Hard Cold Starts - F-Series & SuperDuty Diesel Forums

jckilpat · 01-10-2012, 04:05 PM

Been working in MD and have had a few issues. Few months ago had the fuel bowl heater short out and now with it in the 30's in the morning the 7.3 is real hard to start. Normally taking 4 to 5 cycles of the GPR before it will turn over. And, once it does getting white/gray smoke.

I took the truck to my local Ford guys and here is their analysis. Glow-plugs in #2 and #8 are bad. And, clogged/gummy fuel injectors. To replace all 8 glow-plugs and injectors ..........$5500.

Kick in the teeth is I am sure I can replace all of these myself if I had my truck back at my house in FL. Of course it doesn't get cold enough to have these issues in FL.

Let me know all thoughts and options. Also, if anyone has recently replaced both how long it took them.

Thanks everyone!!!!!

jckilpat · 01-10-2012, 04:14 PM

Oh one more bit on information. The 7.3 has 185,000 miles on it with original glow-plugs and injectors.

Tail_Gunner · 01-10-2012, 04:22 PM

You can test individual glow plugs yourself with an ohm meter thru the wire harness without taking the valve cover off. An open circuit would indicate either a bad glow plug or something else in that circuit.

Don't overlook the glow plug relay. After a while they like to get weak. My old truck started getting hard to start a couple of years after putting new injectors and glow plugs in. I put in a new Stancor HD contactor/relay to replace the old OEM glow plug relay. It made a BIG difference when starting it in the morning.

jckilpat · 01-10-2012, 04:42 PM

I replaced the GPR last spring when I replaced the batteries. But I have thought about doing the Stancor for a long time now.

JLDickmon · 01-11-2012, 06:44 AM

you could replace the glow plugs yourself with a basic of hand tools (wrenches, sockets, ratchets, swivels, extensions) and run some Sea Foam through the fuel tank and try that.. see if you can get it by until you can get home... just a thought...

jckilpat · 01-14-2012, 09:56 PM

Thanks all for the suggestions. I changed the oil, went to 10w30, and ran a can of sea foam through it as well. It was 29 this morning and the 250 started right up. Suppose to be 20 tonight, so we will see how it does in the morning.

iracemine · 01-15-2012, 07:16 AM

yeah, I just put 10w 30 in for the first time ever. cant believe the difference 5w's make!

If I knew that stuff existed 5 years ago I would have been using it from the start.

01-10-2012, 04:05 PM	#1
jckilpat SDD Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Melboune, FL Posts: 19 Thanks: 5 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hard Cold Starts Been working in MD and have had a few issues. Few months ago had the fuel bowl heater short out and now with it in the 30's in the morning the 7.3 is real hard to start. Normally taking 4 to 5 cycles of the GPR before it will turn over. And, once it does getting white/gray smoke. I took the truck to my local Ford guys and here is their analysis. Glow-plugs in #2 and #8 are bad. And, clogged/gummy fuel injectors. To replace all 8 glow-plugs and injectors ..........$5500. Kick in the teeth is I am sure I can replace all of these myself if I had my truck back at my house in FL. Of course it doesn't get cold enough to have these issues in FL. Let me know all thoughts and options. Also, if anyone has recently replaced both how long it took them. Thanks everyone!!!!! __________________ 2001 F-250 Lariat Crew Cab 4x4, Bully Dog 4 stage chip, 4" exhaust, AFE intake, and full gauge pod

