Starting issues

So I have my voltage gauge bouncing and my lights flickering when I start my truck and after a little bit it levels out and works normal. I have replaced the alternator recently it did it before and after replacing. Any ideas?

That's normal actually if it's only for a few seconds after starting. That's the glow plugs running the "after glow" cycle. Nothing to worry about. That just shows how much power the glow plugs pull.

The voltage fluctuations are from the glow plugs turning on and off. It's called afterglow and usually stops after about 10 seconds. Completely normal

Are any of you after glowing your manual glow plug setup? I know if I do 8 seconds on and then start it, it’s running too rough to be good for it. I do 8 on, wait maybe 6 seconds another 6 on, and it fires right up no matter the temp. Was considering if it would be better to do 8 + afterglow versus 8 + 6

Since it got cold here (15F) I do 8 then try. It usually starts but if not (because I forgot to plug in the block heater) I give it another 5 or so and try again and it starts. And then I do 3-6 with it running and I can hear it run a bit smoother and I let off.

Now that winter is here and snow that has turned to ice, and the nights super cold. I hit the Toggle switch 10 sec, then she starts right up. If she is a little rough, I give her a 5 -6 sec after glow and usually smooths out. if she needs more, I give her another one.

Last week when I mentioned in another thread when it was 8 deg, I gave her 12 sec, and she struggled to turn over, I gave her another 10 sec while still cranking. After a couple cyl came on line and she was banging around gave her a couple different 5 sec till she smoothed out.

You are not going to hurt the plugs, just give them some time to cool down before hitting them again.
These MC Plugs seem to be pretty tough. There is a video where a guy has one set up in a Vice with power to it to see how long it would last. Jusrt saw it a couple days ago, see if I can find it and post it........

Found it.


Next day was something like 16 deg., shoved HF Heat gun down the intake, 10 sec on the plugs and she started like a hot engine in the summer.
No after glow.

Goat

chillman88 said:

That's normal actually if it's only for a few seconds after starting. That's the glow plugs running the "after glow" cycle. Nothing to worry about. That just shows how much power the glow plugs pull.

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It's a new occurrence and last almost a full minute. I can hear the glow plugs relay clicking on and off but it didn't do this before

Sammyskillz said:

It's a new occurrence and last almost a full minute. I can hear the glow plugs relay clicking on and off but it didn't do this before

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Odd that it didn't do it before. I'll have to time mine and see how long it runs for.

Mine does it for way longer when it’s warm outside for some reason. At around 20 degrees it seems to take forever to stop the afterglow but when it’s starting to get cold, even single digits, it’s pretty much just a couple flashes and it’s over.