Audi Repair: Starting a diesel car, vw polo classic, glow lamp

Question
I have a 1999 VW Polo Classic 1.9 SDI. I just found out that I have been starting it wrongly for the last three and a half years of owning it. I have been just sticking the key in the ignition and starting it immediately, without waiting for the glow lamp light to go out. The thing is that the car almost always starts first time, so I've never thought there is a problem. Now that I know about this, should I wait each time for the glow lamp to go out, or is it okay to carry on just turning the engine on immediately, since it seems to work anyway? On the few occasions that it doesn't start first time, it usually starts the second time.

Answer
Hi there
to answer your question you have to understand the way a diesel engine works. it uses compression to increase the temperature of the compressed air and then diesel is injected under pressure( to atomise it) to ignite the air/diesel mixture.

the problem with this is that when the engine is cold then compressing the air does not suffice to ignite the diesel hence the use of glow plugs to raise the temperature inside the cylinders.the glow plugs are  used for starting ONLY and do not continue working when the engine is running or has started. ( also the reason the glow lamp stays on longer when the engine or athmospheric temperature is cold i.e. in winter)

So to answer your question, I do not see a problem with the way you have been starting the vehicle, provided the engine does not have a hard start.