so, when i cold start my truck, i turn my key on, WTS light is on for 10 seconds, turn the key and it fires up but seem to only be running on about four cylinders has a real low idle seems like an eternity in between firing. blows some lethal white and blue smoke and will do this for five to ten minutes if i dont drive it and get some fuel moving and temperature up. i usually tap the throttle to try and get it into high idle but it really doesn't help that much. no problems with hot starts, i have brand new motorcraft glow plugs. i initially thought timing but it seems to run just fine once it is warm. also thought air intrusion but it only does this on a true cold start. put new injectors in and it seems to be worse after the new injectors... so maybe IP but i figured i would have a hard time with a hot start. is there anyway half of my GPs arent heating?? also i lost the valve inside the return line orifice on top of my filter housing... would this affect anything?? thanks for the help in advance

 

Proper start procedure is. Key on> depress accelerator pedal full to set high idle solenoid> Cycle glow plugs> depress clutch (If manual tranny) turn key until she starts.

Diesels (especially older ones) will be rough at start up (especially in cold weather). Its perfectly normal because not all cylinders are firing until enough heat builds up in them to burn the fuel efficiently. The glow plugs only heat the pre combustion chambers so the cylinders will still be cold. If you have manual GP's then cycling them on and off for a few seconds will help somewhat to smoth things out, If your fast idle isn't engaging then deprees the gas peddle a little (DON'T REV IT!!) to raise RPMs until it smooths out. If you have oil pressure then drive it after a minute or so.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/3...mp-timing.html

 

I cant use this Pic as a Ref. When I open my Hood its so Dirty I cant Tell what is what...lol... Thats a Pretty Clean Engine.

 

yeah.that's Dave Sponaugle's beefed up 6.9 engine when she was freshly rebuilt.
quite possibly without exaggeration,the most powerful street legal 6.9l idi engine on the road today.if not,id be surprised (very.)

 

Its a Beauty!

 

indeed.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...you-think.html

 

i have had my truck for three years and have never had it do this, regardless of temperature. its not so much that its rough, it has a really long lope. as if it fires 4 cylinders in sequence then doesn't fire for a few in sequence... my compression is good.... air intrusion is really the only thing that makes sense to me...

 

could just be the cold start solenoid ,some people have sprayed graphite on the arm to loosen it up some so it slides out easier.see the brass colored rod coming out of the solenoid in the pic?see how it moves in and out

 

wait 20 seconds after the wait to start light goes out before cranking it and see if that makes any difference. yes it is possible some plugs are not getting power so check it out.

 

Take a 1/4" wrench and turn the fast idle solenoid out untill it almost contacts the fuel control lever with the engine off. That way, if everything is working correctly, it should give you a fast idle of approximately 1000-1100RPM depending on your warm idle speed. Try it out, it may help with your cold idle