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

paulwestski · Jan 8, 2014

AGRIMAN said:
I tend to get around 2 1/2 years out of a set of batteries. Normally the first sign of pending battery trouble is the engine will start to turn slower than normal. Once this happens, I don't fool around with it, I just go ahead and get two new battery. These engines need to spin to start, weak batteries will lead to all sorts of other problems and end up costing you more than a new set.

With that said, I always keep the old set. Normally one battery will be weaker than the other but still strong enough to be used in one of the other old farm trucks or as a back up.

Agreed on the weak batteries.
That will cause the FICM to go out/have issues.

dodge man · Jan 8, 2014

The 7.3 had a 17.5 to 1 compression ratio and the 6.0 18 to 1, not a lot of difference it terms of how hard they are to start.

some zilch · Jan 8, 2014

Soundguy said:
Ok.. Most of you know I have a 04 6.0psd for work.. and a couple 7.3psd's for home and play.

This am i went to go to work. was 26 degrees. 6.0 didn't want to start. i think i coulda worke dit another few minuted and nursed it to a start.. but didn't feel like being abusive to the starter or the batteries.

got in my 99 7.3psd.. glowed it 3x ( just like the 6.0 ). started on the 2nd attempt. IE.. roll over a few seconds, stop, then roll over again.

Not bad for a unit with nearing 2x the miles and 5ys older.

just posting for the interest of honesty.

pretty sweet...a newish truck wont start, and a slightly less newish truck will start at 26*.....i'd be worried if anything i owned wouldnt start at 26*.
my 40 year old backhoe started at 16* the other day after sitting outside since october, and it has no glowplugs or starting aid of any kind.

good thing i dont rely on a ford 6.oh-no to get me to work..........

xtn · Jan 9, 2014

My completely one hundred percent bone stock, 251000 mile, 2003 6.0 (supposedly the worst one ever according to the internet), which I've kept even though I bought a 2013 6.7 this last Summer, started last week at 16*F OAT after sitting for three weeks. It did idle a bit rough / miss for about thirty seconds, so I guess maybe I've got a bit of the "sticktion" issue. But otherwise it was just one glow plug cycle and spun right up as per normal. Not preheated. I do have two Optima yellow-top batteries in it that are only about eighteen months old.

xtn

Turbys_1700 · Jan 9, 2014

Just to add to the discussion...
I've had my 03 7.3 for 10 years now...
Temps around here hardly ever get in the 20's but when they do my truck cranks every time...
Turns over couple of times and then cranks right up...
I did plug in the block heater this week when we got down to 8 degrees or so and again no cranking issues...
Perhaps I am lucky on the glow plugs and relays...
My 7.3 is the easiest starting diesel I have ever owned...

Soundguy · Jan 9, 2014

turned out to be batteries were a big part of it.

also did get the oil changed to 5w40 syn now.

for the record.. my 55 ford 850 gasser that i use to put hay out.. it started fine.

some zilch said:
pretty sweet...a newish truck wont start, and a slightly less newish truck will start at 26*.....i'd be worried if anything i owned wouldnt start at 26*.
my 40 year old backhoe started at 16* the other day after sitting outside since october, and it has no glowplugs or starting aid of any kind.

good thing i dont rely on a ford 6.oh-no to get me to work..........

daugen · Jan 18, 2014

As far as what starts easily and what doesn't, there's also the variable of whether you have fuel supplements jacking up your octane.
Are there any that are recommended particularly for cold weather? I use PowerSupply in my TDI and two diesel tractors, never seem to have a problem, but then
it usually doesn't get that cold here.
Personally, I love block heaters, that machinery stays toasty warm and even the trans gets some heat.