Hey all I have 99 4x4 7.3 that's giving me problems during start after she has been sitting for a day. My truck is a daily driver to and from work about 20 mins of driving each way on the freeway gives me no problems runs good but if I leave her sitting for day she doesn't want to kick over. In order for me to start the truck I cycle the glow plugs 3 times before turning the key over on each start. If that does work I use the same method accept give her some gas which does the trick but gives me a real rough start. During the process of trying to get her to start she will chug out white smoke when trying to start and when I do get her going the smoke will continue for a about 2 min max and then no smoke and all is good. Also Lately during the start process i have been getting a weird hissing sound from under the hood. The sound is near the fuel bowl area but I see no leaks. Sounds like either air or electrical can't put my finger to it but im guessing that may be part of the cause? I was running 50/50 bio in my truck for few months and switched back to regular diesel at the beginning of this month ran about two tanks of regular so far. Haven't had time to check my fuel filter after running the 50/50 bio im going to check today to see if that is the culprit? Could this be a bad fuel pump or fuel bowl heater? Any help is much appreciated im not much of a mechanic but this truck is turning me into one!!!!

Also im in WA state so you know what temps im dealing without here

 

The white smoke is unburnt fuel. This is due to one (or probably more) glow plugs (GP) not working. Try jumping the two large posts on the Glow Plug Relay (GPR) for about a minute with the Key On Engine Off (KOEO). If it then starts fine, the problem is the relay is bad and needs to be replaced. If it still doesn't want to start, you will need to ohm out the glow plugs. There is a sticky thread at the top of this forum with lots of cold start problems explained. The hissing is the Exhaust Back Pressure Sensor doing its job, blocking the exhaust flow to speed up the warming of your engine.

 

If you haven't added an LED indicator light for your glow plugs, you really don't know if you're cycling the glow plugs or just sitting there with the key on engine off, or not.

 

That IS the biggest bang for the buck mod that a person could make concerning the starting system of these trucks...a necessity that Ford SHOULD have installed!

 

How many miles? Are the glow plugs working? If so it sounds like the oil side of the injectors is worn out. Mine does the same thing when trying to start in cooler/cold temps. It flat wouldn't start this AM here in New Orleans with the cold front we had come through. Not really looking to throw injectors in it yet but will be doing it tomorrow.

Mine will roll over fine and belch white smoke. It will try to light off repeatedly. Once it does it'll idle like crap (~500RPM). I can floor it and RPM will not increase until it runs for a minute or so. Then it'll run with just one or two sticks dead until it gets nice and warm. I've done a bunch of reading and asking around and the conclusions I get are the sticks are just worn out... Maybe not necessarily the fuel side but the oil side is.

 

I'm with Neal. You must make sure the GP's are getting the 12 vdc before doing anything else. Fix the easy stuff first. If the voltage is at the GP's you could then plug in the block heater over night and see if that helps it to start. If so, then you might consider checking the GP's with a VOM as mentioned above.

 

Get the GP system in top shape first. Mine was not working and the problems I had were worse. Getting it working helped me to make it through the last winter. This go around it getting new sticks.

If the GP system is workin correctly the truck shouldn't need to be plugged it to start unless you're getting down in the single digits.

 

Quick question, what exactly are you heating up when you plug in your heater?

 

The cooling system. You need to change the fuel filter ASAP if you were running 50/50 Bio. But I believe you have one or more bad glow plugs if you can cycle the plugs three times then it starting and idles rough. The cold cyclinders are causing the white smoke and rough idle. For the guy changing injectors for this problem I hope you did the complete Glow Plug system health first. Don't take the dealers word for it for sure.

 

It plugs into the oil filter bracket
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ck-heater.html
Image Search Results for 2001 ford block heater

 

For the OP. Check the GP system out first. Harnesses, relay, VC gaskets, UVCHs, etc...

Didn't mean to alarm you but it sounds like my truck when all of my problems started...





I didn't, never been to a dealer just a reputable local shop. I've been dealing with this for about 3 winters, almost four. I checked on here and asked around to some good PSD guys I know. All said the sticks were bad. I lucked out about two years ago and replaced the GPR and it helped it out for awhile. I then found some good reading from two websites that described exactly what my truck was doing BUT more importantly why. I did indeed have bad injectors. Four that were visually bad... Bottom o-ring was eroded about 90* around the diameter.

I changed the injectors yesterday and it cranked up just fine this AM and idled like a gasser!

 

Well thats great. I'm glad you got it fixed, thats the main thing! Good luck,

Chet

 

You are heating up the coolant which heats up your cylinders and head and block. Coolant is being heated and transferring the heat to the metal. What ever oil is in the block is being partially heated thru conduction.

 

Thanks for the explination

 

John, curious as to what injectors did you go with and $$. Thanks.