if the temps are around 40*F or lower, my 7.3L shudders like a wet dog.
at 30* the other day, it felt like only half of the cylinders were working.

turn on the block heater, and let the glow plugs warm up for 90 seconds, and it starts like I just shut it off 10 minutes ago, smooth as butter.

runs great when it idles smooth, lots of power with the Hydra on 65hp daily driver.
when I towed a car from Utah two weeks ago, I left it in Tow Haul mode and set the cruise at 68 and it never met a hill it did not like, speed never wavered ... solid as a rock

so, what is the cold natured act about?
odo is at 178,000 miles

it has Rotella T4, 15w40 right now,
changing to 5w40 full synthetic next week.

 

I did a lot of research on this topic and talked to Jim at Rosewood and Brian at BTS. Based on what I have gathered your injectors are showing signs of age, like all of us. I could be in left field on this but the fact that when warmer or plugged in you have no issues I believe that to be your issue.

 

Have you verified and positive that all eight glow plugs are heating?

 

This.

And this.


5w-40 synthetic should help a good bit.
But it also sounds like all of your glow plugs may not be working. Or possibly weak GPR. Have you tried crossing the posts on the GPR before starting?

 

I'll add to this discussion that I have manual glow plugs and a very healthy Ford reman engine with new Alliant injectors installed about 60,000 miles ago. Thing pulls like nothing else when I'm out with the 5th wheel. But it won't even think of firing off if I don't hold that button down at any temperature below 45 degrees. It just cranks and cranks with white fuel smoke rolling out of the tail pipe. Ten seconds worth of heating the glow plugs and it fires off like it's the middle of summer. My 2003 VW TDI with 230,000 miles will start in near freezing weather without having to heat the glow plugs. The Ford just needs more help to get going on a cold morning.

 

I suspect to be a part of the issue myself, from my EduKation via the Internet

 

No, I have not.
Thus far, I have not turned a wrench on this truck, Except when my son replaced the fuel bowl Cap with an OEM Ford cap and new filter.

That was when he installed the Sump kit on the Excursion fuel tank, plus the Fire Department installed a Wix 24006 PreFilter on it 20 some years ago....

The PreFilter is doing a Great Job, because when he changed the Fuel Bowl filter, it was still clean, and the fuel was clean, and there is NO sediment in the bottom of the fuel bowl.

Landon Diesel in Price, Utah has done quite a bit of work on it,
the 1st time was in July 2022, the alternator died from heat prostration, hood insulation fell down and clogged up the air vents in the Leece-Neville alternator... they did something else which now has been forgotton.

back in January this year, I was back up there again, and Landon Diesel replaced the Vacuum Pump and Air Filter, and something else which I have forgot...

Coming home, I towed my sister's Kia Amanti through the mountains in Tow Haul mode, and it never met an Incline that it did not like.... I drive on Crusie Control, and the speedo never moved, it stayed at 68 all the way.

 

California truck, all Excursions have a GPCM instead of the big Relay.

 

Based on my experience with this truck and your statement above, I am going to just accept the Fact it is Cold Natured, and use the 5w40 full Synthetic oil from now on.
I have a Thermostatic Controlled Relay on the Block Heater, it triggers at ~43 degrees....

So, during the winter months, it stays plugged in if I think I will need to drive it...

I have two other gas vehicles we can use in Cold Wx.

 

most excursions are gpcm, I have worked on 2 that had glow plug relays.

 

Supporting both cold natured, and tired injectors position. Mine did this, and finally would not start when cold. Turns out my injectors, were sad, my glow plugs were dead. And then my block heater also died.... leading to me having to preheat with a propane yard torch to start the truck to move it to the shop for all those parts. Now, i dont have to plug it in, and the only smoke i get is during warm up. If you have good power, without issues, then id lool at the plugs, first thing. With the usual warning to use a reputable source, not chancing knockoff plugs.

 

Thanks to everyone who has commented on this topic.

I am going to just accept that the Injectors are tired, and that one or more glow plugs may not be any good now.

When the Wx warms up enough to let me lay over the engine, I will ohm out the glow plugs.

As long as it continutes to startup properly with the Block Heater, I won't be spending any money on it.

 

Just remember that if you are suddenly called out on an unplanned road trip in the wintertime. Carry a generator if you have one. Or a long extension cord that reaches from the hotel room to the truck, LOL.

 

I keep a 75 foot Extension cord with me, and I used it twice up in Montana after I bought the truck headed south for home....

just snuck it out the door after dark, and plugged it in, the next morning, she started up like it was Summer Time.

I have a smallish generator, but it is 18" x 24" long and wide, and something like 20" tall...
I kept it in the truck for a while, strapped down next to the spare tire.... it never got used, so took it out.

 

when we over-nighted in Weatherford, OkieLand
it was parked way too far away for that Extension Cord....

I just watched the DVM on the dash, and counted to 120 and hit the starter, not quite a Summer time startup, but it was smooth and I let it idle for a while, before packing up and going home.