hard cold starting

[bartman]

Hmmmm, only running on 4? I would look into the under valve cover harness on the side you believe to be dead. That whole side may not be getting fuel if you shorted out a UVC harness.

I say running on 4 because it shakes violently side to side for a while, then it evens out, and then it runs fine. I can drive it around and it will restart without probelms all the time after that, but the initial start is horrible.

 

[tomcat]

Checked the glow plug relay and test light stayed light for about a minute or so. 30 degree temp. outside. If I forget to plug in the block heater the next morning she turns right over but sounds like only 6 or 7 cylinders are "firing". It takes a little (and I mean little) spray of starting fluid to the intake to start. Then runs great (after good warm up of course). Batteries seem good but I guess should check tomorrow. thanks

 

[95_stroker]

Word of caution, put the ether away, far away. You will eventually launch an inake off the truck. If you are certain the GPR is good then it is likely one or two glow plugs on the fritz. You can ohm them out, obvioulsy "open" is a bad GP, good GP's will be in the .2 ohm range, anything over 1 ohm is drawing too many amps. Do you happen to know how old the batts are? 5 years is considered the life expectancy, if you change, only change in pairs.

Also, if you are going to do GP's, do them all. Motorcraft Beru ZD-11, available at Autozone.

 

[tomcat]

how do you feel about the after market plugs? Some claim to have quicker heat up times and better post heat. And they claim to be the only domestic ones left. What a shame. thank you

 

[95_stroker]

I would only suggest the Motorcraft Beru ZD-11. I have heard nothing but problems with any other plug.

 

[Cool Canuck]

Checked the glow plug relay and test light stayed light for about a minute or so. 30 degree temp. outside. If I forget to plug in the block heater the next morning she turns right over but sounds like only 6 or 7 cylinders are "firing". It takes a little (and I mean little) spray of starting fluid to the intake to start. Then runs great (after good warm up of course). Batteries seem good but I guess should check tomorrow. thanks

Easy to check out GPs. Pull valve cover plugs. The two outside connections are for the GPs. Just ohm them to ground. Betcha got a couple that'll read zero.

 

[scoutman77]

I too have an issue with cool weather starting, if the block heater is plugged in, it starts just fine. New bats and the GPR is working fine. I will check the glow plugs tonight. just waiting for some above zero weather before I comit to pulling things off the truck.

 

[s d mills]

First hard start/romp last night. Truck sat at 2F the previous night, 12F yesterday and I forgot to plug up. Took two 10-sec attempts and it romped for 10-20 seconds. Idled for 5 minutes and pulled off just fine afterwards.

 

[Blane]

is it pretty important to plug your truck in? i live in the chicago area (i.e. ****ING COLD) but i park on the street at my house. is it only making it take long to start in the morning or is it bad to not plug in??

 

[roosterdiesel]

With a good glow plug system, the PSD is supposed to start unassisted down to -20 F.

It's not "bad" to start unaided, it's just easier on the engine internals. The parts are machined to clearances that will be optimal at operating temp. Pistons get .0075" clearance when at room temp. I don't know what they end up being when "hot." The pistons are aluminum which grows faster, with heat, than the cast iron cylinder walls. That's why it's way easier to score a cylinder wall on a cold engine, gas or diesel. Any engine experiences most of it's wear at start up and when running cold. If plugged in, the parts are closer to operating temp and it's just easier on the engine. Not to mention injection timing is advanced when cold which is bad if you mash the throttle.

If you aren't able to plug in just DON'T drive over 2000 rpms before the coolant temp gauge is well in the normal range. It's best to go by the oil temp(150 being good to go) which is what I do with the data streams from my Evo.