How long did the light stay dim? How long does the wait to start light stay on? Questions I should have asked earlier. It is possible that some of the glow plugs aren't burning. See what the fuel injector cleaner does, that's for sure. If there is a place that sells bio-diesel, that is the best cleaner out there. You better have an extra fuel filter though.

 

I'll time those in the morning. No bio-diesel here. I live in rural Colorado

 

Bio-diesel cleans better than anything. It will loosen up stuff in your entire fuel system and has been known to clog fuel filters until everything is clean. May take a few filters to do that as well as a few tank fulls.

 

You might have gotten some summer fuel and it might have been gelling with the temps in the 20's.

 

Moved to the 7.3 forum and see if we can get the experts to help you.

 

Makes sense. Too bad I don't have any here. certainly not driving 200 miles outta my way to fill up with $4.20/gallon fuel.

Quite possibly. Lately the temps only rise to 40.

Thanks!

 

Others will drop in since I'm crashing but I had a similar problem and it was my lpop wearing out. When cold the oil being a lil thicker to prime the pump and the truck would start then die, start then die fir 2-3 times. Does it start up good once it's running?

 

It tries real hard to start when cold. Almost starts but just won't catch. Takes 3-4 tries before it starts, then runs rough for a few seconds. Then runs like a dream. Starts awesome when the truck is warm.

I'm using the Rotella 15-40

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...t+cold+related
I doubt this link works right but do a search for"Hard start and not cold related. With vid."

 

Worked fine. I will check that first thing in the morning and pay super close attention to the oil pressure gauge.

 

Thanks Rob!!!!

 

OK. So I went out this morning. Weather is overcast and a balmy 32°f. Truck has been plugged in overnight. Turned the key and 6 seconds later the glow plug light went out and BOOM! Truck fired up fast. Oil Pressure instantly went to where it should on the gauge.

So it seems that the issues are when the truck/engine block are cold.

 

Oh, and this issue that I first asked about started instantly. One day I'm on top of a mountian snowmobiling, I get done, start the truck and away I go. Then the next time I drive the truck It gives me issues starting.

 

With the heater plugged in overnight I would expect about a 5 to 6 second burn on the glow plugs. If it weren't plugged in overnight I wonder how long they would have burned. Typically with my trucks, they burn a good 30 seconds if they are not plugged in before the WTS light goes out. If it's really cold, I wait another 10 to 20 seconds before I try to start them. The GP's will burn for a minute or so even after the WTS light goes out when the truck is cold.

 

I don't think I have ever had to wait 30 seconds for the WTS light to go out, even when I'm on the mountain. That is the only time that the truck isn't plugged in. When it's home, it's always kept in a heated garage (50°f) and at work it's plugged in.

This is why I am confused. It's actually acting like when the GP relay was going bad years ago, but since the relay is new and we just tested it with a test light I am at a loss for ideas.