Just wanted to give an update. Truck has been needing 10-11 times to start up in cold weather as of late. Changed the GPR for 25 bucks and starts right up. The 2nd issue i had after changing that was the once started it had the infamous "hiccup" til i gave it some gas and it caught the idle. Well changed over to Rotella 5-40 synthetic and next morning....was 18 degrees and started up first try and purred instantly at idle. No issues as of this whole week. Just wanted to say thanks guys for all your help !!!

 

Excellent! Thanks for letting us know.

 

What oil were you running before you switched to synthetic? What is the price difference?

 

I noticed that here in florida not to cold by the way mine has chevron delo 15-40 I had not started it in a week or so and I let it warm the glow plugs for 2 min and it loped for a good 10 seconds I didn't think it was gonna straighten out.

 

Mine will (sometimes) start and rev continuously from 700-1200 rpm. Is this what you guys refer to as the hiccup or romp romp romp? As soon as it step on the pedal a little it straightens out. Oil change is coming up and I have never run synthetic- I was never really sold on it. I run Rotella 15-40. Was this the problem that changing to synthetic corrected?

I'd like to know cuz I just changed my cps and am thinking about doing the icp next.

 

yep, our 1995 powerstroke wouldn't start, just tons of white smoke. replaced the GPR and now it starts great. it does have the shudder at startup, some say it is the dual mass flywheel, but we can change it to 5-40, because we run 15-40 rotella T in them now.

 

dumb question, what is a GPR? My 2000 F250 has been giving me some problems starting in the cold.

 

Glow Plug Relay

 

Wher is it located?

 

don't feel bad man... i've been on hear awhile and sometimes they throw one of those at me that i have no idea what they are talking about either... trust me... reading these posts is like going to school... lots to learn..!

 

Empiretc: I was running 15-40 non synthetic. Not sure of brand off hand..but just generic diesel 15-40. Trust me i was never sold on synthetic either, but after reading all the good things about it , and how it helps on start-up i figured i would give it a shot.
But the hard starting problem that happened all of a sudden this winter. It was 100% the glow plug relay that solved that. Was fine all last winter with starting and just started acting up when it started to get cold this winter. i got mine for 25 bucks off ebay. Starts right up on first cycle of glow plugs like it did when new...where as of late it has been taking me 20 minutes to start it. So anyone who has to crank it over and over and white smoke pours out....try the glow plug relay. Takes 10 minutes to put one on.

Empiretc: Yes the hiccup as you described is what i was referring to. It has done it every winter since i had truck and just took it as normal and would hit the gas as you to straighten it out. But going to Shell Rotella 5-40 synthetic has solved this problem totally. AT least the last week in cold cold weather it has not done it once. Starts right up due to the GPR and idles right up since changing oil. It was 14 a gallon at wal-mart. Defintely worth it. Truck even sounds 100 times better...not as noisy,.

 

Thanks for that response silverbullet! I think I am going to try a synthetic bland as well. I have been reading so much about it that I think I just should try it before I knock it. I always take my truck to walmart for an oil change. I hope they have the Rotella 15-40 synthetic. 5-40 wouldnt cut it cuz it is always hot or hotter where I live. Right now our average temps are in the upper 60's. I am gonna get a gpr as well, just for the hell of it. Thanks again.

 

I was down there last year to Port Isabel. HOTTER THAN BLAZES!!! And the humidity was unreal. I turned on the AC in the rental car to cool off and the windows fogged up on the outside. Never seen anything like it in my life. I had to turn on the heat just to clear the window.

 

Yep. Two seasons down here. Its either hot or hotter. Most people cant take it. Think I should go with 15-40 synthetic Kwik?

 

Yeah, if I lived down there I would seriously consider a straight grade oil if it was available. The short period of time that the oil would be thick and cooler that operating temperature would be far offset by the better protection that the single grade oil offers.
Hmmmm, but I may be talking old school here. They've made amazing strides in the last few years.
I sure like the way that my truck sounds like with the 5-40 Delvac in the pan. Glass smooth idle.