy-duty trucks. The precise count depends on the engine design rather than the model year alone.
Common Ford diesel configurations and glow plug counts
Below are representative engine families and the glow plug counts you can expect in typical Ford diesels. For clarity, each bullet reflects one glow plug per cylinder, aligning with the engine’s cylinder count.
- 4-cylinder EcoBlue engines used in vans and some European-market models — 4 glow plugs.
- 6-cylinder Power Stroke engines such as the 3.0L V6 — 6 glow plugs.
- 8-cylinder Power Stroke engines such as the 6.7L V8 — 8 glow plugs.
These counts cover current mainstream Ford diesels; regional variations may apply, and some markets use different engine codes with the same cylinder counts.
Notes on identification and maintenance
To verify the exact glow plug count for your vehicle, check the engine code in the VIN, the owner's manual, or the service documentation. When replacing glow plugs, sourcing the correct quantity is essential because a typical 4-, 6-, or 8-cylinder engine requires matching plugs for each cylinder.
Summary
In Ford's diesel lineup, glow plugs typically number one per cylinder. Therefore, a four-cylinder engine has four glow plugs, a six-cylinder six, and an eight-cylinder eight. Always confirm with the specific engine code to ensure the correct parts and service procedure.
