Cold start idle quality.

[DPKetchum]

22 degrees this A. M. and on start up idle is not smooth. Has mild case of the romps. Like idle surging just barely enough to make the tach move. Not steady at the tailpipe eaither. even when the 1000 rpm high idle kicks in. As engine temp goes up it starts to smooth out and finally gets smooth. Noticed this last year but kinda forgot about it. Is very noticable even fom a distance.

 

[rbattelle]

At the risk of sounding like a Ford 6. 0 owner, I'd have to call it normal. Were you plugged in? When I start mine after work (not plugged in) and it's cold it runs like a tin can full of marbles - shakes and shimmy's and generally groans and complains until the temperature comes up a bit. I actually like the sound... . sounds like a 2nd gen engine!



-Ryan

 

[DPKetchum]

Of course I wasn't plugged in. Sounds like a hot cam is what it soounds like. If its normal so be it. Just had nothing to compare it to. Seems like ECM etc. would give it a even idle cold as well as warm. Oh well. The old 1993 was SMOOTH at 0 degrees not plugged in. Just a little more smoke as it was warming up. It was all mech. seems the NEW stuff would be as smooth if not more so.

 

[rashwor]

It may be normal, but it is not supposed to be. You may want to check into the TSB 18-037-04. Some have had success with this correcting the problem, some have not.



Mine does the rough idle at start up like yours, but I have not had the TSB done yet.

 

[RedRam401]

It may be normal, but it is not supposed to be. You may want to check into the TSB 18-037-04. Some have had success with this correcting the problem, some have not.

Mine does the rough idle at start up like yours, but I have not had the TSB done yet.

I had the TSB done last Thursday and this morning (9 degrees) on startup it blew white smoke like crazy.

Friday I "lost" my cat and traded the stock muffler for a 4" straight thru Donaldson with a 4"X18" turndown .

Couldn't believe how much soot was built up pre-cat with 11,500 miles.

 

[Alan Reagan]

At 24* this morning, mine started fine without being plugged in (cords are still on back order).



You may try two grid cycles before starting. I didn't see where you did that. That should eliminate some white smoke issues, too.

 

[rbattelle]

Knowing what I know about compression ignition, I fully expect rough running at low cylinder temperatures. On the other hand, you point out that your 12v was smooth as all get-out at low temperature.



I seem to recall that pilot injection is off on startup when the engine is frozen... could this have an effect?



-Ryan

 

[Alan Reagan]

DP, I see you are from Athens. Not too far from here. I get my fuel from the same place all of the time and they have a high turnover rate. As far as I can tell there is no winter blend here yet. In the past, around the first of December, they seem to blend here because in the past, my mileage drops 1-2 mpg.



You may want to try getting your fuel at another location. I read a tech tips article yesterday about fuel quality. Poor quality fuel can cloud at 20* and begin to gel at 15*. So if you have or are getting some old fuel or borderline quality, that might be your problem. Once the fuel heater is working and heat starts to build in the engine, it will run normally. If it is approaching the cloud point, it could have a hard time getting through the filter until it is warmed up a little.



Are you using any additives?

 

[DPKetchum]

Mine is a 03 if I'm not mistaken TSB 18-037-04 does NOT apply to that year model. I have NO SMOKE. If I'm wrong please correct me. I dion'ty always buy fuel at the same place but I do use one more the others. Its pretty high volumn. Mostly I use additive but at times I don't. I use a Amsoil additive. Always use it in my tractor. My 93 NEVER missed/ran rough etc. in any temp on startup. Sounded a lot healthier on cold start then this truck. This truck did this last winter also. If you drive it even the length of a driveway its smooth. But if you don't like I did this A. M. it ROMPS the whole time. Just was wondering if others were as LOPEY cold.

 

[swexlin]

Mine does too. Temps below 25, especially if it has sat a day. About 15-30 seconds of rough idle, and then she smooths out. I live in a condo, so I can't plug in. Nature of the beast. It's still a diesel. I have had the TSB, and I (so far) haven't used any additives. It's supposed to go down into the teens tonight, so I'm expecting tomorrow morning's startup to be a little rompy. :-laf



FWIW, this truck starts alot better, and warms up alot quicker, than my 01 PSD did.

 

[Tryingit]

Mine does the same thing. Very cold mornings it rough idles for about 10-20 seconds, blows some smoke then clears up. During our recent warm spell it started up normally. I'm starting to think that this may be a normal condition since so many people experience the same thing.

 

[swexlin]

I'm starting to think that this may be a normal condition

My opinion also. In the winter, I try to NEVER let my tank drop below 3/4 full, either. Limits condensation in the tank, and fuel is less apt to gel.