Hey guys. Ive owned my 2005 F350 for about 4 weeks now. I havnt had any problems yet but lately its been around 0C (32F) when i leave for work in the morning. The problem im having is the truck fires right away but after it is first started it seems to run rough for the first few seconds. I can tell its running rough because sometimes the RPM flucuates for a few seconds and i can tell by the sound of the motor as its idling. I usually let it idle for about 2-3 minutes before i drive away. I live in the middle of a fair size neighbourhood so the truck never gets above 1500 rpm before i get onto the main street. But as soon as i get onto the main street i can tell the truck is lacking power...it seems like it struggles to even get up to 40km/h and the truck will go up to 3000rpm before it shifts...it almost feels like it doesnt want to shift. The whole time this is going on the truck is blowing quiet a bit of white smoke.

Im just wondering if anybody is having a similar problem and if you guys recommend i should let my truck idle longer than 2 or 3 minutes to let it warm up? Thanks

 

It'll do that. Do you let hte glow plugs prime before starting it? Do you plug in the block heater the night before so you aren't starting stone cold? I let my truck warm up for about 10 minutes before taking off when it's cold like that. If I forget to plug in the block heater, even with priming the glow plugs it'll be a little rough when I first start it, but I give it time to properly lubricate.

The problem has gotten much less noticable now that I switched from 15w-40 oil to 5w-40 full synthetic. I'm guessing as those injectors are oil driven, the oil is not as thick when it's cold like that so they can operate more smoothly in colder temperatures.

 

If you think about this....when the temps drop your oil thickens....I MEAN REALLY THICKENS. By plugging the truck in when the temps drop you are taking a major strain off of you entire starting system.

If you think about it...your starter and batts are really pushing a load to turn over an unplugged engine.

For example, when I plug my truck in: when I turn the key and watch the glowplug light, it goes off within a couple of seconds and the truck starts like it's 80 degrees outside. No rough running...no smoke...no lag in the accelerator.

When I park my truck somewhere other than home...i.e. it doesn't get plugged in when I have to leave it at the airport for a couple of days...or when I park the truck at work and don't start it at lunch time so it's had time to cold soak: when I turn the key on to watch the glowplug light...the seatbelt chime stops dinging and it's another 5 seconds or so before the light goes out and I start the truck. The truck will turn over twice and then fire up...but it's not pretty. Lots of blue smoke...rough idle for at least two to three minutes...and until the truck warms up, there's a lag in the accelerator pedal just like you noticed. When it's that cold and it hasn't been plugged in I make it a point to let it catch up and idle smoothly for at least 4 or 5 minutes. Even then...sometimes the pedal lag is still there until it's been driven for 2 or 3 minutes then it seems to be ok.

Plug it it! I plug mine in anytime the temps drop below 40 degrees f. Mine's an 03 and I'm still running the factory original batts with 82K miles on the truck.

Joe

 

actually should start and run fine at 0degrees celcius. the high shift point could be exaust backpressure sensor. that what was wrong with mine,erratic shift points, high boost pressure at very light throttle position when cold(20-25 psi at 1200 in first gear) starts much better now too.started mine yesterday at minus 23 celcius, not plugged in maybe 3 misses in first 3 seconds totally smooth after that. normally i would plug in but it was above 0 the night before and i didn't really plan on taking it, last minute decision

 

i have a 03 6.0psd and if the temp drops around freezing and i dont plug it in,well its not pretty the next morning. i thought maybe i have some real problems. is this all normal?

 

start using a synthetic 5w-40 oil and that will help alot!!!

 

Cold diesels are not happy diesels. Plug in and they are much better. I start, wait a bit till oil is churning, drive away around 1500 rpm and then keep it under 2000 till the temp gauge is up in the warm. I avoid putting the foot into it until thoroughly warm.

 

Did you ever figure out the issue. I'm having the same problem but it's not even that cold out (coldest 50f).

 

My truck is an 03 and I had the heat flash done in late 07 but when it was very cold out like 15F or below I would get a rough start for the first few seconds. I read about some people using 2 stroke oil mixed in their fuel and thought I would give it a try in Jan. 08, I have been using it ever since and have good starts in 2.5 or less seconds with no shake or white smoke. I never plugged my truck in when it is cold, and I think the coldest start was around 0 f. this past jan. I idle mine for around 4 minutes when its colder then 25 and I will get oil/fuel dilution of 2-3 percent from the excessive idling in the winter time as it shows up in the oil analysis vs .5 percent in the warmer months. I have been using the 2 stroke oil for 20,000 miles and seems to work well for me, also add Motorcraft cetane booster but when it's starts getting very cold I use the PS antigel.

 

ill gaurantee its your SCT X3 that has caused the problem it is slowly showing that the heads are leaking coolant.

hope you have warranty, been there done that...had a hell of a time till warranty ran out ..... then sold it like the plague!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

tuners invite problems trust me

 

How much 2 stroke are you adding?

 

i use it cause the blue covers up the dyed fuel i burn in my current truck and my 05 6.0l

 

1 oz. per gal. I have gone through almost 15 gallon of the ashless 2 stroke oil that Walmart sells since the beginning of 2008 and I would also recommend a cetane booster in the winter months.

 

I was told by a Pa. state policeman that I shoot trap with that they no longer have to dip stick your fuel tank for non taxed fuels. They can go up your exhaust pipe with a probe to find the residue. So be careful and don't go bragging because someone may turn you in. On the Pa. turnpike sometimes the state will run a check on fuels at certain service plaza's and a friend of mine was checked when he got off to use the restrooms. He said they were checking all diesel vehicles.

 

WOW good point, i have been dipped before but never heard of the tailpipe trick..

ill keep that in mind..