Hard start on WMO. Symptoms and causes - Diesel Forum

AlphaChicken · 07-29-2012, 11:06 AM

So I'm turning out quality fuel now and my truck runs fine on it, but I'm having the hardest time getting her started on it. It's 70 degrees out and I went to pull my truck around the block to park in the alley and I wasn't sure I was gonna get it started. Once I did it runs fine.

Viscosity? To MUCH gasoline? Low Cetane?

I have to use my glow plugs even on days it's 100 but only for about 5 seconds. And I'm not getting any blow by when I take the oil cap off and there's no dirty gasses porting through the CDR valve based on how clean my intake manifold is under the filter so I don't suspect bad rings. Can you have low compression even without symptoms like that?

I guess I'm gonna have to start blending with kerosene or install a pre heating filter. I like the looks of this one.
http://vimeo.com/33632854

mtrans · 07-29-2012, 03:29 PM

Viscosity? To MUCH gasoline? Low Cetane?
On IDI hard to think,put clear lines before and after IP to see any air,than you start is any smoke?
ps.http://www.dieselveg.com/heat_exchangers.htm

**F250Truckin** · 07-31-2012, 07:50 AM

How much smoke are you getting? How long since you changed the fuel filter? I have been completely unable to start (when way out of town) when I had a dirty fuel filter.

AlphaChicken · 07-31-2012, 10:55 AM

I put a new filter on about two weeks ago before I started running WMO. Getting no smoke when running on the highway unless I'm going uphill. I get a little during stop and go driving.

theandyman · 08-01-2012, 07:33 AM

can you describe your hot starts and warm starts?

i don't know what kind of mix you are running, but i would lean out the wmo (or rug) on your next batch to see if that helps. you have pretty much the same engine as me. i'm running 50/50 (no rug, no additives) right now and my truck starts perfectly cold or hot. my truck starts poorly (or doesn't start at all warm) on straight d2 due to a worn out injector pump.

so yeah, i'd play with the fuel before looking into fuel delivery (inj pump, injectors, lift pump) or heat (compression, glow plugs).

AlphaChicken · 08-01-2012, 09:48 AM

It was a nice warm day yesterday around 90+ and when I left work it started right up. As opposed to the 70 degree day where I had to crank and crank. I'm running 80/15 with some power service cetane boost and a couple gallons of diesel on a full tank. Once it's started it runs fine with very little haze at idle. The difference seems to be the ambient temperature.

As I would like to run straight WMO I think the solution is a heated filter assembly.

I did some research on bunker oil and based on what I read straight WMO is somewhere between #4 & #5 heating oil which is almost always preheated to improve it atomization characteristics. What I read was that it was heated to between 175-225 degrees before being introduced into the combustion chamber.

A heated fuel filter attached to my coolant lines should put me right up around 190 degrees which is perfect. I want to go with a electric wrap as well for initial startup.

Thoughts?

**F250Truckin** · 08-01-2012, 10:25 AM

I would think that would give you the heat you need. After all, once it gets in the engine, the heads are going to give it a big boost on temp. The preheating will have it right where you want it. I'm not at all sure you are going to be able to burn straight WMO, but I will be watching for your results.

mtrans · 08-02-2012, 02:36 PM

You can upgrade w ILH - injrctor line heaters,you can bump 100 c w/o problem,and there is place you want as mach c as you can.

AlphaChicken · 08-09-2012, 10:11 AM

Another cold morning and rough start. 68 degrees and it took everything it had to get going. I even replaced a bad battery yesterday and am running a 24V starter with a total of 2175 CCA. I even topped the tank off with 5 gallons of diesel day before yesterday.

Could my compression really be that bad? I had zero smoke or starting issues on regular D2.

Time to blend with K1 I guess.

Any thoughts?

wyorever · 08-09-2012, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaChicken

Another cold morning and rough start. 68 degrees and it took everything it had to get going. I even replaced a bad battery yesterday and am running a 24V starter with a total of 2175 CCA. I even topped the tank off with 5 gallons of diesel day before yesterday.

Could my compression really be that bad? I had zero smoke or starting issues on regular D2.

Time to blend with K1 I guess.

Any thoughts?

I used to have issues with my old 6.0. I started adding PS cetane booster pretty agressively and don't have starting issues anymore.

AlphaChicken · 08-09-2012, 05:44 PM

I blended in the appropriate amount of Power Services cetane boost for a 50 gallon batch of diesel but it's tougher to start on than the last batch. I even had to replace a battery yesterday and am pushing 2175 cranking amps and still no dice.

I replaced my fuel filter before i got home so we'll see if that helps. If not I'll run this tank dry and see what it does on straight D2 as a baseline.

theandyman · 08-09-2012, 07:31 PM

you still never answered my question about hot starts and warm starts.

hot start = engine run under load until up to full temp, shut off, then start again right away

warm start = same as hot start but wait 1 hour before starting again

personally, i'd recommend 5% rug and perhaps 2-3% of a heavy organic polar compound to attract and remove water. then i'd add d1 until your truck is happy. probably like 75wmo/20d1/5rug.

i've got the same engine as you (more or less), and i'm sticking to 50/50d2(lsd) for now. my starts are perfect and no smoke under load. slight to moderate smoke on idle.

AlphaChicken · 08-09-2012, 08:53 PM

My bad Andy.

Even on a hot start it gives me a little grief.

Warm start is almost as bad as cold start.

And when i start up cold I think I'm gonna wear my starter out or damage my batteries.

I added another 5 gallons of D2 into the tank and added 16oz. of power services cetane boost. It should mixed in from the vibrations on my way to work tomorrow and then I'll see what I get when I leave work.

On a side note. Not even during 100 degree weather and straight D2 can I start without my glowplugs.

She's always been sluggish. Maybe after 26 years it's time to adjust the timing forward a few degrees.

AlphaChicken · 08-10-2012, 11:43 AM

I tested my glow plugs at lunch today. Dead Dead Dead.

That explains why my starts are so rough.

But why do I keep blowing through glow plugs? I swapped in 8 new mil spec plugs back in Feb.

gozapper · 08-10-2012, 11:43 AM

Please explain what is (heavy organic polar compound to attract and remove water) ?

Tom