Slow Cooooold Start this morning
 

Hey guys

Had a tough time gettin my 7.3 PSD started this morning. Get plenty of crank but no start. Im assuming the fuel filter or lines gelled up. Finally got it started after about an hour of jump starting.

Is there a fuel additive that prevents gelling or enhances fuel flow in extreme cold temps?

If not, any advice is more than welcome.

Buying a new truck is not an option:drink:

Re: Slow Cooooold Start this morning
 

Easy.... just move south!

Re: Slow Cooooold Start this morning
 

thats not an option either. I wish it was

Re: Slow Cooooold Start this morning
 

Bruce- do you have a block heater? most diesels do, or a crank case heater-

Talk to your Ford dealer, there are additives to help w/ gel.

wannabe

Re: Slow Cooooold Start this morning
 

Yes, when I had my 7.3 I used "diesel fuel supplement, Cetane Boost" Made by Power services. You should be able to get it at any auto parts store, if not try the truck stops. 1 32oz bottle treats like 100 gals.

Re: Slow Cooooold Start this morning
 

I do...but i cant use it. I live in a condo and dont have access to power in the parking lot. I guess i can run a generator all night, which will probably get stoloen in about 10 minutes

Re: Slow Cooooold Start this morning
 

19 degrees this morning, and my 7.3 started right up at 9AM.

I plugged it in at 6AM.

Block heater is a MUST.

Re: Slow Cooooold Start this morning
 

:p :p :p

Re: Slow Cooooold Start this morning
 

Here you go Bruce, this is what you need. You can find it at most auto parts stores. It's good stuff.

For Cold weather:
http://www.powerservice.com/dieselfu...eboost_app.asp

And I use the grey bottle on every fill-up as a cetane booster (better mileage) and is also good for injectors:
http://www.powerservice.com/dieselkleen_cetane_app.asp


But regardless, in really cold weather a block heater is a must.

Re: Slow Cooooold Start this morning
 

Bruce,

Block heater tail should be right behind the grille. Just run an extention cord out the window and plug it in for a couple hours. It will start right up. I was able to get my '01 7.3L to start in 5* temp. It moaned, groaned, and took awhile, but it started.

Re: Slow Cooooold Start this morning
 

thankyou

Re: Slow Cooooold Start this morning
 

They also make a product that will un-gel fuel that has already turned into gel. I used it yesterday in my International. It still didn't start.

All the 6.0L Ford's have block heaters but you have to buy the cord from Ford; they don't include it. I'm not sure about the 7.3s.

Re: Slow Cooooold Start this morning
 

picked up the power service additive, put about 16 oz in and filled the tank. ran the truck around a bit to mix it into the fuel lines and filter. Lets see what happens at 5:30 am:eek:

Re: Slow Cooooold Start this morning
 

Brian mentions a 6am plug-in for 9am use. Is there a minimum or maximum timeframe you should allow for this to be plugged in? In other words, if I plugged it in tonight, is that safe for the engine? I like to sleep in :)

Re: Slow Cooooold Start this morning
 

It was minus 1 this morning. Went out and cycled the Ex one time and it cranked for 4 or 5 seconds and caught. Went over to the other one. Same thing. No block heater, no additives.

And people complain about the 6.0...

Re: Slow Cooooold Start this morning
 

My 04 6.0 F250 started right up ...no heater no problem. It was my 97 Van 7.3PSD with 195k miles that didnt start. No problems in the coldest previous years. Im assuming I either had some water in the filter or the filter gelled up. We'll see in the am.

Re: Slow Cooooold Start this morning
 

It's not the fuel...u live in jersey, not alaska...my '97 f-350 did the same thing...I would turn the key to start but not crank and leave it there til wait to start goes out and then turn it off and do the same about 7-8 times and then fire it up...got sick of that and put new glow plugs in and then no problem...the block heater is nice when the glow plugs are spent or for the instant heat...I just bought a new duramax and it's been 0 degrees here the last week and it fires up every day,no heater , no additives.

Re: Slow Cooooold Start this morning
 

6.0, 6 degrees, no heater fired right up, i use Amsoil diesel treatment and cetane boost about every other tank, Amsoil also makes cold flow, put about 4 ounces in the day before suppose to be in the low teens at night all week here, just being a little careful.
and bye the way the Amsoil boost and treatment smell pretty cool too;)

Re: Slow Cooooold Start this morning
 

I had a transmission customer with a whipped out 97 ford 7.3,wouldn't barely start if it got below 20 degrees out. While we were rebuilding his trans we threw a set of glow plugs in and a new glow plug relay (less than 200$ for everything if I remember correctly),it starts like new down to zero degrees as long as his fuel isn't gelled up even when not plugged in,Smitty

Re: Slow Cooooold Start this morning
 

5:35am 13*


The Beast started right up. :evilb: