Hello all long time reader first time posting anything. So with the cold gripping most of the nation I have been reading about lot of people having issues with there trucks starting. My issue is not with the truck starting its with it staying running. I had plugged in all the night prior and all day while at work. When my shift was over went out started fine let it run for about 20 minutes and left to make my way home. During the trip it ran fine for about 1/2 a mile and then it started idling really rough at a stop light went to go threw the light and it as though I had left it out all night with plugging it in. I went to turn on a side street because this situation was not going to end well and it died trying to turn. It would not start back up I was able to get a jump and made another 1/4 of a mile and it died right in front of my house. I replaced both the batteries this morning and it fired right up lasted about a minute and then died again. All the gauge read fine, oil level is good, and the injectors were replaced 2 years ago. I am completely stumped and need help any is appreciated thanks guys.

 

Depending on your location it could be gelled fuel, in cold enough weather the fuel will gel and clog the fuel lines and filter not letting enough get to the engine. That would be the first thing I would look at, also to prevent that from happening again Opti-Lube added to the fuel would help.

 

So its been a few days and some parts late and I still cant get it to start. I replaced both batteries the fuel filter and ran my salamander under it for about an hour and still couldn't get it to turn over. I am totally stumped and have narrowed it down to something with fuel delivery.

 

Most diesel owners run a additive in the winter that prevents the gelling like mentioned.

Also might help some others to know year and which engine.


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Sorry I'm new to the whole posting stuff I have a 2001 ford XLT superduty with a 7.3 and she has 250k on it glow plugs and injectors are a year old. Rebuilt tranny 2 years ago I go to the local truck stop that has winterblend fuel and I added some lucas oil anti-gel. I just got home around 1900 and it fired up then died out again.

 

You added the Lucas stuff prior to all of this or just now?

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I added the Lucas oil products prior to all of this happening

 

Hrm... I hope someone with a diesel can chime in. My diesel knowledge is limited at best.

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Does the lucas say anti-gel and how much are you dosing it with?

If it really cole you may want to double up. Also it is gelled then it's
a lot harder to un-gel it. Heat is the answer. Warm garage or tent it
with a heater to warm the tank. I think with the 7.3 you would be safe
with the 911 additive. One thing to check is if you can draw some of the
diesel out of the tank and place it in a clear container and look at it. You
should see a clear fluid and if you see any cloudiness that is the wax forming
into crystals. If it a real bad case you can pull fuel out and warm it to clear
it up. Then treat it and pour it back in the tank. The idea being to bring the
fuel mass temp up so that the additive can work is magic on it.

Sean

EDIT : Be safe handling fuel.

 

I towed my brother's Duramax yesterday morning ()

His fuel gelled. He made it about 10 miles before it died. Took me a half hour to get there with a tow strap. In that time it fired up on a retry but only made it about three miles and shut down again. We believe the filter plugged with the waxed diesel. Sitting there the first time allowed the heat from the engine to heat the diesel to the point it wold flow again. Shortly later the waxed fuel in the lines and tank plugged the filter again.

Got the truck into the garage, left it there for about 4 hours and she is now running great.

He was using an anti-gel additive but since has learned you need to keep the additive above 40 degrees. He did not, he keeps the jugs in his truck outside.

This was the first time he's had the issue and we think the reason is this...

He normally adds the additive before he fills the tank thereby warming the additive by mixing with above 40 degree fuel so it would mix and work correctly.

This past time, he filled up with diesel but elected not to add the additive. He realized how cold it was the next morning and then added the additive to the tank (3 deg F)

According to the manufacturer the additive needs to be above 40 deg F. or it will not chemically mix properly and therefore not work as an anti-gel when the mercury drops.

 

Oh one more thing I tried not to remember...

I was towed by a Dodge when my fuel gelled about three years ago. I did not use additive and my last tank of diesel was from a "Bob's Ribs 'N' Diesel" outside Buffalo NY. The truck sat for a few days in 1 deg F temperatures.

Same scenario, truck fired and ran fine for about 10 to 15 miles and died. Towed it to a warm garage. The next morning I was prepared to start troubleshooting what broke. Cranked it over and it ran perfect.

 

That must taste good. Diesel on the ribs and rib grease in the diesel.
Stays with you all day.

Sean

 

Thanks for the assistance like you said it was just gelled once it got above freezing it fired up and keeps running

 

Glad to hear it's all worked out. Hopefully the weather plays nice and it doesn't happen again

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sounds like you got it going by your later posts, but if it wasn't even turning over when it was colder out i think you have other issues. or was it turning over but not firing?