It was a whopping 9 degrees yesterday. Came out from work and couldn't get truck to start. It kept trying but just couldn't. It was really cold. Batteries ran dead trying so I left it over night at work. I have heard of some using some kind of starter fluid but I don't know where to spray it. Is okay or would it be better to hook it to the generator and just warm it up?

 

At 9 degrees even with a perfectly working glow plug system, that truck is going to have a hard time starting without being plugged in. The use of starting fluid isn't really recommended in our engines either, although there are a lot of guys who do use it. If you get starting fluid to try it just make sure you get one that is "diesel safe".

The issue is this: starting fluid is extremely flammable and if your glow plugs in the cylinder would be hot and the starting fluid comes into contact with them, it is possible for it to explode at the wrong time and damage the engine. If you are willing to take that risk, here is what I would suggest. Leave the key in the "off" position for at least 5 minutes to ensure that the glow plugs have had sufficient time to cool. Spray some starter fluid onto the air filter and then go crank the truck over. Hit the key and let it crank for 5-7 seconds (or until the engine starts). If it does not start after that 5-7 second attempt, wait 10 minutes (with the key "off") before attempting it again. By waiting until everything cools you're minimizing the risk that the starting fluid is going to hit a hot GP and grenade your engine.

Or you could tote your generator out there and leave it plugged in for an hour or two.

Starting fluid is something you really need to be careful with on our engines. And if you are not comfortable with the risks associated with using it, you're best off to just avoid them altogether and not use it.

 

Yup, I would plug it in for 2-3 hours and giver a crank.

 

Thanks guys. That's why I love this forum. I will just plug into my genset and let it warm up. It's been progressively getting harder to start. I am wondering if I need to replace my GPR. What do you think?

 

Sorry but I cry bull*****. If the truck was at work, that means it hadn't been sitting for days without being started. Its been at or below 0 at my house for several days now, and with 30-45 seconds of glow plug heat time my truck fires right up. Brand new glow plugs and relay just short of a year ago.

 

try to cycle through the glow plugs a couple of times before you try to start it. Remember the glow plugs stay on longer then the wait to start light. So count to 60 or 90 before you try it.

 

You can try to short out the posts for 30-90 seconds and see if it is different results
OR
you can eatch the battery/charge gage. turn it "ON" and watch the gage....it will let up a little when the WTS light goes out....wait 3 minutes and see if it lets up more (all at once). If it does let up all of a sudden....that is your GPR disengaging.
Let us know what you find.

 

I've never tried this on a PSD before, but I've seen it done on several other makes of diesels.

Get an old rag and soak some of it in gasoline and then wrap it around the air filter. It's like using ether, but you don't have to worry about blowing the heads off.

Probably not applicable to most situations as most people don't have quick access to gas though.

 

Success. My truck is back to running. Turns out it was the batteries. Should have a min of 850 cold cranking amps and both mine only had 300cca. Put in two new ones ($200.00 later) and it took a couple times but it started. Anyway thanks for all your comments.

 

Btw it's still only 10 degrees with wind chill. Be glad when it warms up.