Hard To Start When Cold
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 129
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From: ABQ, NM
Hard To Start When Cold
Why is it so hard to start in the morining when the weather get a little cool.
Last weekend I went to cut fire wood. Camped the night, It got down to 45-------50 degrees F. The next morning I barely got my 01 7.3L started after alot of glowplug cycles and cranking with white smoke rings.(thank god for Optimas).
180,000 miles. new batteries. New glowplugs and relays. 15w 40 Rotella oil. And its hard to start even if it is a little cold outside.(Has to sit atleast 8 to 10 hrs to be throughly cooled down)
Could it be my injectors arent shooting a good mist of fuel any more. I heard the opening in the injector is like .006". With 180K miles they might be worn to .012" opening in the fuel nozzle?????
Any things I might check. Should I just replace the injectors?
Many thanks in advance!!
Last weekend I went to cut fire wood. Camped the night, It got down to 45-------50 degrees F. The next morning I barely got my 01 7.3L started after alot of glowplug cycles and cranking with white smoke rings.(thank god for Optimas).
180,000 miles. new batteries. New glowplugs and relays. 15w 40 Rotella oil. And its hard to start even if it is a little cold outside.(Has to sit atleast 8 to 10 hrs to be throughly cooled down)
Could it be my injectors arent shooting a good mist of fuel any more. I heard the opening in the injector is like .006". With 180K miles they might be worn to .012" opening in the fuel nozzle?????
Any things I might check. Should I just replace the injectors?
Many thanks in advance!!
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,892
Likes: 2
From: Middle Tennessee
You may want to check your charging voltage or take your alternator in for a test. New batts will drain out if they are not getting a charge.
Of course if it is cranking well, then it's time to visit the hard start common thread.
Of course if it is cranking well, then it's time to visit the hard start common thread.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,413
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From: Columbia, MO
I don't see the holes in your injectors getting worn out, especially to .012". You'd see a lot of smoke if the holes were actually that big.
When the GP's were replaced, how were the connectors on the UVC harness? Have you checked the resistance through the GP's to actually make sure they are making a good connection with the UVC? And have you tested the GPR to make sure it's good as well, even though it was replaced?
See this thread, that Tenn mentioned: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/4...ke-thread.html
When the GP's were replaced, how were the connectors on the UVC harness? Have you checked the resistance through the GP's to actually make sure they are making a good connection with the UVC? And have you tested the GPR to make sure it's good as well, even though it was replaced?
See this thread, that Tenn mentioned: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/4...ke-thread.html
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,111
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
That behavior on a diesel is almost always failed glow plug system. Most likely you have a bunk relay that needs to be replaced (again 
).
As an experiment, go out and cross the big terminals on the glow plug relay with a screwdriver for 20 seconds and then have a helper hit the starter. I'm betting that it will start very easily and no smoke.
The way that the ECU controls the relay is it completes the circuit to ground on the small wire.
).As an experiment, go out and cross the big terminals on the glow plug relay with a screwdriver for 20 seconds and then have a helper hit the starter. I'm betting that it will start very easily and no smoke.
The way that the ECU controls the relay is it completes the circuit to ground on the small wire.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: ABQ, NM
Thanks to all. I am going to try replacing the GPR with a new one, (GPR-109) if they are of good quality???? Otherwise, off to the dealer$$$$$. I believe it has the napa one now.
For oil, it seems it's ok to run a 10w-30 or 5w-40 ???? low 20's at night and 40's in the day (F).
If that all fails to help, Then DieselKleen and Mabey a check of the alternator. However, I have two Optima batteries turn over the engine with no problem.
Then a little looken of the Glow plugs .........
I read through the link where this has been discussed and will try everything. I will not stop till this thing starts properly
Thanks for steering me in the right direction
Ryan
For oil, it seems it's ok to run a 10w-30 or 5w-40 ???? low 20's at night and 40's in the day (F).
If that all fails to help, Then DieselKleen and Mabey a check of the alternator. However, I have two Optima batteries turn over the engine with no problem.
Then a little looken of the Glow plugs .........
I read through the link where this has been discussed and will try everything. I will not stop till this thing starts properly
Thanks for steering me in the right direction
Ryan
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: ABQ, NM
Yeah, it does the romp romp thing. But that issue is seldom, and dosent seem to be temperature related. I have not found a cure for it. You possibly thinken somethen of it???
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Middle Tennessee
Romp romp is not a normal event and usually occurs during very cold starts. Your GPs may not be doing their job. Check the relay. Mine will only romp on the coldest of mornings, and then only momentarily.
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From: South Dakota
[QUOTE=tumbleweed2]
For oil, it seems it's ok to run a 10w-30 or 5w-40 ???? low 20's at night and 40's in the day (F).
Up here in the winter I run Rotella 10w-30. I little difference in starting compared to the 5w-40 synthetic in my opinion, but not enough for me to change over. If it becomes a really big problem in starting with this oil then I am going to consider putting in a Tannis engine heater or a Kim Hotstart oil tank heater.
For oil, it seems it's ok to run a 10w-30 or 5w-40 ???? low 20's at night and 40's in the day (F).
Up here in the winter I run Rotella 10w-30. I little difference in starting compared to the 5w-40 synthetic in my opinion, but not enough for me to change over. If it becomes a really big problem in starting with this oil then I am going to consider putting in a Tannis engine heater or a Kim Hotstart oil tank heater.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Seattle
Originally Posted by tumbleweed2
Yeah, it does the romp romp thing. But that issue is seldom, and dosent seem to be temperature related. I have not found a cure for it. You possibly thinken somethen of it???
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: ABQ, NM
Romp Romp Oil Bridge
Hay guys, thanks. I will give 10w30 a shot.
As for romp in.. ill give her a little more time to pump off before I turn her on.
And that sounds good, Going to bridge the GPR on the next cold morining and see if it is bad. (going to Mtns. to cut more wood this weekend)
Thanks a ton, I'll report back asap.
As for romp in.. ill give her a little more time to pump off before I turn her on.
And that sounds good, Going to bridge the GPR on the next cold morining and see if it is bad. (going to Mtns. to cut more wood this weekend)
Thanks a ton, I'll report back asap.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: ABQ, NM
The Bridge!!!!
OK, you guys called it. It was upper 40's this morning and would not start on the first try. So I bridged the relay closest to the fire wall and nothing. I bridged the relay close to the radiator and bingo. Not much smoke and fired right away. I guess the back relay on the 01' PSD is for the fan thing someone talked about. So the FRONT the bigger one that is the GPR.
Thanks again for all the great ideas and suggestions.
Thanks again for all the great ideas and suggestions.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,892
Likes: 2
From: Middle Tennessee
Originally Posted by tumbleweed2
OK, you guys called it. It was upper 40's this morning and would not start on the first try. So I bridged the relay closest to the fire wall and nothing. I bridged the relay close to the radiator and bingo. Not much smoke and fired right away. I guess the back relay on the 01' PSD is for the fan thing someone talked about. So the FRONT the bigger one that is the GPR.
Thanks again for all the great ideas and suggestions.
Thanks again for all the great ideas and suggestions.