7.3L IDI Diesel Cold Start 29F No block heater

[ChevyDieselBoy]

What the hell was that noise at 0:44?!?!?! That sounded like something from an alien movie. Hahaha

[MysteryDrifter69]

YAY FOR DEISEL COLD STARTS!! My 88 Chevy (not deisel-sorry) kinda starts the same way as this thing in the cold. Haven't had to plug it in since I've had it, and it's kinda funny watching neighbours try to start their new cars with them being plugged in.

[metallica2014]

Do you have an high idle switch?

[blackhawk8427]

@metallica2014 didnt on that truck, but it was automatic... think it might of been unplugged when i took the vid tho lol

[JDMD7109]

wow lol hey check out my truck its lil rough video but ill make another soon check on my page

[JDMD7109]

lol how many trucks u got bro



[blackhawk8427]

@JDMD7109 I've had 13 or 14 now I think lol, most at once was just 3 tho

[tanksor]

you should see the vid i got of a diesel cold starting it had the starting and dieing problem and i hadnt figured it out

[64jorthom]

Hi, if you have oil in the antifreeze, it could be a cylinder head gasket. There is an oil passage from the block to the cylinder heads to lubricate the rocker arms and part of this oil pressure could be going to the antifreeze. Remember th oil has more pressure than the cooling system. The oil cooler is just to cool down the engine oil, it has passages of coolant and oil. These ends should be inspected in order to find any cracks or any other damage.

[blackhawk8427]

@64jorthom I don't know about any oil passage through the head gasket, but when I pull the motor apart I'll look for head gasket problems. When we took the oil cooler apart, all passages seemed fine, no visible cracks. IDK if you know, but the truck in the vid didn't have the problem... and I no longer have the truck that did.

[64jorthom]

Teh 6.9 L and 7.3 L were good engines. I repaired many of those, found broken pistons, holes in the top, and one of the things found was the oil cooler bypassing the engine coolant. You have to be some kind of skilledi in order to replace the oil cooler ends, some pressure has to be applied. These engines can go for may miles without any problem.

[blackhawk8427]

@64jorthom On my '94 I replaced the oil cooler o-rings and yea, those ends need some serious pressure to go back together... that was fun. I think it took about 2 tons. Unfortunately, it didn't fix my oil in antifreeze problem...

[maxhauler]

Our IDIs are very similar. :)

[mightyjoelaith]

What size tires are those if you don't mind me asking? I'm considering buying a older F-series with a 7.3 as a weekend warrior. I heard you can only fit 31's without shackles. 

[blackhawk8427]

@mightyjoelaith In that video the truck had bald ~35" tires - 315/75R16s I think...

[mirlin235]

@blackhawk8427 I got a quick question for you

I'm looking at buying a F250 with either a diesel or gas engine, I won't be towing anything, would a diesel be any good for a first truck or would you go with a gas engine?

I'm also looking at a manual, 4x4 F250, from 1987 too 1995

[blackhawk8427]

@mirlin235 A diesel will get better mpg, last longer, and have fewer problems IF its in good condition. Same goes for a manual over an auto. However, if your not ever going to tow anything (or haul much in the bed), you might want an F150 for a first truck... rides smoother, just more drivable. Having said that, I've had both diesel and gas now, and I am definitely a diesel fan... lol

[mirlin235]

@blackhawk8427 Ok cause m buddy told me not to get a gas truck, doesn't think I'll be able afford the gas and stuff like that, says I should go with a diesel. I will be doing some hauling, for work, I may be driving at fair distances so could it work possible?? I don't know what to buy, I want something that is manual and 4x4 diesel or gas doesn't matter.

I'm also a diesel fan, my buddys dad has a 2000-01 F250 superduty with a 7.3L turbo diesel and it is fucking beastly

[Catamountfootball99]

@mightyjoelaith i had 35s on my stock 89 ext diesel. you can fit 37 without rub easy if you wanted too.

[GearHead1625]

That is a really nice truck. How much did you pay for that awesome piece of machinery?

[blackhawk8427]

@GearHead1625 I paid $1600 when I bought it... and just sold it for $3000, got a new teruck :)

[GearHead1625]

@blackhawk8427 Did you have to do much to it? I saw the video from when you fixed the front end. other than that was it really reliable or not? I really want an old idi like that love the sound and the looks of em.

[blackhawk8427]

@GearHead1625 It needed a lot of front end work, and some engine work mostly. I probably put $1000 into it. It was reliable though. I've never had any of my Fords leave me on the side of the road yet. I'd recommend getting one with a manual and a solid front axle if you can.

[GearHead1625]

@blackhawk8427 Yeah I was looking at the f350's cause most of em had a solid axle the only problem is the 1 ton is really hard to find with 4x4. The only way I'd want to buy a truck is with a manual unless its an insanely good deal.

[blackhawk8427]

@GearHead1625 '86 and up 350s have solids, and that's why i took mine without a manual... they are really hard to find and it was a decent deal. I got a truck for you if your close to Chico, CA

[GearHead1625]

@blackhawk8427 nope I'm in norther Illinois so thats a bit far away. Thanks for looking though and the info you gave me.

[hooksmason]

ur trucks starts good compared to mine with one bad glow plug. but my controller was bad so i could only cycle them once.

[blackhawk8427]

@hooksmason my controller was bad too, never got around to replacing it either. It worked just good enough to keep me happy lol

[hooksmason]

@blackhawk8427 seems like urs works pretty good lol my controller would let them cycle once then just click it was a real paint the ass.

[blackhawk8427]

@hooksmason you have to turn the ignition off, wait a few seconds then turn it back on to cycle them twice

[hooksmason]

how do you turn the high idle on??

[blackhawk8427]

@hooksmason hit the gas real quick, then the solenoid holds the throttle up

[Thinker669]

You spend almost a hundred bucks on glow plugs?

You shouldv'e got a cummins, they have no glow plugs, instead they use a grid heater along side of the engine block. It's alot easier to start when it's cold outside.

[blackhawk8427]

yea... thats cheap! the Ford dealership wanted $25 EACH. Grid heaters dont always work well... sometimes gps are better. these IDIs are known for starting issues, something with the design

[braambo]

@blackhawk8427 Hey, we have a F350 7.3 Diesel International, 5spd, but the ignition will only turn over and put the battery lights and all that on the dash on but wont crank the engine, to crank the engine over to start it I have to touch the solenoid with a screw driver...Any idea what I can check or do to fix it? or do you think the ignition switch is just bad? Also when I turn the key over there is no dinging sound like in yours...

Thanks! :-)

[blackhawk8427]

@braambo could be a bad connection or the ignition switch. Pull the wire on the solenoid from the ignition switch and test for continuity, and see if you get power (12V) when the key is turned to start... if the wire has continuity but you get nothing its the ignition switch. The Ignition switch is on top of the steering column just under the dash, easiest way to get to it is to drop the column (2 bolts)

[blackhawk8427]

@braambo oh yea, just to make sure, you are pressing the clutch in right? if the safety switch is hooked up, it won't crank unless you push the clutch in. Check that switch to make sure it works too. if you don't know where the wires for it are i can make a vid tomorrow

[braambo]

@blackhawk8427 Cool man, I'd appreciate that...This is our first Diesel pickup truck and biggest we ever had, it's just a pain to always open the hood to start it...Can the solenoid go bad if we keep starting it that way?

[blackhawk8427]

@braambo won't hurt anything, all your doing is what the ignition switch should be doing

[IDIDieselJohn]

Yup just 1 burned out glow plug can make a big differents in cold starting.