A friend has a '88 or '89 F-250 with a 7.3L engine. It seems to take a lot more cranking to start when the engine is cold than when it's warm or it's warm outside. New glow plugs and wires were put in but still seems to have this problem. When it does start there is a cloud of smoke out of the exhaust, probally from all the cranking. Is there a heater of some kind for heating the fuel that might not be working or is there something else that might be causing this? Any help will be appreciated. Thanx

 

How cold are you talking about?

There is no type of fuel heater.

 

what your looking for is called a block heater. later years this came as standard. you should be able to get them still

 

Thanx for replying. When I said the truck was cold, I meant it hadn't been started for a week or more.Once the light on the dash goes out,he cranks it over for a normal length of time( 5 - 15 seconds) and then turns key off and goes through this cycle again. Total time can be a few minutes.Is this normal? He doesn't think his batterys are the problem.

 

Is there a fuel leak in the return lines somewhere? Sounds to me like the fuel is bleeding back and he has to get the lines filled back up to start. Before he cranks the engine the first time, you can check at the filter, if it is idi engine, at the bleeder port. It looks like a tire inflator valve. The fuel should squirt out of there on the first crank. Be careful, it will come out pretty good while releasing the valve with a screwdriver of something of that nature (very much like letting air out of a tire).

 

Thanx for the reply. We can check that but I thought because of all the smoke out the exhaust once it starts that it must be getting plenty of fuel. Also, it seems like your idea would be present even when the engine is warm but it starts right away when its warm.

 

Is there a clicking sound present after the "wait to start" light goes off? If there isn't then your glow plug controller is bad. I had this same problem, and the new glow plugs didn't help me any because there was no juice coming to them. What I did until I could scrape up $100 for a controller was by-pass the solenoid with a screwdriver for 5-10 seconds and the truck took right off. I think the smoke is normal, because it is unburnt fuel going through your motor.

Barbster

 

He said that after the light goes out, he hears a click about every second or two. Is this what your referring to? I think your right about the smoke.

 

What color is the smoke and does the engine run rough when it does finally start? White smoke will also indicate air in the fuel. My 88 acted that way for a while until I stopped the fuel from draining back. Also just ONE glow plug will give the thing a hissy fit during cold weather.
This is just my opinion as to my findings in my truck.

 

what if the fuel was bleeding back through the system then what how do you fix it from doing that??? i have the same problem starting mine all the time during the winter, i just thought it was expected thats all....oops tell me how to rememdy the problem:P

 

don't know the excate name for it but there is a glow plug sensor or something like that behind the breather going into the intake when you take it out water/antifreeze will come out this has something to do with the glow plugs.

 

you guys much be talking about glow plug relay solenoid, should be locate on rear engine, on top back by fire wall,also double check glow plug.

 

I had the identical symtoms on my 6.9 on my '86. It was hard starting when it sat too long and being that the colder weather was near, last month I replaced all the glow plugs and it started easily. I haven't driven it much since then. So today I tried starting it, heard it cycle and the dash light turned on and off but did nothing except crank the engine. I decided to check the glow plugs and sure enough, seven of the eight were burnt out. I replaced them all and also decided to by pass the cycle solenoid and installed a momentary toggle switch from Radio shack. Once installed, I held the switch on for about 8 seconds and turned the key..bam started just fine.

 

It sounds like you are having air getting into the fuel system, sometimes you may have a leak on the supply line, since the fuel pump is pulling you wont have a fuel leak, but you will have air getting into the fuel system, and after it sets for a long while it makes it way to the top of the fuel filter and causes a hard start. As stated in the earlier post, you will see air bubbles when you depress the valve on top of the fuel filter. If you dont see any air bubbles, next would be to check and see if the glows plugs are getting current. You can do this with a light tester, just probe the supply wire to the glow plug, Would also check and make sure the silonoid on the back of the intake, (Glow plug Controler) is getting positive from the battery. This conection is located on the starter relay next to the battery, have seen some hooked up wrong. If you have power next step is to test all the glow plugs, you can do this by removing the plug wires from the glow plug, using a light tester contect the aligater clip to the positive side of the battery (Yes Positive) now touch the light tester to the glow plug if it lights the glow plug is good. do this to all 8 replace any bad glow plugs. Again make sure they are all disconected.

Dave