Poor cold weather performance
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 462
Likes: 5
From: Kansas City, Mo
Poor cold weather performance
Today it was 12 degrees this morning. Truck plugged in started fine. Let it idle for 30 min because of ice and snow. Drove 30 min to a doctor appt. mostly interstate. Going up hill running 65 truck slowed to 60 put foot to the floor and it down shifted but started to slow down? Water temp was around 160. Is this not warm enough? If temps are in the 30's it runs just fine. Have had the truck for a little over a year and has always been cold blooded. Runs ok under 35 to 40. But over that and its a dog big time. In past it has done this but after 10 to 15 miles it would start running fine. Not the case today. Ideas? Thanks, John
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 31
From: OKC, OK
What oil are you running. 5w-40 is best during cold weather. How many miles on it. 160* seems a little cold (I'm no expert). Your ebpv could still be closed trying to warm up the truck. Have you ever checked the thermostat to see if it is working properly ?
After all that checks out I would start looking at some of the injector threads based on this subject .
After all that checks out I would start looking at some of the injector threads based on this subject .
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 31
From: OKC, OK
If it is gelled anti-gel will not do anything. You will need power kleen diesel 911. The anti gel needs to be added when filling up.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 18,849
Likes: 179
From: Puget Sound
How did you measure that water temp - do you have a separate gauge?
Diesel 911 is a good fix if it's fuel gelling. 5-40 synthetic is a huge help with cold starts. If the problem persists, then your ICP sensor would be suspect. You can pull the connector and look for oil in there. If you have oil in your ICP connector, flush it with electrical contact cleaner (available at any auto parts store) and hook it back up to see if your power improves.
Diesel 911 is a good fix if it's fuel gelling. 5-40 synthetic is a huge help with cold starts. If the problem persists, then your ICP sensor would be suspect. You can pull the connector and look for oil in there. If you have oil in your ICP connector, flush it with electrical contact cleaner (available at any auto parts store) and hook it back up to see if your power improves.
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Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 462
Likes: 5
From: Kansas City, Mo
Thanks all. Temp was checked with scan guage. This last Labor Day IPR was replaced and fuel pressure regulator was rebuilt. I will try the anti gel. But I was under the assumption that if fuel was gelling motor would shut down. This is my first diesel so still learning.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 5,647
Likes: 891
From: north of Minneapolis, MN
Unless the OP has fuel left over from the middle of summer, KC is going to have winterized diesel. One time in the 30 years of running Ford diesels, from 6.9's to the Powerstroke, the only time I gelled fuel has maybe in 1985 with the 6.9.
Block the radiator off with some cardboard, 160 is kinda cool, I'm thinking a EBPV event. Combine a thermostat that sticks partially open and cold weather, you'd get symptoms like that.
Tugly...what about an offending EOT sensor?
Block the radiator off with some cardboard, 160 is kinda cool, I'm thinking a EBPV event. Combine a thermostat that sticks partially open and cold weather, you'd get symptoms like that.
Tugly...what about an offending EOT sensor?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,303
Likes: 576
From: Amarillo, TEXAS!
Today it was 12 degrees this morning. Truck plugged in started fine. Let it idle for 30 min because of ice and snow. Drove 30 min to a doctor appt. mostly interstate. Going up hill running 65 truck slowed to 60 put foot to the floor and it down shifted but started to slow down? Water temp was around 160. Is this not warm enough? If temps are in the 30's it runs just fine. Have had the truck for a little over a year and has always been cold blooded. Runs ok under 35 to 40. But over that and its a dog big time. In past it has done this but after 10 to 15 miles it would start running fine. Not the case today. Ideas? Thanks, John
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 18,849
Likes: 179
From: Puget Sound
The coolant temp is not on the OBDII port on our trucks. That number is a mathematical "guess", based on the EOT. If you want to know how warm your engine is, look at the Engine Oil Temperature - that's the real number you want.
The EBPV should "allegedly" back off if the EBP sensor is working properly. This is a good catch.
As for the temperature, we know nothing so far.
Another good catch. The engine will rev up, but not gain significant speed when the transmission is cold. The torque converter stays unlocked as a means to warm itself up quicker.
As for the temperature, we know nothing so far.
I've had a similar (sounding) issue since I bought my truck, but it happens at ambient temps as high as 60F. Problem goes away when the engine and trans are up to temperature. What I notice is when the truck is running like crap, the torque converter refuses to lock up. Just wondering, have you noticed the same thing?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,303
Likes: 576
From: Amarillo, TEXAS!
So, are you saying this is normal behavior when cold? It seems the PCM derates the engine while this is happening also. I can't confirm that, but it feels that way.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 18,849
Likes: 179
From: Puget Sound