it got down into the negatives last night, now the truck wont start. Of course I have to jump it, but it still will not start. I have air, fuel, and spark; fuel pump is humming like normal and also pressed the needle valve on the fuel rail to make sure. I also dropped some iso-heet in the tank and some stabil. Also a little carb cleaner in the plenum and some stabil - still no luck. Sometimes it acts like it want to start, but no luck yet. Any ideas?

 

so I was looking on ebay at some engine block heaters and basically they heat the antifreeze. Wondering if I aim my reddy heater (35000 btu) at the radiator through the trans cooler and get the same effect? Never had this issue and it's irritating.

 

uhm no. You don't need a block heater. Try some glow plugs to start

So the truck is cranking but not firing up? Any codes?
How do you know it has spark? quick check is to pull a wire off the plug and hold it near something metal on the engine while someone cranks it. (dont hold the wire with your hand please) It should spark, if not you got to trace the problem backwards.

Just because it has fuel doesn't mean it has the right amount of pressure. Testing it with a gauge will tell you the pressure, should be 49psi.

If you haven't adressed the plenum or cat, the cat may be plugged, pull the front o2 sensor and see if it starts any better

 

Block heaters do help. I would say it's flooded, Remove the fuel pump relay from the PDB and unplug the 12v coil wire, then remove all the spark-plugs turn the motor over a few time to get ride of the excess fuel from the cyld. Also with the plug's out of the motor warm them up in the oven or with a propane utility torch. Then re-install the plugs and see what you get.

 

id' guess moisture/water in gas is probably frozen. can you apply some heat to the engine compartment without overheating and melting anything.

if that helps, put a bottle of fuel treatment/water eliminator in the tank.

and yes, block heaters help. the heat into the water jacket radiates throughout the entire engine and warms everything up.

 

Not to mention it's really nice to go out to your truck, start it up, turn on the heater, and its WARM!.....

 

Mine acts like this as well at times, it's a cold blooded SOB while is cranking barely give it gas. Always works for me lol

 

just might be extremely cold man i wish the best of luck to you, just might need to run a heater under it, by the way iso-heet works wonders!

 

i shot the engine with an IR temp gun. I know it only measures the surface, but it is at 4 degrees F. I am going to wait until the weekend and report back. It is supossed to get up to 50 degrees. I will believe it when I see it. Current temp 10 degrees.

 

well the weather never got above 30. I parked the torpedo heater under the engine after pointing it at the outer edges of the radiator from the front (kept an eye on everything) and put a space heater aimed at the passenger side head; said a prayer - and it started. Thanks You God. Maybe it's time for a tune up.