First off, sorry if this has been asked and covered 1000 times. I can not find any real sure answers to this problem.

I have a 1997 F350 with a 7.3, It has got around 375k on it, nothing have been messed with on the engine besides a turbo rework. When it is cold, they truck will fire up and run just fine for 5 or 10 minutes but once you start heading down the road, it acts as though it has run out of fuel. This problem has been reoccurring for about 5 years but it has never resulted in anything bad. Normally I will plug it in or let it warm up for 30 minutes or so. The other night, it was well below freezing, the truck started just fine on the glow plugs. I ran it for about 10 minutes before hitting the road. Now usually when the truck start having its "lack of fuel issue" it will just rattle and clank for a few minutes and then fuel is restored. This time, it flat died! I cranked and cranked until the battery was almost flat then used a shot of ether to get it to fire. It was fine after that.

Now the issue is that starting, whether hot or cold, it has to crank for 5 to 10 seconds before it fires. I did read something about the HPOP maybe being low on oil(?) The truck was a 5 qt low....oooppps! I also read something about the IPR being a problem child. I followed most of this check list, until they get into pressure readings because I am away from home right now and do not have access to the right testing equipment.

96 Powerstroke hard starting - Diesel Forum - TheDieselStop.com


Since this issue first showed up in about 2009, I have replaced a leaking lift pump and rebuilt the fuel bowl, removed the bowl heater and replaced fuel filter. It's like the HPOP is loosing its prime of bleeding back. It's weird. Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

Also, I forgot to add that most of the time on a cold start up, the truck will have a weird lope to it like it is only hitting ever other cylinder. I just drove the truck from Colorado to Nevada and ended up with 17.4 miles to the gallon. It doesn't have any excessive smoke out the pipe and everything seems ok after it warms up, save for the cranking before start up.


EDIT: Checked the HPOP oil level and it is about 1/2" from the plug.

 

Check the fuel pressure and have you changed the ICP? Also check for burned plugs to the uvcg.