Fellas,

I am having a cold start issue that has been progressively getting worse for about a year now. It is a plow truck so it doesn't get ran all that much in the summer.

She starts most every time unless its very cold. When its very cold it will run for a few seconds then die, can always get it running though. I'd say sub 60degree weather she needs 10 minutes to warm up before there is any power at all. Runs on what sounds like limited cylinders. In just about any temperature the truck needs to run a few minutes before the turbo will spool or transmission will shift, and it sounds like its running on all 8. In very cold temperatures it starts better when plugged in, but its still not right.

Worried at this point if one of the drivers doesn't have access to a plugin for the truck she isn't going to start.

FICM tested ok. 48volts holds throughout the test process.

Truck lost a few injectors last year, but still had some cold start issues before this.

There is no abnormal amount of smoke during start-up. Fresh oil fresh fuel filters.

Would the next step be pulling the glow plugs?

Thanks,

Truck is an 04 with 4-screw FICM. No codes, and everything tests fine.

 

How did the old oil smell

did Oil smell like Diesel

you will have to watch it for awhile now

 

Some people have had luck with 5w40 synthetic oil helping cold start issues. Sounds like FICM or injectors maybe. Even though the FICM tested 48 volts, it could still be defective. Do you have the injector buzz before start-up? Have you checked for any stored codes or have access to a scangage?

 

if smoke is black, then check ur egr valve. it may be sooted up. perform a clean-up on that first, then if ur still having issues, replace tat egr valve.

also, in the future, i'd also look at doing tat blue spring upgrade for ur fuel pressure regulator to maintain good consistent fuel pressure.

best of luck!

 

Old oil tested fine.

It is more than a oil weight issue. 3 other 6.0's on the fleet that run perfectly normal with 15w40 rotella. I have no reason to run synthetic in a plow truck.

The only thing to fail in the FICM that would cause these issues is testing fine. I highly doubt its the FICM. FICM is flashed to the newest version. The more quiet buzz.

As I said there is no codes. All PCM tests via scanner pass fine.

EGR valve was replaced last year and cleaned at the end of season. Perfectly operational. As I said in original post however there is no excess smoke on startup.

I will most likely pull the glowplugs tonight and see how well they are working.

Thanks for the replies.

 

+1 on the blue spring. Made a improvement on my truck. Similar issues but not as bad.

Upgraded fuel pressure regulator kit (with cover): Ford#3C3Z-9T517-AG IH#1843065C98
Fuel Pressure Regulator "Spring and Reseal Kit Only" (no cover, should be much cheaper, has gasket): Ford#6E7Z-9C165-B IH#1854267C94
Regulator cover gasket only: Ford#3C32-9C065-AA

 

Diesel fuel in oil will cause a los of fuel pressure till it warms up and the injector orings seal and the truck will return to normal at that point But since Blackstone tested it guess not Whats odd here is the truck is not worthy enough for synthetic oil but you sent a sample to get tested

Not nessaserly an oil weight thing but synthetic should help

aNd the ficm may test good for volts and still be bad theres more to it than 48 volts

Your glow plugs would throw a code if bad its an emmision Item pull em if you want but they should be ohmed out

If the truck lost fuel injectors maybe your suffering from low fuel pressure

 

Rev-x is your friend.