Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Hard to start when cold.

[waldo]

It's my fathers truck and seeing if I can help him out. After the truck sits overnight or for long periods it takes a lot of cranking to start it and when it does start it runs rough and somkes for the first 20 seconds. It starts fine if you use it often and runs great otherwise, Plenty of power. It does have a Banks system on it. Any help would be great. Thanks

95 12valve auto 4wd ext. cab

 

[Joe G.]

That sounds like bad fuel hoses. Do a search on this topic for all the information you can use.

 

[ssanders60]

Fuel with low cetane value?

Regarding your poor starts, rough running,

and smoke. Fuel with poor cetane rating

will cause all of this, especially when the

engine is cold. I discovered this in Citgo

fuel over 20 years ago, even glow plugs can't

compensate for it. I recently bought a tank

of Citgo in Virginia last week and this did

not show up in my '03 CTD 2500 Ram. I noticed

on their tank that the cetane value was rated

at 40. I am not sure what the rating is

now days, seems like someone on this forum

stated that it ranges from 40-45.

The other cause could be low compression

from a worn engine, especially if the smoke

is white or near white. I visited a John

Deer Exhibition in Moultry, Georgia last

week and last year. These people showed me

pistons with "stuck" rings, heavily corroded

with carbon and rings completely cemented and

ineffective. Guess what? One of the pistons

came from an engine that used Rotella 15-40.

I picked up the piston from behind the glass

and saw the tag which was secured to the cross

head pin. The tag furnished the history of

the engine. They were pushing their John

Deer synthetic lubrications, I realize. I

was of the opinion that rings did not stick

on diesel engines but John Deere says "not true. "

I'd Like to know what you find out from your

truck.

 

[98rammer]

it could be the fuel hoses, but the timing could have also slipped.

 

[hsmith]

Originally posted by waldo

It's my fathers truck and seeing if I can help him out. After the truck sits overnight or for long periods it takes a lot of cranking to start it and when it does start it runs rough and somkes for the first 20 seconds. It starts fine if you use it often and runs great otherwise, Plenty of power. It does have a Banks system on it. Any help would be great. Thanks

95 12valve auto 4wd ext. cab

Replace the rubber fuel hoses below the intake manifold. Problem will probably be solved.