Sorry to add to the hard start threads, but I could not find a thread that had the same symptoms, and similar ones had recommendations that checked out okay on my truck. I have a 97 f350 with 230000 miles on it, and its been having a hard starting issue when it sits for a period of time. That period of time has been getting shorter and shorter. It started with about 2 weeks, and has now lowered to just about in a day.

What happens is, the truck will turn over and fire immediately. It will only run for a second or two though, then start idling rough and stall. Then it will be very hard to start. It will continue to try to fire basically on every rotation, and put out a lot of smoke. It will slowly start to fire more often, until it will finally run without the starter. It will run rough for a few seconds, then clear up as if nothing is wrong. I have replaced the glow plug relay recently, as well as the fuel pump. I checked most of the glow plugs, and the ones i got to ohmed out fine, so I have at least 5 of 8 working glow plugs. I replaced the cps with a new ford one. I have checked the hpop reservoir and the fuel bowl, and both are full when exhibiting this issue. I checked fuel pressure on the schrader valve, and I had over 30 psi cranking. Where should I look from here?

 

Have you tried plugging the block heater in, then starting it?

This can help eliminate a weak starter or weak batteries.

 

I can give that a try. The odd thing with this is that it will fire up first try no matter how cold it is, it just won't stay running.

 

Ah, I overlooked that.

Well, maybe you are drawing air into the fuel system is all I can think of there.

 

I also tried unplugging the icp after the truck stalls to see if it will then start easier. It did not help. Any body have any other ideas? I feel like something has to be draining down somewhere.

 

what is RPM when cranking?

Does oil pressure go up right away or take a bit?

 

ill double check what rpm was, but it was over the minimum to start it. Oil gauge takes a couple seconds the come up. With the snap on scanner hooked to it, ipr duty cycle is showing around 40-50% and icp is showing over 3000 psi while cranking.

 

Rpms are in the 110-130 range

 

Thats low. Should be around 200.

mine spun slow when i got it. Went through all battery connections and made a big difference in cranking speed

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ou-cranky.html

 

So the slow cranking might be adding to it, but I dont think it is my root cause. The fact that it will start right up is telling me its not the starter. It seems to me something is draining down, or allowing air in somewhere. Hpop reservoir is full, fuel bowl is full. My dad thinks it might be a check valve on the return line allowing it to drain down? Do these motors have something like that?

 

HPOP system has check valves to prevent drain back and your res is full

Fuel system has the pump to keep prime. One lil tiny leak in the suction line will make for hard starts until pressure comes up.

Bowl has a lil screen on drivers side inside of it. if clogged, air cant go back to tank and can do weird starting things as air gets in fuel

 

I cleaned the fpr screen, and it seems like no change. Another tidbit, after sitting two days it will start then idle very rough. If i give it gas I can keep it running until it goes back smboth. During this time, it smokes alot. It looks like its white smoke. Does this help at all?

 

What is the charging system outputting? Computers do not like poor grounds nor low voltage.

Have you looked close at the valve cover plugs? Consider unplugging and cleaning with an agent like Deoxit.

Running fuel pressure? I cannot recall what it should be with the mechanical setup, but 55-65psi at idle sounds reasonable.

White smoke is incomplete combustion. Low HPOP pressure, poor injector atomization, weak cylinder, etc.

 

I would try to get a fuel pressure reading while it is running. You mentioned that you have checked the the fuel bowl, but have you opened the fuel bowl when it dies to see if there is fuel in it?

 

At the schrader valve? Yes I have checked the fuel bowl when it dies, and it is full.