Glow plug relay ?

[35thls1ss19]

Hey guys. When my truck is not plugged in and under 20* it will romp for the first few starts til lit warms up a little. I been searching and reading a lot on it so i checked my relay. On the hot side i get 12 volts. I turn the key and i only get 8.9 volts to the glow plugs. Is it time for a new relay? Will those 3 extra volts help with starting? I am worried i will wash a cyl. if i keep starting it this way. Thanks
-Chris

[partsguy84823]

That is too low. I don't know if it will help the romping or not, but the relay it probably on its way out. I would change it out so you don't get stuck somewhere. They are a real PITA to start without GPs at 20º. It will do it, if your injectors are healthy, but it will take a while.

As far as the romping itself goes, I wouldn't worry about it. It won't wash down your cyls. Romping is related to an injector not firing completely (because the oil can't get to the #8 injector quick enough to give it a complete stroke when it is cold, thick, and slow moving). Navistar calls the romps "a characteristic of the motor". If it bothers you, I hear switching to 5w40 helps a ton.

[justinlogue5_0]

What he said.

[35thls1ss19]

ok i lied. i checked the wrong relay. ooppps I just re checked the one in the back and i get 11.6 volts out of it. but i get it for 30 secish. should it be longer if it was colder?

Also starting... romping and stalling out 2-3 times before staying running is normal and wont hurt anything? Thanks for the help guys!!

also out of curiosity what is the front relay right by the GPR for?

[Stroken7.3]

Starter relay is in the front.

[cj45lc]

The relay right in front of the GPR is the relay for intake air heater

[NoRalPh]

The front relay is actually the, RARELY used AIH (intake heater) relay.

[partsguy84823]

Originally Posted by 35thls1ss19

Also starting... romping and stalling out 2-3 times before staying running is normal and wont hurt anything? Thanks for the help guys!!

I wouldn't say the stalling out 2-3 times is at all normal, but you didn't post that at first. Just that it would romp.

Once it starts and stays running, do you get a lot of white smoke? If so, you should start by ohm-ing out each glow plug. (There is a write up somewhere, I'll post it in a second) Here You Go!

If that doesn't turn anything up, you might look into buying or finding someone with AE so you can monitor IPR and ICP readouts while you're starting it.

Switching to 5w40 would likely help out a lot.

Like I said, romping is normal... Stalling is not. My truck has 15w40 in it, and a bad glow plug relay. I got it started at 10º without it being plugged in. It took about 6 - 15second cranks before it would stay running on its own. Once it started it romped about 6 times, smoked like hell, and made all kinds of unhappy noises... but it never stalled.

[NCHornet]

I would switch to a lighter oil, it makes a huge difference. Then I would ohm the GP's my guess would be that you have at least three that are shot. I would replace all 8 while you are in there.

[Stroken7.3]

Originally Posted by cj45lc

The relay right in front of the GPR is the relay for intake air heater

yes it is, I had a brain short circut. Sorry for my bad info.