No RPM on fireup

[hazardiz]

Hey,
lately when I've been firing up my diesel in the somewhat colder temps, 5 and down, for the first minute or two of driving the RPMs won't go over 1200 rpm...even if i put my foot to the floor...and then if i hold it at one spot the rpms bounce around a bunch for about 20 seconds and then it comes to life again...any ideas? bad sensor? Thanks

[SMOKESTROKE]

Do you give it plenty of time to warm up? Reason i say that is i have a 95 powerstroke that is one my companies work trucks and its the same way. If you dont give it atleast 20 to 30 minutes to idle and warm up on cold days (about the temps you mentioned) you have no rpm for a few miles down the road then i guess once it totally warm up its fine. Dont know i guess it cold be a sensor or somthin??

[ianstew]

if you plug it in does it still do it?

[hazardiz]

if its plugged in it comes to life quicker but still takes a bit...which i'm not sure is right...why does it do it? oil still to thick?...but remember my temps are in celsius being in canada...

[dmd]

If it starts then the glow plugs are fine at that temp... What oil do you use?

[hazardiz]

well it doesn't enjoy starting but it does...seems like its only firing on half the injectors for 3-5 seconds...i'm running 15-40

[matter]

i'm not sure what causes it, but as a precaution, plug it in ..... and let it warm up, 15w40 at 35-40degrees is just thicker than molasses.....

[elibenson]

That is absolutely perfectly normal for your truck. It is there to prevent bonehead gasoline drivers from wrecking a cold diesel when it's really cold out side. You should let it do it's thing and give it plenty of time to warm up before you drive it.

Another thing you might notice is that your truck has a computerized high idle when it gets really really cold. If you start the truck and let it sit, the engine will rev up to about 1200 or so and sit there till it's warm enough to go back to regular idle.

[dieselcrawler]

Both my trucks do that... the van more so, it's a real slug untill it's warmed up. The van also doesn't have a block heater (yet, I just bought one, need to install it) and needs 10 to 15 min of warm up time or it won't move... hardly get into it's own way, let alone out of it's own way! The truck is a bit better, but yeah, if I don't plug it in, and it's cold, as in below 10 deg F, it doesn't like to start, you gotta hold the accel pedal part way down, cycle the glow plugs a few times, and hope it fires. It will frequently stall and need restarted if it's that cold. So I just make sure it's pluged in if it's below freezing. I like the idea of things being warm in the first place, I'm sure it helps with the wear and tear of a start up being at 60+ deg rather than below freezing with out "the rope" as some are callin' it now!

So, bottom line... plug it in if you can, other wise, let the poor cold beast warm up a bit...

[hazardiz]

so the computer just limits fuel until it feels the engine is warm enough? I'm trying to understand the mechanics now cause obviously its an intended event and i'm not the only one...yipee...the issue with plugging it in is my land lady turns off the breaker to the plug to save money...yeah don't get me started...well thanks for the replies...another question...in the winter would I be better off running a thinner oil or maybe a full synthetic? i'm thinkin that'd help....