2001 F 350 7.3 183,000 miles..

the problem is the longer it sits the harder it starts.. when it does start it runs VERY ruff!!! it takes 10 min or so to run on all cylinders.... any ideas?? this is my first diesel..

 

Sorry there are no responses yet. Some of the guys on this forum have some really incredible knowledge about our trucks. Sadly I don't have that much but what I do know is that my batteries run down quit a bit if my truck sits for a few weeks and I now keep a smart trickle charger on it. If I don't, it's slow starting but when the batteries are up, it starts in a second or two.


Also, I have had the truck for 8 years and had 3, yes 3, shorted batteries in that time. When a battery shorts out it's standing voltage is 10.5 volts (if 1 cell went) and it draws the other one down and it's really slow starting when that happens. I have a Harbor Freight smart trickle charger on it, and if that won't hold the voltage at around 13.8v, then it's probably another shorted battery.


Running rough sounds like fuel and/or injectors. I hope you get some more responses soon. Have you flushed the water out of your fuel filter bowl yet?


Taking off for a week so I won't be getting back to you but good luck!

 

You can try checking the oil level in your HPOP. It gets filled from the Low Pressure Oil PUMP (LPOP) and makes high pressure to drive the injectors.

It is not supposed to drain back down, but if the check valve is bad, it will and then when you try to start, particularly after sitting a while, that reservoir has to fill back up and doesn't have any "reserve" for you to rev with until more gets up there.

Here's a pic. It is under the plastic cover over your fuel bowl.




It should be filled to within about an inch from the top.

If not, Use FRESH oil and top it up to that level, put the plug back in, and try to start your truck. See if it makes a difference.

 

Diesel fuel has a tendency to gel in cold weather, so if you are somewhere that gets cold, an additive is a must.
Search this forum for posts related to your issue; there are a ton!

 

This is a very vague question. Most, if not all internal combustion engines had more difficult to start the longer they sit [without some preparation for storage].

With that said, more information would likely be required to help you in your diagnosis.

How long have you had the vehicle?

Is this something that is just now beginning to occur?

What history does the vehicle have of replaced sensors? Specifically the CMP, ICP, and IPR? If any.

Do you access to a bi-directional Scantool to retrieve some basic data for comparison?

Any type of response on my part would be nothing more than conjecture.