I am new to this forum and to owning a diesel truck. Have a 1996 F250 nicely taken care of with high mileage. On a warm day after several hours of sitting in the sun it will start fine, but at our mountain cabin at 7500ft on mornings when there was heavy dew, it will not start--once it did, and once this week it did not. But both times took lots of cranking, lots of white smoke generated. Went through the manual and did everything it said to try, no luck. but came back 4 hours later, temp had climbind from 55 to 75-80 and it started on first crank. Had also tried walking away in the morning and coming back, no difference.

If I was to try to put some starter fluid in it, where would I put it? And is that a good idea on a diesel? Please have mercy, I really don't know much of anything about these engines.

Rob

 

Sounds like bad glow plugs are bad. As far as the starting fluid, spray some into the air cleaner. But be careful, it's hard on the engine if you use too much.

 

There is a glow plug selenoid near the fuel filter on top of the motor. When the engine is cold you should hear the selenoid click when you turn the key to on (wait to start). Have somebody listen for it with the hood and cover open. Even if it does click it could still be bad. Use a test light to see if it is operating. Do not use ether unless you are absolutely sure your glow plugs are not working or disconnect the selenoid to make certain. If even one glow plug is working, It will ignite the ether and possibly cause damage. It will at the least startle the crap out of ya.

 

ether/if glow plugs are working (plugged in) will cause them to swell. . bad news when you have to replace one and it breaks off in the head.

only way to get it out is to pull the head.
check the ipr wiring on the back of the hpop, make sure your wires arent pulled from the connector or bare spots are touching.

 

if your going to use ether turn your key over untill the wait to start light shuts off which would be your glow plugs, then when they shut off use the ether. spray it straight into your intake but maybe less then 1 second of it dont do anymore and start your truck, i personally wouldnt use it at all but if your going to it would be best if you did those things i said above withyour glow plugs and crap. and as far as replacing your glow plugs its a pretty big pain its about as bad as replacing injectors u have to take your valve covers off and its prolly a day of work for a DIY guy

 

You know when that wait to start light goes off the glow plugs are still on up to 2 minutes right?
so i wouldnt do any of that becuase as said above it isnt good to use starting fluid with glowplugs. So just turn the key right over after the starting fluid and before the glow plugs cycle.
also ive been reading into glowplug replacing and its nowhere near as hard as injectors. I say just find out what the real ploblem is and fix it, ull feel better about the truck and u wont be worrying about it starting.

 

yes but its not nearly as bad as turning your truck over when u spray a bath of ether into it right after you turn the key over, and glow plug replacing can be a bit of a hassel, i just did injectors on my truck and the glow plugs are right thier so its a time consuming process

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injectors arnt hard to do either its just it is a time consuming process usually about 4 hourse to take them out put new ones in and get the truck running.

 

thats doesnt really make sence. wut I said to do was put starting fluid into it not a lot just a few seconds, then turn the key right over,
so wuts wurse? leaving the glowplugs cycling while you get out of the truck spray the intake then get back in then turn it over, maybe 10-30 sec glowplugs
or spray it and turn it right over, 0 secs..
And im not tryin to be a jerk but I dont want something to happen to someones truck becuz of advice online

 

noo you let the glow pugs go for a min or 2 so they arnt blasting hot when u spray the ether into your truck, and you are only supposed to spray less then 1 second worth of it because its just straight bad for the truck, like i said before i personally wouldnt even use it but if u had to use it after your glow plugs cycle is what im trying to say

 

well y bother if the glowplugs dont work then and also if the glowplugs are cycled then turned off it dont make sense to even use them.