I purchased my first truck, and my first diesel last year around my 19th bday. It is a 1997 7.3 diesel. I am now going to school a year later and I love my truck, but it’s a bit expensive to drive 70 miles a day as a collage student who works part time. So I started taking the bus. It saves me a lot. I leave my truck at the park and ride for the bus all day. Being new to Idaho, I have yet to experience a winter here, but I have been told it gets cold. I am concerned about starting my truck when I get back from school and it is freezing cold. Is there any tricks? The help would be great.

 

Like this..?

 

nothing to it. just turn key to run, and watch the wait to start light. when it goes out, turn key to start..

 

I grew up here in Idaho, lived in NW Wyoming for ten years and am currently back in N Idaho. Welcome!
At home, I plug my truck in for 3 hours or so before starting when it’s 32 or colder. Just makes the warmup process much faster and probably comes with some long term benefits for the engine. If this isn’t an option, like taking the bus and coming back to a cold truck, then make sure your glow plugs are all working, including your glow plug relay. I replaced my GPR with the white Rodgers unit as many recommend here.
Dont try and start right after the “wait to start” light goes off. With the key on the system is still heating the plugs for two minutes. If it’s below 32 and unplugged I’ll wait about 1-2 minutes before starting. If it’s below zero I’ll definitely wait 2 minutes and sometime turn it off and cycle the plugs again.

Things that help: good GPR and plugs. Good starter. 10w30 oil or 5w40. Good batteries.

And dont forget to use some anti gel in your fuel. I like shaeffers products but there’s lots of options.

Also remember there’s 14+ quarts of oil to warm up so be a bit easy on the truck till it starts to get warm. Short trips are a No No for me in the winter. If you can’t avoid that just make sure once a week or so to take it for a long drive and get it hot to remove condensation throughout the entire truck, everything that has oil it it will get condensation if not allowed to heat up and burn off.

 

So you said to turn my key and let the glow plugs warm up for about two minutes. Do I want to do that a couple of times? Also, I do have the block heater and I love that. I plug it in when I am at home. Makes a huge difference.

 

If the system is working you only need to do it once. Below 0 I might do it again but once is probably enough. Where in Idaho you live? Reason I ask is some places are much colder than others

I would check your block heater plug cord before using it to make sure it’s not old and cracked anywhere to be safe.

I have have also had the prongs on my plug in get corroded with road grime and not function properly. Scrub it with a wire brush to remove.

i usually check to make sure the heater is working from underneath by feeling around the plug in area to see if it’s heating about once a month or so

 

cycling the glow plugs does not do annything but drain the batteries.
if the system is working, it will start once the wait to start light goes out.
my truck will fire rite up at 10 below without the block heater plugged in as soon as the glow plug light goes out.

 

I have a question?
Have you done a compression test lately?
My truck is smoking a lot and harder to start now.
Compression is 350 to 375psi.
I'm convinced that higher compression would help all my issues.
Bob

 

I’m in northern Utah. Probably not as cold as you’ll get, but I use my block heater from time to time. One caveat to that is it can be a bit expensive on the electric bill to use it a lot. I usually use a timer to turn the heater on a couple of hours before I need to go. Heats things up and saves a few bucks. Like the others said, if your glow plug system is in working order, you really don’t need the heater.

 

350 to 375 is fine. what color is the smoke?
you may have bad injectors.

 

Start up smoke is more white than blue.
Any restart after a warm up, there is no smoke.
Injectors were brand new 50k ago.

Oil mist/blow by at valve cover filler, but no pressure.
2 qts of oil per 3k.
20 to 23 mpg at 65/70 mph.
400 miles.

The low compression question always bugs me.
High compression I believe creates more heat= less unburned fuel.

 

ok, if white smoke only on cold engine, i would suspect glow plug issues.

 

My thoughts exactly.
Pulled both valve covers & found a burnt/melted connector. Thought for sure the one cylinder was the problem. New glow plugs and harness.
Used SD Motorcraft gasket/ wires/ pigtail.
Very disappointed with the Motorcraft pigtail, badly kinked stiff wires and cracked insulation.

 

One evolution of the glow plugs should fire it up. I don’t suggest watching the light. Watch the volt meter. You will see it jump up when the GRP cycles off. Once it does, then try to start it. As mentioned, make sure your glow plugs and GPR are in good working order

 

So do you mean that once my GPR turns off that i will see my patent power gauge on my dash jump up?