Cold-startin' a 7.3 ...

[Kowboy]

Thanks gentlemen. Got two brand new bat'ries but I'll sure check the rest of them parts once I get to where the temperature is a bit more pleasant. The 10-day forecast for Death Valley is lookin' pretty nice.

That's a nice looking truck. From the pic it looks like the frame is bent? Maybe my eyes are bent!

Thank you sir. Nothin' bent ... or crooked, dented, scratched, rusted, etc. She's the most cherry 11-year old truck I've ever seen. I bought 'er from the 72-year old original owner last year and been modifyin' it since. Previous owner took meticulous care of 'er ... the interior still has the new leather smell. 60k miles!!!

Now sportin' a 4-speed Atlas, ProRock60, ProRock80, hydro-assist high steer, etc, etc.

Hallmark opens up for bid'ness in 3 1/2 hours ... and I'm gonna be sittin' in their parkin' lot. :wings:

 

[Saline]

It sounds like the glow plug relay. A simple fix.

Good luck on the Hallmark adventure today!! Very interested to hear about it since we are leaning heavily towards a Hallmark Milner.

 

[ckupq]

When you replace your GP relay get the heavy duty one made for Ford trucks in Alaska(AKA extreme cold weather). Yes they are different and about 5 times the size of a stock relay capable of 200 amps continuous and 600A spike. You'll thank me later.

 

[Rot Box]

. the interior still has the new leather smell. 60k miles!!! Now sportin' a 4-speed Atlas, ProRock60, ProRock80, hydro-assist high steer, etc, etc.

I think I'm in love :drool:

 

[Kowboy]

Good luck on the Hallmark adventure today!! Very interested to hear about it since we are leaning heavily towards a Hallmark Milner.

Thanks ... and an excellent choice in my opinion. The experience was fantastic from the plant visit right through deliv'ry.

When you replace your GP relay get the heavy duty one made for Ford trucks in Alaska(AKA extreme cold weather). Yes they are different and about 5 times the size of a stock relay capable of 200 amps continuous and 600A spike. You'll thank me later.

Hell ... I'll thank you now!!

I think I'm in love :drool:

Me too sir ... and even more today than yesterday.

 

[conifers4]

I want your truck under MY Christmas tree. :drool:

 

[Heloflyboy]

Truck and camper look good.
I just had a similar problem on mine, ended up testing gp relay and found it bad. Changed it and works great. I wish I knew about the heavy duty version before I changed it.

 

[NevadaLover]

Never use starting fluid as Your truck also has an intake air heater, if You are at all mechanically inclined the glow plugs and relay are fairly easy to change, check the connectors that go through the valve cover gasket to make sure they are not burned, since I work for a fleet shop I always change all glow plugs, the relay, the injector/glow plug harnesses that go inside the valve covers and both valve cover gaskets, it is a little expensive but is usually only necessary every 100000 miles or so in our trucks, that's a good looking truck and should easily go 200000 plus miles, we have 7 and they all have at least that many miles!!

 

[2025 deleted member]

Finished product looks pretty good.

 

[Jr_Explorer]

I don't like the cold weather no more than the truck does ... so my solution to this deal is to grab my camper tomorrow and then proceed due south until it's warm. :ylsmoke:

You might have to drive to Mexico to escape this cold! The truck and camper look AWESOME! Congrats! :victory:

We just bought a 2006 Jeep Liberty Diesel in WI. The gf drove it to Fargo to visit mom and then gf, mom and brother road tripped it right through the three storms that rolled across the US last week. -20 all day through Montana and -25 the next morning in Sheridan WY. That little Jeep fire right up with no block heater in -25F!!! Modern diesels are pretty awesome.

 

[Kowboy]

Reckon I'll start with the relay when I get a chance. Thanks again for all the input!!

This looks tolerable:

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/Death+Valley+National+Park+CA+CANPDV:13:US

Believe I'll head that way today.

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Hey Kowboy,

Rig looks good. Looks like we are on the same page with the 7.3 Ext Cab Super Duties and slide-ins. If you are really headed to Death Valley and are passing through Reno, shoot me a p.m. Depends on when you pass by, but I 'll grab some Shiner Bock and we have a guest room. Might even be able to get some 'Cruiserheads together for a dinner.

 

[Ovrland]

Sweet!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ttravis5446]

That looks like the hallmark place down the street from my work. Is that the place in Platteville?

This cold snap last week was rough on the diesels in my fleet. The two stroke detroits were hell to get started, and some of the series 60's gave us fits, but my 200k mile 7.3 started every morning. I generally don't plug it in unless it's going to be below 0, but that's more for my comfort than the truck's. That heater works a lot faster after being plugged in.

On the 7.3's the glow plugs don't usually turn off when the light turns off so cycling the key is unnecessary. Just let it sit for about 30-45 seconds with the key on and it should fire right up if everything is good.

 

[Camodown]

Sounds like you have most everything covered. I changed over to a Stancor relay since the Ford one is junk; burn out too easy. If your glow plugs are good, I would recommend changing the oil to 5w 40 synthetic. My truck has original injectors and over 300,000 miles and started at -11F never plugged in first try. Neighbors duramax didn't start and had to be on block heater most the morning.