01-10-2012, 04:22 PM	#3
Tail_Gunner CRJ & ERJ A&P Mech. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Da U.P. Posts: 1,915 Thanks: 97 Thanked 133 Times in 109 Posts View Photos By: Tail_Gunner	You can test individual glow plugs yourself with an ohm meter thru the wire harness without taking the valve cover off. An open circuit would indicate either a bad glow plug or something else in that circuit. Don't overlook the glow plug relay. After a while they like to get weak. My old truck started getting hard to start a couple of years after putting new injectors and glow plugs in. I put in a new Stancor HD contactor/relay to replace the old OEM glow plug relay. It made a BIG difference when starting it in the morning. __________________ Kent FAA certificated A&P mechanic. Graduate of NMU School of Aviation Maintenance Technology. Retired USAF MSgt (E-7) (09/74-10/94) B-52 Gunner/Flight Examiner, 3600+ Flight Hours B-52 Crew Chief Share holding owner Green Bay Packers!! NEW RIDE: 2011 GMC 2500HD DURAMAX/ ALLISON EC/SB, Leer truck cap, Luverne running boards, Rhino liner. WeatherTech floor mats, Remote Start, Edge Insight, backup camera and OEM fog lights. Engine is 100% stock (For now ) SOLD: F-250 early 99 4x4 SD SC longbed, 99.5 PCM, Stage 1 Single Shot Injectors, Dominator 66 turbo from Bean's, Adrenaline HPOP, 99.5+, 6.0 Intercooler, BTS Trans w/ V-10 trans cooelr, MBRP T-304 Stainless 4" exhaust, Ford Air Intake System, Coolant Filter, BD Exhaust Brake, BD TorqLoc, Dynatrac Hub Conversion, 285/75R16 tires. Tuned by Powerhungry Performance- Whisper mode, Fuel Sipper, 65hp Towing, 100 Performance, 120 Racing and a modified stock tune. Tail_gunner's Web shots

01-10-2012, 04:42 PM	#4
jckilpat SDD Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Melboune, FL Posts: 19 Thanks: 5 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I replaced the GPR last spring when I replaced the batteries. But I have thought about doing the Stancor for a long time now. __________________ 2001 F-250 Lariat Crew Cab 4x4, Bully Dog 4 stage chip, 4" exhaust, AFE intake, and full gauge pod

01-11-2012, 06:44 AM	#5
JLDickmon ursus combibo Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: 49041 Posts: 3,796 Thanks: 37 Thanked 265 Times in 249 Posts View Photos By: JLDickmon	you could replace the glow plugs yourself with a basic of hand tools (wrenches, sockets, ratchets, swivels, extensions) and run some Sea Foam through the fuel tank and try that.. see if you can get it by until you can get home... just a thought... __________________ John '99 F250 7.3L auto 4wd CC/SB

01-14-2012, 09:56 PM	#6
jckilpat SDD Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Melboune, FL Posts: 19 Thanks: 5 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks all for the suggestions. I changed the oil, went to 10w30, and ran a can of sea foam through it as well. It was 29 this morning and the 250 started right up. Suppose to be 20 tonight, so we will see how it does in the morning. __________________ 2001 F-250 Lariat Crew Cab 4x4, Bully Dog 4 stage chip, 4" exhaust, AFE intake, and full gauge pod

01-10-2012, 04:14 PM	#2
jckilpat SDD Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Melboune, FL Posts: 19 Thanks: 5 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Oh one more bit on information. The 7.3 has 185,000 miles on it with original glow-plugs and injectors. __________________ 2001 F-250 Lariat Crew Cab 4x4, Bully Dog 4 stage chip, 4" exhaust, AFE intake, and full gauge pod

01-15-2012, 07:16 AM	#7
iracemine black and tan Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cheese Curtain Posts: 914 Thanks: 46 Thanked 44 Times in 40 Posts	yeah, I just put 10w 30 in for the first time ever. cant believe the difference 5w's make! If I knew that stuff existed 5 years ago I would have been using it from the start. __________________ coolant filter (dieselsite), CCV Mod (home made), 4" MBRP turbo back (dieselsite), turbo temp monitor (ISSPROdieselsite), DIY triple gauge kit (ITPdeisel), "fuel filler mod" (home made), stock 7.3 99.5' 2WD W/ more power than I need. Be green... drink kegged beer! www.micromatic.com you'll thank me

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