for you 6.0psd haters, here you go - honesty :)

[Soundguy]

ps.. if it was worn out.. it might crank easier.. but i doubt it would start.

I didn't realize the 6.0 was a higher comp ratio.. that does make sense. it does seem to roll over slower.. etc. ( by ear anyway. no science involved.. )

 

[kenmac]

Well , Just back from the garage. 30* a bit warmer than the outside temp. Waited for the intake heater to go off, Turned over about 3-4 times B-4 it started I would think that GP' would aid better in starting than the intake heater

 

[paulwestski]

My 7.3 fired right up this morning, 15* out. Cycled the glow plugs once. I plug in the block heater into a timer set to turn on three hours before the morning start up.

The problem with the 6.0 is the injectors. They develop what know as stiction (they get stuck when cold).

My 6.0 will start on one glow plug cycle but two cylinders injectors have a bad case of stiction and the truck will miss, it'll run on six cylinders for 5/10 minuets.
If I plug the block heater in for three hours it will fire right up after one glow plug cycle, no stiction issues at all.
There are some oil additive products that most of the time fix the stiction issue. I'm trying Hot Shots right now. they say it takes up to 3000 miles to work. Tractor Supply carries it.

When my 6.0 was a year old with only 10k miles it impressed me one winter when we were on a ski trip. Single digit temperatures, one cycle of the glow plugs and it fired right up strong as ever. I've found that synthetic 5w/40 makes winter starting much, much easier.

A buddy of mine had the stiction issue on his 6.0 and I tried to get him to try the Hot shots product. He was getting ready to go on a long family vacation road trip and decided to just have a couple of injectors replaced and that fixed the problem.
$250.00 for each injector plus labor and an oil change.

 

[3930dave]

Soundguy - We need a 6.0 guru in here for a real answer, but until that happens I'll describe my '01 7.3.

Somewhere near the fuel filter (mine's a van, p/u's are a little different) there are 2 large relays. On 7.3 p/u's I've seen, these relays are under a removable lid/panel. 2 small studs for control wires, 2 large studs for source12v/load connections.

On my '01, the shorter of the 2 relays is the GP Relay. The taller relay is wired to the intake grid heater. I'm told that on the 7.3, the grid heater only comes on for very cold temps.

If you can locate the GPR on the 6.0, just test light the main power studs. On the 7.3, one stud (w. a factory rubber boot) always has power. Cycle the glow plugs and check for power on the other main stud - they are roughly 1/4" dia. studs on the 7.3 GPR.

With the GPR, you can have control signal or wiring problems too, but what mostly happens is the main power contacts just erode away over time. If you seem to have power making it through the main studs, while you are in there anyway, measure the voltage drop across the studs when the glow plugs activate.

I haven't played with a new relay to give you a MaxContactDrop voltage spec, but watching this voltage drop may clue you into an eroded or erratic relay contact.

If you don't have access to Alldata or some other commercial software to help locate the GPR conclusively, just try posting a 2xxx 6.0 pickup - need GPR location Pls thread on here, or try powerstroke.org.

Rgds, D.

 

[Soundguy]

thanks!

PS. not that i've looked. this being florida... but someone mentioned plug in block heater. are those standard on all PSD's? IE.. if i dig around enough will i find a power cord under the hoods.? I've honestly not looked. again. warm florida.. wasn't even thinking about it.

if they have one. I'll plug in the 6.0 tomorrow and charge the bats and get her going.

 

[Egon]

Some combustion chambers can't use glow plugs.

 

[grainger12002]

the 7.3 should have a heater from the factory, it makes startup much more enjoyable, it will even make heat !!!
look rite behind the bumper l\s front,may still have the cover on it....

 

[Soundguy]

thanks! I'll take a look as soon as i get off work ( werkin late. )

6.0 same way or?

 

[paulwestski]

Look real hard up behind the bumper on the passenger side. should be tie-wrapped up and out of the way.
Although the cord set is an option on some models.
The block heater element is factory installed, Ford just saved five bucks by not installing the cord set.

 

[Diamondpilot]

As mentioned IH put block heaters in all the engine's. Ford only put power cords on them if sold in about the 20 Northern most states or if optioned.

You can get the cord on Ebay.

Chris