Over the past 8 years and 50k miles (now at 162k) my '93 E150 w/5.8 has always started instantly when it's cold, even when it's -5 outside.

But when it's hot (or even warmish) it will crank several times before it starts.

A new Bosch fuel pump was installed in '20 at 136k miles and I've always changed the filter every 12k miles.

Fuel pressure was checked 2 years ago at last tuneup (153k) and was fine.

It's not really a problem but I just wonder if other owners of similar vans experience the same.

 

Absolutely,
Slow to build fuel pressure comes to mind first
Cycle the key twice before starting it as a test for that
Carbon fouled intake valves is second
When was the last time you had your injectors cleaned through the rail with the special Ford sauce?
Carbon deposits on intake valves acts as a sponge
The sponge must be saturated with fuel before the combustion chamber gets any, and the result is a hard start
Thirdly, how old are the spark plugs? And say they are Motorcraft plugs

 

-If it was slow to build pressure wouldn't that be true on a cold start also? Many times in the AM I'm in a hurry and I just start it right away. I do always wait the 60 seconds for it to idle down before taking off tho.

-I've never had a thorough injector cleaning but I do toss in a jug of Gumout a couple times a year. I think a few years back I added the Techron stuff. It does run a little rough sometimes but usually it's OK.

-The plugs are MC and I also changed cap,rotor and filters 2 years and 9k miles ago. I think I sprayed the TB at that time too. I have been meaning to check #8 because it was a tad oily when last changed.

 

Maybe
Hot and with OH (alcohol) hot start needs the pump to perform at peak performance
Cold, the rail usually holds just enough pressure for a start 12 hours later, with a 1 second initial / supplemental prime as you turn the key
Look into buying a oOTC type air over hydraulic fuel injector cleaner online. I have 3 of them and only paid about 75 for my cheap one maybe 125 for my OTC
Using one of those, you can clean the injectors for hours and clean the intake valves at the same time
I used to clean my old BMW injectors for an hour once a year
Your Ford just needs a good initial cleaning and then, yes, use Chevron gas (there is a reason they ship Chevron gas 600 miles to Detroit)
Spraying your throttle plate is a good idea, even though Ford says NOT to do it
We called it foam, the Ford carb cleaner sprayed on the throttle plate while idling and running it up in rpm range
That will also clean the upper intake and intake valves
It is a bit hard on the spark plugs (deposits), I usually do an injector service in conjunction with a tune up and replace the spark plugs last
In school they talk about injector deposits and valve deposits, especially these days, with todays oxygenated fuel
You run a fuel with no alky and it will start easier too
I would still drive the truck around with a pressure gauge taped to the windshield, just to see what the fuel pressure is doing
Sometimes a leaking injector will not be evident unless you have a pressure gauge on there and watch it closely

 

A leaking fuel injector (hot), can sure cause a long crank time hot start, you might also try a "flood clear start" next time it acts up, just in case something like that IS happening

 

Thanks and I'll look into buying an injector cleaner setup. I notice none of the LAPS offer a rental.

I'm now in the Kansas City area and Google shows there aren't any Chevron stations around. The closest is about 300 miles away in Oklahoma.

A local convenience store does sell ethanol-free gas but it's 55 cents/gall higher. I do put it in my motorcycle and Suzuki Sidekick though. The van isn't driven very much and I may start alternating ethanol-free fill ups at the 1/2 tank point.

 

[/QUOTE]
A local convenience store does sell ethanol-free gas but it's 55 cents/gall higher. I do put it in my motorcycle and Suzuki Sidekick though. The van isn't driven very much and I may start alternating ethanol-free fill ups at the 1/2 tank point.[/QUOTE]

this is where ethanol-free gas works best, going to sit for a while? Use it.

 

2001 E350 5.4 Triton
JUST replaced plugs/coils, fuel/air filters, but the symptom was occurring before the maintenance.
Hot soak, turn off engine, wait for a short period, crank no start.
Thoughts? 'Cleaner' per above? Product name, please?
Wait for another short period, it fires right up.
LiquiMoly fuel/injector cleaner in the tank now- yes, the fuel filter was NASTY. I'll report back after a few drive cycles.

 

You are to use the FORD fuel injector cleaner (every 30k miles)
You cannot put the rail cleaner in the tank
It's basically carb foam cleaner in a bottle, can't be put in the gas tank
The FORD fuel injection cleaner apparatus comes with return fuel line block offs to keep the caustic stuff from reaching the tank