Abstract: Process for operating a flame starting unit for an internal combustion engine, especially a diesel engine with flame glow plug (1), which is located in an air intake channel of the internal combustion engine and which is supplied with fuel via a fuel line (5). The fuel supply of flame glow plug (1) is metered depending on the respective operating phase of the internal combustion engine by there being valve (2) for controlling the amount of fuel in fuel line (5) for supplying flame glow plug (1), this valve being made especially as a clocked solenoid valve which is controlled via clock signals that have a frequency and/or length which are varied depending on which of a plurality of operating phases of the internal combustion engine is occurring.