Truck Having Problems Starting Cold..

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Aug 31, 2011 | 08:27 AM

mayfieldh

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Truck Having Problems Starting Cold..

I have a 2003 Ford F-250 Diesel 6.0 which only has 55,000 miles on it. I pretty much use it only when towing my 5th wheel once per month and my wife uses it to run around town since she is retired. I use my little car for work since my round trip commute is about 40 miles per day.

On last week she started telling me about problems she was having getting it started each morning or when it has been parked for a while. When you try to start it, it will crank but then it will idle like it is about to die and when you hit the accelerator, it will start to hesitate. After a while (3-5 minutes) you can take off but then it will hesitate again for a few more minutes and then it kicks in and everything is ok until you park it and let it get cold again.

Can anyone tell me what might be wrong here. I would hate to take it in for service and get ripped off for something that I might can solve myself.

I change my own oil and have just replaced both batteries 4 months ago. The only other work done was the transmission oil changed about 2 years ago.

Thanks.

Mayfield...

Aug 31, 2011 | 08:38 AM

matty169

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Check this......

Check FICM voltage. Do a search on here for the procedure, it is very easy.
Otherwise you are probably seeing injector stiction. You can try to add 2 bottles of REV-X to the oil. Its not cheap but it works. I had 3 injectors that showed bad at idle cold. This would last for about 5 minutes usually. Rough idle, low power light puffs of smoke. I added 2 bottles to the oil about 3 years ago and my truck starts and runs smooth even at -20 degrees without plugging it in. You use 2 bottles the first time and then one bottle at your following oil changes. Some use it every other oil change.

Aug 31, 2011 | 09:24 AM

mayfieldh

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I don't know much about Deisel engines and didn'nt know that my oil has anything to do with my injectors. My friend also told me that my fuel filters might need changing since I have never changed those before. Do you think that might be the problems also. I checked underneath the truck and check for water on the drain plug already but only deisel comes out.

Aug 31, 2011 | 10:57 AM

brickie

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From: AB/BC

Quote:

Originally Posted by mayfieldh

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...-write-up.html

Aug 31, 2011 | 11:00 AM

69cj

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From: Middle Tn.

The 6.0 is a good engine but it demands meticulous maintenance and the use of OEM filters only. It is also not a grocery getter. It loves to be worked hard and short trips will kill it.

Aug 31, 2011 | 11:29 AM

mayfieldh

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I didn't use the regular OEM filter the last oil change because they were out. I wonder if that had something to do with it.

Aug 31, 2011 | 11:34 AM

69cj

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From: Middle Tn.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mayfieldh

I didn't use the regular OEM filter the last oil change because they were out. I wonder if that had something to do with it.

Personally I would get it out of there asap. JMHO. Also the oil should be changed every 5,000 miles or 6 months which ever comes first. The oil is used to fire your injectors and they demand fresh clean oil.