6.0 glow plugs test?

[smuesse]

Does any one happen to know how i could test my Glow plugs on my 6.0 PSD. If i dont let it idle for about 5 minutes when i crank it up after its cooled down its very sluggish and if i try to rev it up it shakes and smokes. Im just wondering if i have a couple bad glow plugs?

[Mar0101]

Did you ever find information on that. My truck takes an hour to warm up completely. I have a 04' 6.0. When I shut it off and start it like twenty minutes later it shakes and miss fires for the next twenty minutes, I get black smoke, and engine cavitation. Could this be a glow plug problem. 84000 miles?

[mschn99]

It doesnt sound like a glow plug issue to me...

the first thing i would do would be to get it to the ford dealer and have the latest reflash put in it.....that fixes 95% of all cold start problems on 6.0's

[Mar0101]

I had the computer flashed, changed the EGR started using fuel additive and it has gotten worse. Ford keeps telling me that if there are no codes that it is bad fuel. It has been in to them three times now. I live in Colorado and the last two winters this truck has been flawless. When I start it it miss fires for about 10 minutes then it falls on its face while I am driving especially in over drive. When the engine temp reaches its proper temp it runs like a top. Lately when I start it in 35 degree weather it dies the first two starts. this has never happened before. Do you have any other suggestions?
thank you
Brian

[mschn99]

well...it could be bad fuel...or water in the fuel.....

if the latest reflash didnt help it....then it sounds to me like your either dealing with a bad injector or two....or possibly oil that is too thick for the weather.....

Id try putting Diesel 10-30 oil in it and try that (make sure its CJ-3 or CJ-4 rated oil)....

the only way to diagnose the injectors is gonna be a power balance test and it takes a pretty high dollar scan tool to do that....

[WEWILLE]

It could very well be glow plugs or even a couple injectors that get sticky when cold. Does it smoke at all? You can test the glow plugs with an clamp ammeter it should be about 20 amps and the amperage will drop when the plugs warm up.

[mschn99]

Originally Posted by WEWILLE

It could very well be glow plugs or even a couple injectors that get sticky when cold. Does it smoke at all? You can test the glow plugs with an clamp ammeter it should be about 20 amps and the amperage will drop when the plugs warm up.

i doubt its glow plugs. He stated the motor runs sluggish untill its warm.....glow plugs are only on for maxium of 90 seconds....that will have no effect on how the motor runs......(it will during the first 30 seconds but not after that)

[WEWILLE]

Yep that makes sence, i guess i wasnt thinkin to hard.

[mschn99]

Originally Posted by WEWILLE

Yep that makes sence, i guess i wasnt thinkin to hard.

there is still the possibility of the glow plug problem....but i would want to see the running issue fixed first cause there is a good chance thats the whole problem...

[smuesse]

The reflash fixed mine, i had Ford Reflash it and run a power balance test to check the injectors. Its been cranking great ever since.