99 F250 Stalling Out, Cold Weather. Block heater?

[stlouissux9119]

The block heater went out on me a few days ago, haven't had a chance to replace it (or clean the terminals to see if it was that) but I don't think this is the issue. I went out to start my truck this morning after not having it plugged in. I let the glow plugs kick in and after the light went off it started up. It started up fine, NO hard starting. I switched my tuner to high idle (6 pos TS Performance) and went in the house. I probably didn't let it warm up adequately enough as I only let it run for about 3 minutes. It was about 30 degrees farenheit all night so I don't believe fuel could've gelled. As I pulled down the street there was a lack of power at the pedal as usual until it warms up a little. As I began driving it stalled on me. Started it back up and a cloud of white smoke (noramlly what happens when it stalls) puffed out. Then it happened 3 times and I decided it was best if I take it home. So here's what i've come down to:

1. Glow Plugs, Probably not as it didn't hard start;
2. Fuel Filter, Probably could use a change, maybe do this tonight?
3. Gelled Fuel, Never had an issue in any of my diesel owning and never added an additive. It was only 30 F so I have kind of ruled this out
4. High Pressure Oil Pump: I had low pressure about 6 months ago but I asked somebody who knew more than me and he said the pump should last another 2-3 years until it really ****s out
5. Just didn't let it warm up, well I guess that's a possibility but in the past i've never had an issue with it. I usually can not plug it in, start it up, and drive within a minute (I know I shouldn't but if i'm in a rush, it can)


So i'm pretty much stumped. I'm going to have my friend come over with his OBD code reader tonight and see if I have any codes but I don't want to drop $500 into a HPOP to find out it wasn't the issue. Plus, I don't know if I can replace myself. I heard it was pretty difficult.

Also how hard is it to replace the block heater? I heard it might just be the cord. Any info= appreciated

[stlouissux9119]

Originally Posted by stlouissux9119

The block heater went out on me a few days ago, haven't had a chance to replace it (or clean the terminals to see if it was that) but I don't think this is the issue. I went out to start my truck this morning after not having it plugged in. I let the glow plugs kick in and after the light went off it started up. It started up fine, NO hard starting. I switched my tuner to high idle (6 pos TS Performance) and went in the house. I probably didn't let it warm up adequately enough as I only let it run for about 3 minutes. It was about 30 degrees farenheit all night so I don't believe fuel could've gelled. As I pulled down the street there was a lack of power at the pedal as usual until it warms up a little. As I began driving it stalled on me. Started it back up and a cloud of white smoke (noramlly what happens when it stalls) puffed out. Then it happened 3 times and I decided it was best if I take it home. So here's what i've come down to:

1. Glow Plugs, Probably not as it didn't hard start;
2. Fuel Filter, Probably could use a change, maybe do this tonight?
3. Gelled Fuel, Never had an issue in any of my diesel owning and never added an additive. It was only 30 F so I have kind of ruled this out
4. High Pressure Oil Pump: I had low pressure about 6 months ago but I asked somebody who knew more than me and he said the pump should last another 2-3 years until it really ****s out
5. Just didn't let it warm up, well I guess that's a possibility but in the past i've never had an issue with it. I usually can not plug it in, start it up, and drive within a minute (I know I shouldn't but if i'm in a rush, it can)


So i'm pretty much stumped. I'm going to have my friend come over with his OBD code reader tonight and see if I have any codes but I don't want to drop $500 into a HPOP to find out it wasn't the issue. Plus, I don't know if I can replace myself. I heard it was pretty difficult.

Also how hard is it to replace the block heater? I heard it might just be the cord. Any info= appreciated

Also I was thinking possible camshaft position sensor? Any ideas are greatly appreciated.

[ZMANN]

Well since it fired I would rule out glow plugs ,

and you should be able to drive right away once it started,

I also tend to agree it wasn't fuel GEl at that temp


so I would almost suspect oil or fuel delivery .. getting it scanned is a good plan

u can check the block heater for resistance if it's open it's toast and you will likely want to do a coolant change while you drain it if it's old

[stlouissux9119]

Originally Posted by ZMANN

Well since it fired I would rule out glow plugs ,

and you should be able to drive right away once it started,

I also tend to agree it wasn't fuel GEl at that temp


so I would almost suspect oil or fuel delivery .. getting it scanned is a good plan

u can check the block heater for resistance if it's open it's toast and you will likely want to do a coolant change while you drain it if it's old

Thanks for your help. I'm going to try letting it warm up later and see if that is the issue. I was also going to replace the fuel filter I believe. I'm going to hunt around the forum and see if I can find a thread on how to do that. HPOP, Clogged Injector, any other ideas in terms of oil/fuel delivery?

[stlouissux9119]

Let the truck adequately warm up and then took it for a drive. Was good for about 2 minutes then it began hiccuping and stalling. YES it is now hiccuping. When it hiccups, when it catches back up there is a slight cloud of white smoke signaling to me that oil is getting burned? Well now i'm confused. Sounding more and more like the CPS but I don't know. It was new just 5 months ago! It has the service engine soon light on so my buds going to get my code for me tonight. How would I know if it's misfiring, not running on 1 cylinder, sounding like HPOP?

[steven91]

May not be your issue but we found out with my truck that during the winter, if I dont run over full on my oil the truck stalls. My dad said the pick up for the heui might not be low enough or something. But your issue sounds a little different, if I let my truck warm up it would run fine, else id drive it hardly a mile or two and it would just kill