Its plugged in, anti gel in fuel, still real hard to start.

[F350oldskool]

hey i got a 97 350 and i put glow plugs in a lil less than a year ago i always use my anti gel in the fuel and plug it in every night. but when i gets real cold. it was about -8 at night it takes so long to start that i sometimes kill the batteries. lots and lots of white smoke. bad injectors? glow plugs? im confused on what it could be. i know my furl pump is leaking pretty bad just need time to change it. could it be a fuel pressure problem??

[85_305]

Sounds like a GP or GPR problem.

How many times do you cycle your GP's? Do you plug in at night? Our hpop-driven HEUI powerstrokes dont like the cold because they have to build oil pressure in order to start, and when it gets as cold as -8*, it makes the oil thick as mollasses and makes the truck not want to start.

[baderic03]

My truck is the same way I just keep it plugged in over night and starts rate up instantly in the am

[madpogue]

Originally Posted by 85_305

How many times do you cycle your GP's?

"Cycle" the glow plugs? How? You realize that when you turn the key to RUN, when the engine is fully cold, the glow plugs will run for up to two minutes.

GP/GPR tests: with the key off, one "big" terminal should have full battery voltage and the other should have no voltage. With the key in RUN, both big terminals should have voltage (it'll be less, usu. around 11-11.5), and the voltage on the "always hot" one should only be slightly higher than the other. If the difference between them is more than 0.3V, the GP relay is suspect.

To check the GPs, disconnect one of the valve cover harnesses and connect an ohmmeter between either "outer" terminal and a ground. Resistance should be between 0.6 and 2.0 ohms. Do the same on the other "outer" terminal, and in turn, on the other three harness connectors.

When it does start, the voltmeter on the dash should read left-of-center for 90 seconds or so, and then move right-of-center. You can confirm this by measuring the voltage at one of the batteries with a voltmeter.

[F350oldskool]

Originally Posted by 85_305

Sounds like a GP or GPR problem.

How many times do you cycle your GP's? Do you plug in at night? Our hpop-driven HEUI powerstrokes dont like the cold because they have to build oil pressure in order to start, and when it gets as cold as -8*, it makes the oil thick as mollasses and makes the truck not want to start.

i do sometimes but hate to say that i dont everytime lol. ya that makes sense. i guess its justr something i gotta deal with being in the cold thanks for your help

[F350oldskool]

Originally Posted by madpogue

"Cycle" the glow plugs? How? You realize that when you turn the key to RUN, when the engine is fully cold, the glow plugs will run for up to two minutes.

GP/GPR tests: with the key off, one "big" terminal should have full battery voltage and the other should have no voltage. With the key in RUN, both big terminals should have voltage (it'll be less, usu. around 11-11.5), and the voltage on the "always hot" one should only be slightly higher than the other. If the difference between them is more than 0.3V, the GP relay is suspect.

To check the GPs, disconnect one of the valve cover harnesses and connect an ohmmeter between either "outer" terminal and a ground. Resistance should be between 0.6 and 2.0 ohms. Do the same on the other "outer" terminal, and in turn, on the other three harness connectors.

When it does start, the voltmeter on the dash should read left-of-center for 90 seconds or so, and then move right-of-center. You can confirm this by measuring the voltage at one of the batteries with a voltmeter.

ok ill have to check that. if something is bad will it show more resistance or less?

[madpogue]

Originally Posted by F350oldskool

if something is bad will it show more resistance or less?

Either way. More resistance means it's not drawing as much current (V=IR...), thus not heating up. Infinite resistance means it's broken (or the wiring to it is broken) and not heating at all. Lower or zero resistance means it's shorting.

[atvrider93]

if you just put glowplugs in they should be fine as long as you used a decent brand. if I had to guess I would say your glow plug relay is at fault. check the voltage on that before anything else.

[66Bronco]

Check the glow plug system as stated. If all checks out, check your hpop pressure.

[madpogue]

^^^^^ Speaking of which, consider the lube oil pressure ("LPOP") as well. Since it takes so long cranking, it should, after, oh, 4-5 seconds, register on the dash "gauge".

And speaking further of which, how's the oil level? And how old is it? Might also be worth pulling the top plug on the HPOP reservoir and peering in to observe the level.