So this is reason #345 why I should never have let my wife drive my F-350. I am in the Army, and I got a frantic call from my wife (I missed the first 7) saying that the truck died and won't start. I drive all the way to the truck, pop the hood and discover: 1) there is no coolant; and 2) there is no oil (actually just EXTREMELY low on both). So, I do what any good Soldier does, I push the truck all the way back home (downhill mostly), buy 5 quarts of oil and a jug of 50/50 coolant, fill up both and try to start the engine. The last time it ran out of oil (small leak on a seal that I didn't know about) in 2006, all I had to do was fill the oil, turn the key, and press the gas until it kicked over (don't judge me, I was a dumb LT). I did this again this time (now, I am a dumb CPT) but now it: 1) idles very rough; and 2) won't start unless I press down on the gas when I turn the key. There is no gauge light when it does this.

I read the thread on the UVCH, but I am concerned I might have done something horrible to my truck. Since I now have 2 weeks of free time (the wife left to visit her parents) I had already planned on doing an oil/filter change, should I be looking anywhere else?
I appreciate any help you guys might be able to give me.

"Chemical Freak!"
"It's Chemical 'Super-Freak'"
~The Rock

2003 Ford F-350 7.3L
Clarksville, TN

 

check the oil in the hpop resevoir in front of engine. it should be about 1/2 inch below allen screw cap. the engine needs the oil from the hpop to fire the injectors. if you were low on oil, id assume your resevoir would be low also. check and top off if needed...good luck

 

If it ran low enough on oil for the motor to quit, then you will have a large amount of air in the oil high pressure side, and it will be difficult to start, and sound pretty sick at idle untill the air is worked out of the system, I would suggest filling the oil to the fill mark and start it up, take a drive for 40-50 miles, and dont be afraid to lay the pedal down some either, it well help get the air out quicker. Once you get home shut the truck off, let it set for a few seconds and start again and see if it now starts like normal, or atleast better, because it make take longer than that to get all of the air worked out.

 

I'll check that out first thing in the morning. Should I go ahead and check the UVCH as well? I don't think I'm capable of running the electric diagnostics, so it will have to be "open it up and take a look" if I do it.

 

If it just runs rough at idle, but when revved and held constant at a higher rpm-say 2k or so, and it mainly smooths out, then I would suggest taking a drive for a few, and trying to restart, and report back here. After then engine has run for a few mintues, If it feels as if it is only running on 4 cylinders at idle as well as 2k, then I would suggest looking at the uvch, but I do not believe that is the issue here.

 

I have a 96 Ford F-250 7.5l that cranks but will not start unless I press the gas pedal. Once in awhile when idling it will act like it wants to die then it will be normal again. Any suggestions?

 

Yes, post this question in the appropriate forum. They have the knowledge base you are looking for. The reasons a gasser will do what you are describing are totally different than the reasons a 7.3 liter diesel will do it.



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