...case scenario. I have recently replaced the IPR valve after the truck sputtered and died in the driveway thinking that was the issue. It turns out that it was the IDM and I replaced that with a 140v unit. I was still getting a code that led me back to the ICP sensor and given it had a little oil in it, I replaced it. I also pulled the EBP sensor and tube, cleaned, and noticed the tube has a couple small holes so I will be ordering and replacing that, but for now I took some HVAC foil tape over the area.

So it's been a week or so and the truck is starting and running good. It actually sounds a tad quieter at idle, but not much...and will be interesting to see MPG on this full tank. However, when the temperature gets down in the 50's at night I am still getting a little white smoke and the truck just rolls over and starts into running instead of that starting with authority and/or explosion...like a higher compression gasoline race motor. If I let it run for a minute or so it will start right back up with authority and no smoke. If the temperature is 10*-15* warmer there is no smoke and it starts with authority...even if cold start from sitting over night. I would think if this were a leaking oil issue...injector o-rings, valve stem seals, etc....it would do this all the time on cold starts.

Before I replaced the parts it was doing this and I loaded the hot tune in it that seemed to keep this from happening. I will try and video some cold starts over the next couple of days and see about getting them linked here. In the meantime...any thoughts on this?

 

During your previous troubleshooting steps, did you test/check the glow plugs or glow plug relay?

 

Glow plug relay is fairly new when I thought that was the problem. I did test it a couple days ago and it's getting power to both large lugs during the wait to start light is on.

 

You changed out the IPR & ICP, were they Motorcraft brand?

 

No, the IPR wasn't the issue and the new one from the local parts store is working, so the oem is in the box as a spare. The ICP was a higher quality...not the el cheapo brand...Zibbix unit. I understand the Motorcraft units last longer but according to the Forscan results, it all looks good.

 

I am hesitant to believe it is glow plugs because I know the Excursion has glow plug issues...though I think that is related to the glow plug module as they tend to fry the connections. That being said, the Excursion won't even think about blowing even a puff of white smoke on cold temperature starts and always starts with authority.

 

You can test the glow plugs individually without removing any hardware. All you need us a multimeter and about 15 minutes.

Instructions can be found in the 7.3L PSD Tech Folder

Your problem may not be glow plugs, but by testing them you can check another cold start failure point off the list.

 

What weight oil are you running ?
What’s your fuel pressure at idle and WOT?
How many miles on your injectors?
How old are the batteries?

 

15W40.
Don't know.
188,000 miles.
About 2 years and good.

 

This has me thinking maybe fuel pressure, fuel filter or combination of...

 

That is a good possibility...would poor performance come with low fuel pressure? The truck still runs really strong. I recently cleaned the fuel bowl before changing the filter that's in it now.