rough idle at cold starts

[pat4nobjct]

I have an 04 f350 6.0l with 150k on it. as it is getting colder outside my truck starts fine everytime but in the mornings after sitting it will have a rough idle for 15-20 seconds then be fine. if the truck sits for a few days it will run rough for a couple minutes then straighten up and run fine. i live in cincinnati and it is around 30-40 at night. but even back in the summer if the truck sat for a week it would do this. any thoughts? thanks , Pat

[Airforce]

I don't have a Ford but the 6.0 engines are hydraulicly actuated fuel injection system. To me it would seem that the system is prone to rought idle on startup and till warm, till the oil gets pushed through the system? What oil are you using? I ask this because I think the pump puts out ??? 5000 psi for the system and wonder if the oil you might be using is able to take that pressure? I think that the Mobil oil syn 5W/40 that I use won't? To me is seems to be normal? Or could be that there is a leak ( where no idea?) Good Luck.

[Powerstroke3302]

Mine is also a cold starting SOB but I think it is natural. My 7.3 is the same way. Just diesels... Once the motor starts warming it goes away so I don't think anything is wrong..

[str0kin it]

It definitely is common with diesels... Both the 06' that i have now and the 04' i had previously have done this, especially if they are left sitting for a while... they may also blow a little bit of white smoke when starting up but its normal for the most part... By the way i live in florida and have similar cold-start issues so its not really a big deal with the weather, just make sure your glow plugs warm up before cranking if it is really cold out...

[JAKE8842]

First thing, in the cold climate the 6.0 has to run 10w30 or you can have these issues. If running 15w40, switch oil and retest. If that does not take
care of the issue, there is a tsb from ford for a reprogram on the ficm. 9 times out of ten this takes care of it. If that does not take care of it you
are looking at testing the glow plug system or have a injector problem

[Travo]

How much would Ford charge to reflash it?

Also- What would be the cost effective way to check my glow plugs and injectors to make sure they are not the problem?

Thanks!

Travis

[LSchicago2]

Mine always runs rough cold when it has bad injectors. 3 times for mine.

[JAKE8842]

We charge $72 to do the ficm reflash here. I would say it varies from dealer to
dealer... tsb 07-5-4

[Travo]

I started it up this morning (around 34 deg outside) and it was clanking and barely held an idle. I looked at the bed and the whole truck was shakeing really bad. I know when a diesel is cold it will ping and clang to some point. I have never seen them shake the truck apart! It felt like it was only running on 6 or so cyl for a min or two. That's how bad it was.

Anyone else experience this sort of thing?

Trav

[pat4nobjct]

Trav i think my truck is doing the same thing as you ar describing. I am running 15w40 and from what poeople are telling me on here i might need to change that. I just plugged it in and I will update to see if that make any improvement. sounds like it is going to blow up for the first couple minutes though

[RAVOwner]

Travo...I have the same problem with mine. On a cold start up (I live in Florida and it is not that cold here) the truck feels like it is not getting fuel. It shakes violently if I give it gas as if there are a couple of cylinders that are not firing. Seems like the engine is out of balance. My guess is that I have an injector problem or two. Once the truck gets up to operating temperature it is fine, however I can still detect a slight sputter when I get on the throttle. I have an appointment with the dealership on Monday. They are a backed up a week due to a high number of problems with 6.0's.

Also I am running 5W40 full synthetic oil, so I know that is not the problem.

[RatherBNtheWoods]

Mine starts fine down to 0- -10 ish F with 15-40w without being plugged in. Last week in the Colorado rockies it was 6 or 8 one morning with the wind blowing hard into the radiator. One cycle of the WTS light, + maybe 10 seconds, and broooom. Clatters a bit more than normal, and hit rough for about 5 or 6 seconds but smoothed right out after that. I do have the inductive heat flash from FoMoCo. If you don't,,,I would get it.

[Travo]

It was 30 this morning and the truck once again sounded like crap and shook. I could do the same thing and press on the gas just a hair and it felt like I had 2 or so cly not fireing. I guess I will have to bite the bullet and just take it in and find out if I need to replace some of the injectors. With my luck, I will have to.

I know for my 7.3, the injecters were $340 a piece. Does anyone know about how much they run for the 6.0? Is there a company that rebuilds them that are worth a crap?

Oh well, I am stuck with what I have now, so I guess I need to suck it up and start digging in and learning about these 6.0's. Something tells me that my head will be under the hood a lot.

BTW-- What is a "heat flashing" unit? I am stationed in SC now and temps don't drop below 32 that often. Would it be worth it for that?

Thanks guys! I appreciate the help and understanding.

Trav

[RatherBNtheWoods]

Originally Posted by Travo

BTW-- What is a "heat flashing" unit? I am stationed in SC now and temps don't drop below 32 that often. Would it be worth it for that?

Thanks guys! I appreciate the help and understanding.

Trav

One of the PCM(computer) strategies(approaches) for poor cold performance was to heat a portion of the injector with inductive type heat. It is referred to as the "inductive heat flash(software load into the PCM/FICM)".

I don't believe it is the solution to what ails the 6oh's injectors, but it does really help cold engine(not necessarily cold air temps) start-ups.

[Travo]

Ah right on. Thanks for the help, I will be contacting Ford and see what I can find out.