Diesel glow plug switch

[Piwoslaw]

I recently read an article advising diesel owners to "double start" on cold mornings. "Double starting" means to turn the key to 'ON' so that the glow plugs come on for 1-3 seconds, then back to 'OFF' and immediately 'ON' again, only then to start the engine. This is supposed to double the amount of cylinder preheating by the glow plugs.

This got me thinking whether to hack a switch to manually turn on the glow plug relay, allowing me to do the same (or more generally, to better control how much longer the glow plugs work) without fumbling with the key in the ignition.
This should be a momentary switch/button, so there is no risk that the plugs stay on by accident.

Any opinions?

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

When an uncle of mine used to own a Suzuki Vitara adapted with a Volkswagen 1.6D engine, the glowplugs were controlled by a switch.

[freebeard]

The Dasher diesel had a light that went off after IIRC 15 seconds, then you'd push in a button.

[Piotrsko]

Since I always double heat the F250 when there's snow on the ground, I say go.for.it. turning the key off and on seems like such a waste, but my system apparently leaves them on for a bit after it starts. Current one shot system doesn't help with the start, but smooths idle enough to get to the corner without stumbling. Otoh watching the ampmeter showing 90 amps drain is a bit scary and I eat alternator output bolts. Apparently it doesn't charge with the glow plugs heating, some sort of delay programmed in. I get all the way out to the major cross street before the amp gauge goes to charge. Does give me 4 cold starts and 10 miles driving before the batteries die.

All the high altitude cold weather classified school busses I drove left them on for a while also, according to the dash light.