Does anyone have any experience or knowledge as to this particular alternator?: https://www.dcpowerinc.com/8316-190-oem.html

I see that it has pretty high amperage and a 2 year replacement warranty. I'm looking to purchase something that's going to last for the long haul and my line of thinking is that the stock OEM alternators are not lasting because they have to put up with such a high demand by our trucks due to both the glow plugs and IDM, which sends out 120 volts to the injectors.

I just recently replaced my batteries with brand new ones about 2 weeks ago and immediately saw an improvement with an issue I've been struggling for a while now which is a significant engine miss. I resolved about 50% of the issue by replacing one of my injectors, but found that immediately after replacing my batteries, that the engine miss is almost completely gone now. I know that injectors 1 and 3 are not up to par which is where I believe what very little miss I feel in the engine is coming from.

With these new batteries I can hear a very slight drop in the engine idle when I turn on my headlights. That must mean the alternator is the culprit right? By the way, I just replaced my starter with one from Clay at RiffRaff Diesel and I'm very happy with it. It looks exactly like my stock OEM starter I pulled out and it cranks well.

Anyway, I would like to hear what others here have to say about this (including the alternator I linked to)

Thanks

 

You have to remember that using a higher amperage alternator you will need to ensure the wiring is up the extra load.

Do you have something that requires a high amperage draw?

 

So are you saying that to use this alternator that I would have to upgrade my engine wiring harness?

At the moment, I don't have anything that's a high amperage draw, but I plan to add a couple of amplifiers, double din GPS/CD/DVD player, and sub speakers. I don't knw if this constitutes a high amperage draw or not but I still not confident the stock OEM alternator is up to par for even a stock rig.

 

The wiring is rated for a specific draw. The stock alternator is rated at 130 amps. You say the OEM ones are not lasting, are you using OEM or auto parts store replacements? I am on the stock alternator and batteries in mine. Many people have issues with substandard replacements that are available at most parts stores.

 

Well, when I say the OEM's are not lasting, I'm referring to what I've read somewhere on this forum. Maybe I've misunderstood what somebody was trying to say about OEM's. I have a Palladium aftermarket. I have no idea where it comes from.

 

Lots of people buy those "lifetime" parts from the various auto parts stores. Some have good luck, but lots have issues with them not lasting. I think part of the problem is they are only inspected and found to be in specs, so only certain parts are replaced. I prefer to get the highest quality parts that I can find to help ensure I do not have to replace it again, free or not. Just my way of doing it, maybe not for others. I have always had good luck on the Motorcraft parts so I stick with them. I usually get them from Ford dealers like partsguyed.com, the price is often close to aftermarket with the discounts they offer.

 

I used to work for Advance Auto Parts and I was told by one of our vendors that "rebuilt" alternators are hardly rebuilt. When a core alternator comes in the three common failure points are changed out and the case is reassembled and boxed up. They aren't tested b/c that takes "too much time." The problem is that, all too often, the cause of the failure is something other than those 3 little parts.

I once had a customer buy an alternator and the next day brought it back. I figured I should test the new one before sending it out and proceded to check all four units that were on the shelf and NONE of them worked. I was thoroughly embarassed to say the least. So if you're gonna buy a "rebuilt" alternator, at least make sure they put it on their tester and show you that it's good before wasting your time installing and uninstalling it.

 

The stock 3G alternator is a very tough a reliable unit but the rebuilt units are not so great. In order for these alternators to perform best they need the motorfract VR installed that has the gold plated contacts inside. Most rebuilders remove and discard the VR's and scrap them for money. While replacing the units with an inferior imported aluminum contact unit which arcs out under low idle cut in and prevents the alternator from putting out more than 30 amps at idle. That is my take on the stock alternator.

 

Here is more food for thought, i put a HD 140 amp alt from www.aternatorparts.com on my 02 in sig and so far so good. I use the truck to plow snow and i can't beleave how cool it runs while plowing and using lots of juice.
mtcw