A problem has arisen

dsonyay · Nov 20, 2008

OK, a problem has started with my 6.4.

It has 24000 miles and maintenence is up to date.

When I start the engine in the morning, it starts up fine but idles bad. If I rev it there is a knocking/tapping, or missing sound. Sounds bad. But-- If I shut off the engine and restart the problem is goes away.

It did it a few weeks ago, yesterday, and this morning.

Sounds like a computer error?? Seems like a simple restart wouldn't clear up the problem if it was an actual bad component. That's why I think it's computer related.

Maybe a bad fuel injector or one going bad? I know they are electrically operated too. A restart could also be clearing up that problem.

It's not really cold out here- maybe in the 30s and 40s in the morning, but should I let my glow plug light go out before starting? The owners manual seems to imply its not necessary unless the temps are very cold.
David

yukondiesel · Nov 20, 2008

I always let the glow plug indicator go off. It usually doesn't take NEARLY as long as my old GMC.
In My Humble Opnion: Starting the truck before the indicator goes off just means that the truck is not running on all cylinders until the individual culinder temps are high enough to promote proper fuel ignition (THE purpose of the glow plugs). Is also seem to make sense (to me) that if the trcuk idles for a short time, less than a minute or so it should smooth out as the cylinders come up to temp. Maybe the injectors don't function properly with the fuel if the fuel doesn't like the cold cylinders? I don't know about diesel, but gas WILL come out of vapor (to a liquid) and actually deposit itslef on the cold cylinder and pistons surfaces, causing missing...Just my $02. Try letting the glow plugs complkete their cycle?
Joe

dsonyay · Nov 20, 2008

thanks. I'll try that before going to the dealer.

David

Zookie400 · Nov 20, 2008

there was just a thread on this like a month ago, of course i cant find it. i dont know if it was ever updated with a fix, but another guy was having the same issue. he claimed it would run on one bank randomly, and if he shut it off and restarted it would be perfect. look around the 6.4 section maybe you can find it, and pm the guy to see what happened. i looked quickly but....?

black super 350 · Nov 21, 2008

rough idle

last winter my 7.3 was acting that way. 30 degrees hard start, rough idle.
any colder and it wouldn't start. or maybe start if it sat in hot sun in mid afternoon.
it was a bad glow plug relay! i don't know if the 08s still have one or not.
you should wait for glow plug light to go out before cranking. you can even turn the key off and back on and let glow plugs cycle again to put more heat to cylinders. raw fuel in cold cyl makes rough, smoky idle. :dunno

good luck

2x6 bulldog · Nov 21, 2008

Always let the glow plug light on the dash go out before attempting to start the engine. It will start better and is better on the motor. The skipping and sputtering in the engine is not good on a cold engine when oil pressure to the bearings is still low and building up.

yukondiesel · Nov 21, 2008

black super 350 said:
last winter my 7.3 was acting that way. 30 degrees hard start, rough idle.
any colder and it wouldn't start. or maybe start if it sat in hot sun in mid afternoon.
it was a bad glow plug relay! i don't know if the 08s still have one or not.
you should wait for glow plug light to go out before cranking. you can even turn the key off and back on and let glow plugs cycle again to put more heat to cylinders. raw fuel in cold cyl makes rough, smoky idle.
good luck

Sorry to highjack this thread, BUT: I notied in your signature that you show lift blocks as part of the "off-road" package? I didn't get the off-raod, since I bought my truck out of inventory. I am installing the skid plates and will install the lift blocks as well if they are part of the package. Once again, apologies for th highjack...!!! :sorry

black super 350 · Nov 22, 2008

off-road package

apparently the lift blocks and rear leafs are a matched set on my truck.
i had a set of AIR LIFT overloads i wanted to put on for my 5th wh.
there was not enough clearance from leaf to frame to use them. after talking to techs at air lift, measurements and pics, they said they hadn't seen my setup and had nothing for it. :dizzy

wound up taking the truck to a spring shop and had springs arched and leaf added. cheaper fix and improved ride, so it worked out. :sweet

my springs were almost flat. now slight arch and extra leaf raised height at tailgate about 1 3/4".
truck sits quite abit higher than my 01 dually 4X4 did, and it makes it a little tricky setting up fifth wheel. have to make sure enough landing gear is out to get it off the truck, but enough to retract to level camper. anybody pulling 5th wheel better think about this. real pain you unhook, and got to much extenion on landing gear to retract and get camper level :rant

black super 350 · Nov 22, 2008

i appologize for getting away from dsonyay's starting problems.
if the truck won't start he probably does'nt give a rats *&% about springs and campers

dsonyay · Nov 22, 2008

Hi,
I have not had the problem with rough idle at cold startup. I'm letting the glow plug light go off before starting.

Another thing I'm doing is running the Ford fuel conditioner with each fill up. My engine is running much better, and the mileage has improved noticeably.

Not sure which is responsible, or if both helped the problem, but over the past 2 days the problem has not re-occurred.

A problem has arisen

dsonyay

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