I have a 1988 Ford F-250 with a 7.3 diesel engine. It does not get driven every day. When it sits for a few days it is hard to start. It will start but die. When trying to restart it will just crank but no start. It will drain the batteries I know they need to be replaced but I think there is another problem. I need to fix first do not want to drain new batteries If it does start I need to hold the throddle for 5-10 min for it to run in its own. Some times if I follow the cold start instruction on the sun visor it will start with no problems. Outside temputure does not effect the way it starts. If I start it every day and let it run for a few minutes it starts easy but I would like to not have to start it every day if I'm not driving it. I have a 2006 f350 and it can sit for 1-2 weeks and never have a problem starting it.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions to fix this problem

Thanks
Andy

 

welcome to FTE.
sounds like you have air intrusion in the return line circuit. what happens is air gets in and lets the fuel filter partially drain back to the fuel tank.
when you go to start it, it fires on the fuel in the injector pump, then runs out of fuel until you can re-prime the system.
a fuel return like kit with o-rings and caps will cure the problem 99% of the time. another trick is to eliminate the return line that goes from the front injector to the fuel filter head. this was a TSB issued by ford back around 1990 to help solve air intrusion from a faulty backflow valve in that line.