i'm fairly new to this so here it goes, i have a 1997 f250 crew cab with 170,000 miles on it, i replaced glow plugs, gpr with the big stancor one, and also put new under valve cover harness, and valve cover gaskets. now my problem is when its below freezing it really has trouble starting, it pours out tons of white smoke and it knocks and goes on until it starts. it usally takes a good five time to start and cranking the starter about 30 seconds or more each time, but last winter it would start right up, would some of those compents i replaced have gone bad in a year? oh i also just put 2 new batteries in, thanks in advance

 

check your injecters, fcm,and, gpm.
my neighbors 2004 5.6 ran like **** and was hard to start and had no power.
new injecters and it runs like new.

 

Do you have a Block Heater?

 

yeah, i have a block heater, but dont want to rely on plugging it in, it started flawless last winter without having to plug it in

 

ok, just collecting info...So let's ask, what has changed from last year to this year? and what part of the country you in?
Still parking outside/inside?
Engine oil, changed?
I would plug it in for an hour and see if that does anything...easy troubleshooting there.

 

the only thing that has changed is i took the chip off of it because it would set a check engine light, i'm in pa, i park outside, and have plugged in my truck, and it starts right up after being plugged in all night, and the oil has been changed

 

regarding the Chip...Someone else will chime in if that would make a difference...
You might want to back track and visually inspect the UVCH connectors and maybe ohm out the GP's to see, collect data.
Other's will chime in too...

 

Sure sounds like glow plug problems to me.

 

ok, i'll check all that and see what i find, i'll get back on that either tommorrow or tues, thanks everyone for the suggestions

 

Greencastle as in Pa.?

I know about how cold it is where you are.
We were in the single digits this morning.

 

Yep, greencastle, pa, yeah it's been pretty cold here the past few nights, do you know the area?

 

Ok, I checked the ohms on the glow plugs and only got a reading on 3 out of the 8, one on the pass side and two on the drivers side, and one of the connectors on the drivers side had oil in it, so any ideas, thanks in advance

 

How long ago was the Glow Plug system replaced? Think you found the problem, just need to figure out why and why so quickly? Also can you post the ohm readings for each GP?

 

hey brother, this is a great form they fixed all my problems, you might want to plug in your truck. other than that I would do like the other guy said, just back trace.

 

the glow plug system mwas replaced last november. i'll post the ohms for each gp once i get my truck back from getting it inspected, i need to re check them b/c i dont think i did them right, the 3 that i got reading from were 0.00 and the rest didnt even register on the meter