sound to me like your timing is retarded and the cold timing advance is operating properly. so when you start up, your timing is advance to where it should be when warm, then after warm the timing advance turns off and then the timing is wrong....

 

How many miles on the IP and injectors..... Have you done a pressure and flow test on the manual lift pump (fuel). When was the fuel filter last changed, do you use fuel additives.

 

how check the timing..that sounds like the problem i just thought i'd ask and see if anyone else thought the same..makes sense..

not sure on miles on the IP and injectors.. the truck has 169K though..has done this since i got the truck, no pressure/flow test done, haven't changed the fuel filter since i've had it. i've only had the truck since december..not sure when previous owner had it changed..i use keen in the grey bottle for the additive..

 

As posted above your cold advance is working properly. As the motor warms up to 120 degrees the injection pump goes back off the cold advance system. This is what you feel when the horsepower drops down. Some members have installed a manual switch so they can turn on the cold advance system when more power is needed like in pulling a load up a grade. Have the motor timed and see how that works. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif

 

with everything set right will i still be able to tell when the cold advance turns off like i do now? and is there an article on how to check and set timing on the IP?

 

this site should have everything you need. a member on here made it

http://webpages.charter.net/idi_diesel/

 

awesome....looks like a weekend project.....

thanks guys for all the help