Well, the cold is finally here in NJ.

One of my PSDs is experiencing much difficulty starting in the morning (around 30 degrees F). Once it does start, it idles VERY roughly. Extremely lopey. I do not have a block heater on this truck.

It will stall after driving it a few minutes.

Once it is warm, it runs fine. I emptied the fuel tank and refilled with fresh diesel and Ford diesel additive. No luck.

Could it be the diesel preheater?

 

Need to check that glow plug system. Jumper the two large post on the Glow Plug Rela (closest to the windshiels) for about 30 seconds before cranking in the AM and see if it is better. If that doesnt work well need to ohm out the plugs themselves

 

Thanks for the reply.

Are the glow plugs themselves hard to change?

 

Not realy but you have to remove the valve covers to get to them whick means alot of other sh....tuff has to come out to get to them. So its more of a time cost rather than a difficulty rating.

 

I was thinking that my glow plugs were failing, too. Even when the temps were in the 60's, I was seeing a puff/small cloud of white smoke on cold startups. I wasn't worried until recently when I had a very hard start- took about 4 (15 Second) cranks to get her started in 35 degree weather - 2 mornings in a row. When she was trying to start and for a couple minutes after starting, she was barfing white smoke.

From the suggestions of many here, I first tried the GPR (Glow Plug Relay). I went to Autozone and had them cross reference the Napa 109 model. I got a replacement for $15.99 (Instead of the more than $70 that the Autozone computer recommended). The only difference is that the cheap one is rotated 90 degrees, which is not a big deal. When I went to replace it, I found the power supply wire had gotten hot - the rubber boot was a little burnt and a bit crumbly. I cleaned the contacts on the wire and installed the new one. I waited until the next morning (till it was completely cold and cold outside) to start it again. I was extatic when it started without hesitation and without any smoke!!

 

Thanks.
I am going to replace the relay tomorrow.

Hopefully that will do it.

 

Join the club!

Follow Alan's advice. He's been helping me pinpoint my troubles. I haven't figured it out yet, but I'm sure i will with the help of Alan and the others here.

 

No news yet John? I hope you don't end up with an entirely new engine compartment before it's said and done.

 

Here's some research smokin did on why not to use the 109 relay:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...71&postcount=8

 

OK, picked up the GPR. Where the heck is it located on the truck??

 

Looking at the truck it is to the left of the fuel filter housing (under Powerstroke plastic cover). There are 2 relays there it is the one closest to the windshield