[loriswood]

Ok, I've been searching the posts for ideas for my problems and have a few, but would like some opinions on the troubleshooting order. I have a 2000 F-350 with 108k and not too many problems engine related until now. truck is stock. over the last 3 or 4 months the cold start performance has plummeted. Initially, I could start the truck and drive for a mile or so and wouldn't notice any issues until I floor'd (manual trans OD) it merging into traffic. It would pull then loose power totally and coast. merging didn't pan out all that well.

The condition has worsened over the winter to the point that now with it plugged in, I need to start it let it idle rough, smoke a lot , stall out once, restart and then idle for 10 min or so before attmepting to drive it. I live in Metro Detroit and start-up ambient temps have been between 45F and -20F. the result is the same, the only thing changing is the idle time before I can drive it; warmer = less idle time.

I've seen the posts about the UVC harness, the GPR and the Glow Plugs themselves. a handfull of posts about injectors, but I don't think mine are gone at 100k. I have changed the glow plugs in the last month to no avail. I tried to check the GPR tonight, but I'm not sure what relay is the right one. there are 2 relays mounted behind the fuel/water seperator so I checked for power at the harness connector where it goes into the valve cover. I got 12 volts (with key on) at the harness for both banks in the glow plug wire locations. This makes me think the relays are working. Next step is the UVC harness, but I want to know if I can test it before I replace it. The check engine light is not coming on.

What should my next steps be, or are there any other suggestions?

Thanks,
-mike

 

[loriswood]

Changed the oil, works like a champ now. I'm confused. Will research oil and filter life. the oil and filter were 18 months old, but only had 1500 miles. only a quart low by the dipstick.

 

[dmd]

Changed the oil, works like a champ now. I'm confused. Will research oil and filter life. the oil and filter were 18 months old, but only had 1500 miles. only a quart low by the dipstick.

Was it a quart low, or still in the hash marks?

These trucks run on oil. Oil powers the injectors that are electrically activated. If you are low on oil then there could be issues. Also the weight of the oil is important.

What kind of oil are you using (brand and type) and what is the weight.

 

[Cerveja]

Unrelated, but I just discovered the significance of oil in these engines. Until last week I had no idea until someone told me the injectors run on oil, which is just crazy in my opinion. Either way, my 94 E-350 sits most of the winted and I went to fire it up and no go. It turns and turns and turns and occasionally (rarely) fires for a piston or two then nothing. I just replaced the water/fuel seperator and am charging the batteries (it has two - it's an ambulance conversion). The old seperator was filled with fuel, I didn't realize there was a water drain on the filter until after I removed it. I will double check the oil level and top it off if it needs it. The motor is a Jasper motor that was replaced about 80,000 miles ago, but the truck has over 200,000 miles.

A few questions have came up from this little expereince. How low can the oil pressure get before it starts affecting Injector performance? I have an oil gauge and it usually reads in the normal range, but on the low side of average, it doesn't have actual values in PSI so I am not sure exactly what the means. Where is the fuel pump? Probably in the tank since it is filled to the brim at the moment. How often should I be opening the seperator drain on the filter. The guy at the parts store says once a week, but that seems excessive. How many miles between intervals?