diesel cold starting

[summ8rmk]

If ur glowplugs are bad ur truck will run extremely rough when it starts. With 2-3 bad glowplugs ur truck will crank a little longer than normal but it will chug bounce and fart white smoke for up to a minute after it starts.

Riden the Yamacat

 

[theultrarider]

Like others have said, its the glowplugs. Do yourself a favor and do NOT buy cheap chain store glow plugs spend the extra money and buy OEM. I believe Ford uses Bera, some of the more experienced diesel guys can confirm the name. There not hard to replace on the older trucks.

Actually it is seldom the glow plugs. Most often the glow plug relay. If not the relay, then batteries. Not often all 8 glow plugs go bad. It will start and run like crap on 4 til it gets warm, but it will start! So if you have a rough idle when cold, you have a bad plug or two. But a no start isn't the glow plugs.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

Get your multi meter out and check your glow plugs,its pretty easy to test. google how to test them. i had lost 1 or two on mine and it was a pita to start when it got below freezing

fresh batteries, relay and functioning plugs my 00' starts sitting fovernight -10F with 15/40w without trouble. she shakes a bit but fires right up.

 

[RCR3]

Cycle glow plugs twice before you start! Best to get in turn blower fan and stereo off listen to the relay and intake heater! You should also be able to hear your fuel pump pressurizeing! Cycle twice then start!

 

[mike_s]

I would suspect it glow plug related. The old 7.3's were unwilling to start in temps below 30 degrees if even ONE glow plug was faulty. Start with the relay, if it tests out good then move on to testing the individual glow plugs. Have fun if you decide to do it yourself...they are a b!?@h to change under the valve covers.

Oh, and never ever use ether (starting fluid) on an engine with built in starting aids, glow plugs ect. I have seen heads split in half, intake manifolds thrown across the shop, cranks broken, and engine blocks ruined because of it. If you have no other choice, make for damn sure you disable any preheating device before you use it.

 

[backcntryrider2000]

The glow plugs on the powerstroke 7.3l are under the valve covers, so the wires run through the gaskets for the valve covers and sometimes the gaskets get a corrosion at the connectors.

 

[welder08]

good batteries are a must in cold weather areas (IMO 850 cold cranking amps minimum). sounds to me like a relay prob as everyone else has stated. i do know if the truck has had starting fluid used on a regular basis it can ruin the glo plugs. someone mentioned to cycle it twice. that will prob help a ton. I no on my 12 valve i have to cylce it twice because the grid heater relays are going bad. (common on the cummins to). I use rotella 15/40 oil in my truck and it seems to be fine. Hope this helps.
EThan.

 

[spudnut]

Bad pre-heat relay for yor glow plugs

I had the same problem with my 01 f350 7.3. I went to a powerstroke web site forum and found a thread on this problem. They recomended using a relay from the NAPA store. I think it was less than $25. I have had it in for three years now with no problems. It is easy to check there are 2 relays on your engine. 1 of them is for your preheat. It is up towards the front left side of your engine when you are looking at it. It should come on when you turn on your ignition and stay energized for about 2 minutes. Easy to find and easy to fix and i am by no means a mechanic.

 

[ndC7M8]

Couldn't the HEUI injection system on Fords with 7.3s also be a major factor of poor cold starting? That cold oil, synthetic or not, takes time to get flowing to operate your injectors.