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Does a diesel engine have spark plugs?

I recently acquired a diesel truck in need of some work (I can’t even get it to start). I know that diesel engines are different from gasoline ones, but do diesel engines have spark plugs?

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Kathryn Mae Kurlychek · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
There are a few key differences between diesel engines and gasoline-powered ones—and this is one of them. Diesel engines have glow plugs, not spark plugs, although both serve the same purpose of sparking your vehicle’s ignition.
The main difference between spark plugs and the glow plugs found in diesel engines is that glow plugs are only necessary when starting your car. They help spark the ignition, but they won’t continue to run while your vehicle does. Spark plugs, on the other hand, constantly run to power your vehicle—and if they stop, your car does, too.
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