when it is cold out my truck starts rough,and it smells like there might be some unburnt fuel in exhast. once it fires it runs rough for about 5-10 seconds the it smooths out and runs normal. it seems to only happen when its colder than 40 degrees and if I plug in its fine, but I can't always plug in. 1998 12v. any advice would be great

 

Try a dose of your favorite diesel additive ( I like Lucas) and run it hard. Mine cleared up during the second tank.

 

Boyfriends Ford does it to and it sounds like it ain't gonna make it. Even if he plugs it in. Anyone know what it could be on the 7.3- (I know its a Dodge forum) But alot o you have made the transition from the Ford. The hole neighborhood goes white with smoke. Gets worse daily. Used some good additive and helped a little- still no go as good.

[IMG]local://upfiles/31532/27B30F32EDA24EBBBB5D3877684E6CF0.jpg[/IMG]

 

might be good to pull the glow plugs and make sure they are still functional.

I see this all the time with GM 6.2L diesels. granted it only takes 3 of the 8 glow plugs to get the thing running it is spraying for skeeters when it does light off.

DO NOT yank on the glow plugs. if they have a hard time comeing out they have swelled and will be dang near impossable to get out without yanking the injector to remove any broken off pieces. Ive had to pull a many a heads to remove glow plug remenants after someone got a bit frisky with them.

 

On the 7.3 the first thing you want to check is the glow plug control module. This is one of the few issues that it has.

Tell him to go here:

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum31/

This is strait to the 7.3 forum. Lotsa good folks to help him out.

 

Thanks a bunch- know what he's going to be doing this weekend.....[sm=boink3.gif] Snowmobiling for me and none for him!!! Just kidding- I'll have to help and be the go-pher!

 

Ford also came out with a new injector strategy for the 6.0 that cycles the injectors for 30 seconds after engine shut down, to get the oil out of those HEUI injectors. It seems that the oil in cold starts is holding the injectors from firing properly. Now this pertained to 6.0's, but the 7.3 has the same type of set up. I would have him search for "cold romps" over at The Diesel Stop. com.

 

My old truck was f-350 with 7.3 and the glo plug controler went bad had the same symptoms $120 for part and 40 min to change if i remember right.

 

Does it still run a little rough even after it fires (ford)? might be the cam sensor.

 

Yes for a few minutes sometimes. How much would a cam sensor be? How can you tell if its bad? He says he checked the glow plug sensor/ module whatever it is and said it is fine- (but I don't think he really checked)! But maybe