Hard to Start
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Joined: Sep 2007
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Hard to Start
I have a 1990 F250 that you have to crank over for about 5-10 minutes to get it to start if it's cold. It has new glow plugs and starts right up if it's warm. It also smokes alot of white smoke under a load. Are the head gaskets shot? I no nothing about diesels
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 549
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From: Mississippi
does your wait to start light come on and can you see the amp gauge needle jumping as the glow plug circuit operates? even though you have new glow plugs in, your controller may not be functioning. can't figure out how to get the picture on here but dave sponaugle has good pic of controller( got to learn how to insert pics) need to check connections and make sure they're all solid and no corrosion. still running the dual filter/water separator? make sure the drain ain't leaking and letting fuel out and air in. check your injector lines and if they're gray, they are original and need replacing. you can get a leak that will let air in and not leak fuel. this lets fuel drain back into tank and cause hard starts. been there, done that. it's a PITA to deal with and you'll be better off replacing o-rings and caps and return lines to stop that problem. if you got dual tanks , check the lines and the switching valve to see if you've got a leak there letting air in the system. know this is a lot of things to look at, but trust me, if you hammer on that starter for more than 15 to 20 seconds at a time without letting it cool for SEVERAL minutes between cranking efforts, you're gonna burn up the starter. it's a lot more costly to replace starter than fuel lines and return lines and 0-rings. hope this helps with a starting place.
speedrdr
speedrdr
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,782
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From: Huntington Indiana
Do not use the starter more than 30 seconds with a 2 minute shutoff as you will burn out the starter.
Controler is located behind the air cleaner under a black plastic guard. *** BE CAREFULL*** under this cover one of the leads goes straight to the batteries and will melt a screw driver in an instant.
Do not use ether at this will do major damage to engine if preignited with glow plugs if operating.
Controler is located behind the air cleaner under a black plastic guard. *** BE CAREFULL*** under this cover one of the leads goes straight to the batteries and will melt a screw driver in an instant.
Do not use ether at this will do major damage to engine if preignited with glow plugs if operating.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
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I put a button in my truck for manual glow plugs and it makes one heck of a difference! It used to take as long as yours did to start but now it starts up just like a gasser after holding the button for 10 seconds... My WTS light and everything were coming on and going off before but I guess it wasn't doing anything.. It hasn't hit 0F yet but it was 50F today and it started right the hell up..it surprises me every time now (since I waited so long before...) I am just hoping it stays in this good mood throughout winter..
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
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Ether could ignite when the glow plugs kick in and so you could cause all the cylinders to ignite and go off and that would be bad... Plus ether has no lubricity and it will tear up your compression rings and then it won't have enough compression to create the heat needed for the diesel to ignite on those cold mornings and you will become ether dependent. I have heard the WD-40 is what you should use because it will lube everything, might still ignite on glow plugs though..
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From: Campbell River, B.C.
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I put a manual switch on my glow plugs also, but at the same time I installed 100% duty cycle volvo glow plugs. You need to be real careful with a glow plug switch if you have the OEM plugs, they will distort (making them impossible to remove without breaking). As an experiment, I put my stock OEM plugs on the bench and put 12 volts to them. Very cool as they got hot, and actually broke after 30-40 seconds.
What helped me the most was switching to John Deere 0W50 synthetic diesel oil. It now cranks over much faster when cold, and starts like a champ!
Wayne
88 F-250 7.3
What helped me the most was switching to John Deere 0W50 synthetic diesel oil. It now cranks over much faster when cold, and starts like a champ!
Wayne
88 F-250 7.3
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Wow, you would have to ask that. Let me look around and see if I can track it down. It did it at least five years ago.
Yes, they are much slower to warm up. The Ford OEM plugs got hot instantly/quickly on the bench. Now I need to hold the glow relay maybe 30-40 seconds, but it cranks right over. You have to bypass the electronic system they have that warms the plugs for 4-7 seconds at best. It's not hard, just a switch to the relay. Let me track down where I got them and try to get back to you all.
wayne
Yes, they are much slower to warm up. The Ford OEM plugs got hot instantly/quickly on the bench. Now I need to hold the glow relay maybe 30-40 seconds, but it cranks right over. You have to bypass the electronic system they have that warms the plugs for 4-7 seconds at best. It's not hard, just a switch to the relay. Let me track down where I got them and try to get back to you all.
wayne
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2007
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OK, I bought the glow plugs from Diesel Auto Services. They are in Canada, and I just spoke to them on the phone and they verified I bought them their. The web site is
http://www.dieselautoservices.com/
and the phone number is 604-460-1066. The part number is 11117F2, and of course you need 8.
Good luck!
Wayne
http://www.dieselautoservices.com/
and the phone number is 604-460-1066. The part number is 11117F2, and of course you need 8.
Good luck!
Wayne
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
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From: Campbell River, B.C.
I've heard of those guys they are mentioned on ziggster's page, as the story goes, they no longer offer them for some reason. I haven't been able to confirm this myself.
I also know a specialty diesel shop in town where I live, and they said that they used to get dual coil plugs from italy, but all they could get now were wellmans.
If you haven't heard of wellman glow plugs, they are american, and there are two types avalable that would fit the 6.9 diesel, 080 and 088.
The 088s are supposed to be dual coil, but the one I tested only survived 22 seconds on a bench test, and the tip swelled to about 1/4" (too big to be pulled if it was installed).
The 080s are what I got expecting berus, they seem to work, at least when they failed the didn't swell up.
I just don't get why its so hard to get a good dual coil glow plug for these engines.
I also know a specialty diesel shop in town where I live, and they said that they used to get dual coil plugs from italy, but all they could get now were wellmans.
If you haven't heard of wellman glow plugs, they are american, and there are two types avalable that would fit the 6.9 diesel, 080 and 088.
The 088s are supposed to be dual coil, but the one I tested only survived 22 seconds on a bench test, and the tip swelled to about 1/4" (too big to be pulled if it was installed).
The 080s are what I got expecting berus, they seem to work, at least when they failed the didn't swell up.
I just don't get why its so hard to get a good dual coil glow plug for these engines.
