Well I went through this last winter and brought the truck to the dealer. Truck seemed great for the rest of last winter but now its back to its old tricks. I got the inductive heating flash last time, buzzes when I first turn the key. BUT its really not liking the cold weather, so I am starting to think glow plugs could be at fault or maybe there is something I am unaware of that could cause similar problems.
For example this morning 20° and it took a good 3 tries to get it to fire over and then another 10seconds for the idle to smooth out. I got in the truck and turned the key on and let the WTS light go out, then turn off and on again and fired it after the second WTS light went out, this got me nothing caught and I released the key when it caught and it died. Cycled the key 2 more times and again same deal, then on the third time let the light go out once and this time it lit. Ran rough for about 10 seconds which is better than last winter, and smoothed out.
Oh and I have been noticing a very light bit of blue and black/brown haze for the first couple of seconds after it fires, and then its mostly a good white smoke for about a minute or so and then clean burning.
Searching I did on here didn't give me anything for testing or checking the plugs. I don't have a SCT or anything to read codes and don't have any warning lights. Just wondering if there is any easy way to check if the plugs are working, or if there could be something else causing the problem.
My truck is starting slow too, but I believe it's my batteries, gotta check them. I have been told that the glow plugs will cycle for 2 minutes then stop total. so cycling the key really doesn't do anything.
Yea I think I have heard that too, not sure why I still do it, guess its just an old habit or something, or gives me an idea on how much time has passed lol.
Batteries seem fine, oh and forgot to mention I am running Valvoline 15w-40, and am due for a chance in about 1,000 miles.
I've been thinking about it, but its gotta be more than just oil I would think, and its only 20° wonder how bad it will be when it soaks overnight in the single digits. 5w is only available in synthetic right?
I have yet to plug it in, but I would imagine it would start fine. Last winter it was most certainly firing over with 1 and at some points even 2 cylinders down and then after about 10-30 seconds they would com online and it would smooth right out. It seems about the same now, just not quite as bad, maybe a cylinder down for about 5-10 seconds and then smooths right out.
It only costs about $10/month to plug it in for 3 hrs a day before you start it. $0.45/day is a small price to pay for instant heat and when fuel prices are high, you will more than save that much in fuel used for warm up time.
5w40 will help if you have cylinders dropping out on cold starts, but it may not be the ultimate answer. The inductive heating strategy makes the biggest improvement.
Oh believe me I am all for plugging it in, just gotta convince my dad for it ointlaugh:
Truck already has the inductive heating strategy as far as I know, so I am probably gonna retry and plug in discussion at home and see what he says and get 5w40 this time around.
Oh and has anyone noticed 7.3L starting better in the cold versus the 6.0's? Seems our 7.3L will fire over no problem eve in single digits. Gotta try the other 6.0L and see how it starts up in the cold to see if there is something really going on with mine other than just sucking lol.
Honestly it sounds like you have several weak injectors if the spool valves are sticking even with the inductive heat strategy. The 5w40 may or may not help if it's that bad, but you can't go wrong with the 5w. There is a night and day difference between 15w and 5w in my 06.
As far as plugging it in, get yourself a Christmas light timer and plug into that. Mine comes on at 3:30 am and I leave the house at 6:30 am. No worries about the cost of plugging it in all night or forgetting to unplug it if you don't go anywhere.
My 6.0 starts in single digits as well or better than any 7.3 I've been around. As long as all your glow plugs are working, you don't have any injectors issues and the batteries are strong, it should start like a champ well below 0. Even in low single digits without plugging it in, mine doesn't crank very long at all. I started it at 17* on Saturday morning without plugging it in and it only did the romp romp romp for less than 5 seconds.
Honestly it sounds like you have several weak injectors if the spool valves are sticking even with the inductive heat strategy. The 5w40 may or may not help if it's that bad, but you can't go wrong with the 5w. There is a night and day difference between 15w and 5w in my 06.
As far as plugging it in, get yourself a Christmas light timer and plug into that. Mine comes on at 3:30 am and I leave the house at 6:30 am. No worries about the cost of plugging it in all night or forgetting to unplug it if you don't go anywhere.
This was my original plan and still got shot down lol. Dad has always been rough on the trucks will not even let the WTS light come on unless its down in the 20's just cranks it over and if it don't start he will give it a second and if it starts rough no worries.
My 6.0 starts in single digits as well or better than any 7.3 I've been around. As long as all your glow plugs are working, you don't have any injectors issues and the batteries are strong, it should start like a champ well below 0. Even in low single digits without plugging it in, mine doesn't crank very long at all. I started it at 17* on Saturday morning without plugging it in and it only did the romp romp romp for less than 5 seconds.
Yea my main concern now is trying to find a way to test the glow plugs. Would feel better narrowing down the culprits one by one. our buddies was the same way and mine was pretty good last winter after it got reflashed. Doesn't crank long and batteries are strong just seems like it's hard building heat, when it first starts. Otherwise truck runs great.
I don't understand why he wouldn't let you plug it in... Im sorry but that has got to be the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Just give hime $10 bucks a month for electricity costs, it would be worth it.
haha thats what I was thinking lol. Like I said he has always been hard on trucks and its one thing I have inherited, but plugging the truck in to me is just a good thing to do. We also don't have cable tv due to his dislike for monthly bills LOL
Way I see it if the truck is starting hard I would much rather be able to let it start smoothly and not shake itself apart or cause some extra wear on the cylinder walls or something. In our years of owning diesel trucks and other equipment none of them have ever gotten plugged in, oh and warming up is done in gear while ya head up the road lol. His 7.3L has 130k or so on it and runs just like its brand new, can't quite say the same for the poor truck though lol.
Thanks for the tips on where to buy it, certainly better than the discounted $60 price I got from the dealer.
I definitely don't have it, was the first thing I looked for when I brought my truck home, even got a picture of the element in the block with nothing connected to it. :doh:
Just switched mine to 5w40 and it loves it. So Id say go for it.
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