Winter is here! Thoughts on cold, hard starts?

[tbrumm]

Well, winter is certainly here as it was 5° this morning. I haven't started my truck for a couple of days as I was deer hunting, but thought I would try it and see how she would do without being plugged in. Well, it started but it took some cranking and letting the starter cool for 30 sec. in between. She finally started on the third try. Now, I normally drive the truck every day during the winter, and plug it in every night and the timer kicks the block heater on 3 hours before I start it. It starts instantly this way! But I can't plug it in at work, so it is always a cold start at night when I leave to go home. I rebuilt my glow plug harness this summer and all beru plugs are working. The WTS light stays on for 12-14 sec. when its this cold. Batteries are new Interstates and starter is about 1 year old Powermaster. In other words, she is cranking fast enough. It has always taken some cranking when its this cold and not plugged in, but after I redid the glow plug harness and put in new batteries, I guess I was expecting better results. I don't think its air intrusion as it starts great plugged in, and starts great when the temp is above 30°. I don't expect instant starts at 5° as it is a diesel afterall, but I don't think it should take 3 cranking cycles either. Now, other than replacing the return caps, o-rings, hose, the fuel system is original with 80k in it. the IP timing is still set at the factory mark too. Do you think a small advance on the timing might help ("dimes thickness")? I nornally don't open throttle while cranking (other than setting the fast idle) as it normally starts so quick I can't hardly get off the key fast enough. Should I maybe push the throttle part way down while cranking? I always switch to 10W30 diesel rated oil for winter, but the 15W40 is still in there right now so I know that is a factor. I appreciate your thought, Guys!

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

About the only real remedy for a better chance of starting under dire straits is MORE BATTERIES.

There is only a given amount of capacity (some call it amp-hours reserve) in a battery; add a battery and that capacity doubles; add another battery and you have triple the reserve that the one battery had; and so forth and so on; the more, the better.

I have a graph somewhere that shows a battery's available cranking power and reserve to be 100% at 80* American; and, that graph shows the drop in % available power for every 10* drop in temperature; I can't remember the particulars, but a battery has lost something like half it's 80* ability at 20*.



Find somewhere on the truck to add more batteries and your cold-weather chances will be much more promising.


That's what I would do.

 

[kc0stp]

Well couple things, battery cable condition? Timing? (needs a new IP btw, these things only last 75k if your lucky). Factory directions call for full throttle below freezing but its highly debated if that helps or not. IMHO down to single digits it should instant start (and technically down to I think -15 F but that was factory new)

 

[79jasper]

I always cranked mine at full throttle.

Sent from my USCC-C6721 using Tapatalk

 

[89Laredo]

Mine is not in the best condition but a good shot of ether, pedal to the floor, and like 10 seconds of cranking usually gets it started.
no glow plugs or block heater and it started at 8* yesterday morning.

 

[franklin2]

When you stop cranking, are you cycling the glowplugs again? And is the controller turning them on again for any length of time? That's why I like my manual pushbutton. I can cycle them, crank it over, and then push the button again for what I think is correct, and then crank it again. You can get to "know" your truck and what it requires as far as glow time with the manual button.

 

[Kevin 007]

Once it starts, what colour of smoke is it producing? If any. If it stays whiteish for a while I would bet that you pump timing is retarded or pump is worn out. At those temps, it should be a puff of blue for a second or two and then nothing....IMHO.

 

[kc0stp]

Once it starts, what colour of smoke is it producing? If any. If it stays whiteish for a while I would bet that you pump timing is retarded or pump is worn out. At those temps, it should be a puff of blue for a second or two and then nothing....IMHO.

Depends on if its firing on all cylinders...once its running on all 8 your correct but these trucks can easily run on fewer cylinders but smoke like a chimney when they do.

 

[tbrumm]

Once it starts, what colour of smoke is it producing? If any. If it stays whiteish for a while I would bet that you pump timing is retarded or pump is worn out. At those temps, it should be a puff of blue for a second or two and then nothing....IMHO.

When it starts, their is breif puff of blue smoke form ther unburned fuel and then it immediately clears up. I don't think my IP is shot as the truck runs great otherwise, and any temp. over about 15° start almost immediately without being plugged in.

 

[tbrumm]

When you stop cranking, are you cycling the glowplugs again? And is the controller turning them on again for any length of time? That's why I like my manual pushbutton. I can cycle them, crank it over, and then push the button again for what I think is correct, and then crank it again. You can get to "know" your truck and what it requires as far as glow time with the manual button.

Yes, I am cycling the GP's again after cranking and waiting a bit to let the starter cool. WTS light stays on for 5-6 sec. on the subsequent cycles.

Thanks for all the input Guys! I am going to try bumping the timing a bit and see if that helps. I will also be switching to 10W30 diesel rated oil very soon.

 

[Ruger_556]

Electric fuel pump helps a ton if not already installed

 

[jayro88]

I would check your timing. Then maybe think about an new IP and injectors if they are worn. I had this issue on my '88 e250 since I bought it last summer. All the GP were functioning correctly, but it still didn't want to start when cold. I replaced the IP and injectors since they had 125K on them. Now it fires off right away....even though my high idle/cold advance isn't working.

As far as throttle during starting, I think the manual says in freezing temperatures you are supposed to give it quite a bit of throttle while cranking.......about 3/4 if my memories serves.

I also added an electric fuel pump, but I don't think it does anything to help with cold starts. Mostly priming and air intrusion issues.

 

[IDIDieselJohn]

Sounds like your IDI needs abit of attention.

Heres my 420k mile van starting 2 days ago at 5*F.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-cW0GF0Big


Single glow of plugs, 14 seconds, all she needed

 

[GOOSE]

A healthy IP makes a world of difference. I have two shot glow plugs and had to cycle twice the other day after the truck sat for a week, was in the low 30's. Everyone else was surprised that the old rig started so fast, I was embarrassed. It will start with one crankshaft revolution down into the low teens Fahrenheit with all the gp's working, I have spare Berus in my console waiting to bring the system back up to *****.

 

[Moretorque]

My first 30 degree start today and it lite right up but smokes white for about 30 seconds or a minute. Any input?