Some back ground: bought our stock 96 F350 last year at this time with 240,000 miles, they said they had put new batteries in it and we replaced 2 glow plugs and never had any trouble with it in the cold weather. This year, when we start the truck up and it is colder than 35 degrees outside, it runs like crap, loping I guess you could call it. Also, this morning, I didn't have much time to let it sit and warm up so I took off and about a mile down the road, it started to spit and sputter like it wasn't getting any fuel. I pulling off the road and shut it off. I started it back up almost instantly and it fired right up and ran great. And twice recently when the truck is warm, it starts to run like it has dropped a cylinder, with a miss. This is our first diesel and we are confused! There is a small fuel leak that our friend said might be the weep hole in the fuel pump, could any of this be caused by the fuel pump?
We tried plugging it in two nights ago and it didn't seem to help, but haven't had the chance to check the entension cord and connections yet. If we plug it in, should that help the loping?
Thanks so much for your help

 

Do you have any way to check your fuel pressure? Any CEL on?

 

our trucks dont sound the greatest when cold.

the sounds of it you dont have any gp or gpr issues if it is still starting or at least not very bad.

sounds like a cps issue, uvc wiring or a a burnt plug.

 

No check engine light. I'm pretty sure my husband has a fuel pressure gauge. Should we check it right when we start it up? What should it be?
I don't think it's a gp or gpr issue, we went through that last winter. I fixed the extension cord last night and it was still romping really bad this morning.

 

Deleted. Sorry - double post

 

I think about 45-50 at idle. Mine goes up to about 75-80 when running high rpms.

 

Fiddled with the block heater cord and it seems to be working great now. Also changed the oil. It is running MUCH better now. Who knew that dirty oil could cause so much trouble??