Hey guys, thanks for all your help last time, now I am back with a new issue. Family and I went on vacation for a week( truck sat for 6 days). upon starting my truck back up - it started fine as normal, reversed about 15 feet and it started running like poo, only running on few cylinders and white smoke like crazy. I ran it out of fuel a couple years back and upon starting back up it was about the same situation as this one..... I shifted into neutral, and gave it fuel to bring idle up, it smoked and ran junky, 20 or 30 seconds go by and the it gets better and better, then runs like nothing is wrong. I drive it to town and make 5 stops (cutting truck off each time) with no issues. I crank the truck the next day no issues. I let the truck sit for 2 days, then I have the issue again. I drive to work everyday last week, no issues. I let the truck sit Friday afternoon to Sunday evening( about 2 days), then I had the issue again at start up. It is like the fuel system is loosing prime or one of the cylinders is over loading fuel. Help !!!

 

Almost sounds like a cold engine / cold oil issue, although I would expect it to re-occur after every overnight, not just after two day overnights. Has it ever happened when the engine is warm, or while running - go from running well to having the issue? Lots of possible causes, in no particular order:

How many miles are on it? What kind of oil are you running, and what's the level? If the level is good, but due for a change, are you running synthetic? Switching to a 15W-40 full synthetic makes a big difference in my truck during the colder winter months.

It certainly could be a fuel pressure / supply / quality issue, but I don't see how that would be intermittent. Any recent fill-up from an unknown supplier?

A sticky IPR or failing IPR solenoid can give wonky performance, and can also be temperature related; generally these issues get steadily worse until it craps out entirely.

A failing CPS sensor, but these are typically on again / off again issues, also getting steadily worse.

Do you have any engine monitoring capabilities; TorquePro or such? That would let us know what your engine is trying to do when it's running bad.

 

It has never done this before, ever.... 215k miles on truck. I have had the truck for 7 years and about 90k miles. Oil level is good. I run Rotella, only about 2k on oil. I only get fuel at select places, so nothing out of the ordinary there. I do not have the engine monitoring capabilities. No lights are coming on during this rough running.

 

I wonder what the HPOP level is doing during the extended shut-downs. Maybe pull the plug after shut down, and again before trying to start a couple days later. Same level?

 

That is not a long standby period.
My truck has 240K on it. I will sit for two weeks, the fuel pressure will be at 60 psig after sitting and she will light right up. At least when its 70 outside. I would let is set a few days then open the fuel bowl drain. It should be pressurized. Then cycle the ignition to see how well the fuel pump is working. Maybe the pump is on its last leg. If so you might be able to tell by ear.