Wont STart in cold weather

[jurban181]

I have a 2000 7.3l and I have changed out all of the glow plugs and glow plug relay, and new batteries. I am still having trouble starting the truck when the temperature drops below 20 degrees, I live in kansas so I am not sure if they mix the fuel here for cold weather. SHouldt the fuel bowl heater warm the fuel enough to stop it from getting gel'd? Currently my truck wont even try to run it just turns over. I have chest all the of volts and ohms and everything is where it is supposed to be. as soon as the temo outside rises above 20 or the sun hits it for a little while it starts right up but with idle rough for 10-15 seconds then smooth out. ANy help would be great

THanks

[bha4424]

what happens if you plug your block heater in

[bha4424]

in it starts up when you do it may be injectors or the glo plug relay is not getting power

[jurban181]

I plug it in every night and it does not help if it gets below 20, honestly I dont think it makes a difference if i plug it in either way. and i ran the volt meter on the relay and I an getting 10-12 volts for 1-2 minutes across the relay when the key is on.

WOuld the injectors just be sticking? or could it actually be think fuel and/or thick oil

[bha4424]

being in texas i use the thick oil i have had a starting problem in the cold because the injectors were leaking down but the block heater helped do you have excessive smoking or does it seem like there is a miss when accelerating

i have heard of thick oil making it hard starting but not that it wont start you could try thin oil and the block heater also is has the fuel filter been changed lately

[bha4424]

how many miles are on the truck

[jurban181]

fuel filter has about 4k on it, glow plugs and relay are about 200 miles old. truck has 250k on it. I plug it in everynight and would think that would be enough to keep the oil warmed up. When i let it sit and let the glow plugs warm up for 30 seconds then turn it off and then back on the turn it over, it just turns, no real smoke is noticable and it never acts like its even trying to fire. I know some of the fleet places around here add a fuel additive to lower the temp at which the fuerl gels at, but they dont plug it in and my fuel bowel heater is working to my knowledge. by that i mean i am not blowing fuses. when the truck does start up it runs without a problem, no miss fires, no extra smoke, really no smoke unless i put the pedal to the floor, my only oil leak is eatiher rear main or the back passenger oil raiol plug since I have changes every other oring in the truck out.

[bha4424]

have you ever replaced the injectors

[bha4424]

it sounds like you are not getting fuel or the injectors are not firing you might take it to the dealer and get a diagnostic run on it an then fix u=it your self or buy this Ford Powerstroke Auto Enginuity Total Scanner Bundle Auto-SP03

[jurban181]

to my knowledge the fuel injectors have never been changed. ok so it could be the fuel getting gel'd over night. ill try to sort that one out first. I just didnt know if the fuel bowl heater should stop that or not