'01 F-250 7.3L Starting issues
 

Recently purchased an '01 250, with a 7.3L as the topic states. Started fine during the summer when it was warm out, only recently did it start having problems. Hard starts, white smoke from the exhaust for the first minute or so when it started. Assumed it was either the GP relay, or plugs themselves. Ordered a kit, Glow Plug Kits - 7.3L Powerstroke , full kit with new plugs, relay, valve cover harness and gaskets, and pigtails.


I don't know the most about diesels, and chose to do my own work to learn as much as I can, and have a few friends that know a lot about it and talk/work with them. We swapped the plugs on the driver side, and noticed a good amount of oil in the chambers. Wasn't sure if that was normal or not(all the videos and everything I read about the swap never mentioned anything about it), and put the new ones in. Put everything back together correctly, made sure the seals and connections were tight. Swapped the relay, but didn't do the pigtails, because they still appear to be working very well, and don't want to increase resistance by splicing wires together. Also, the old plugs tips look as if they had been sitting at the tip of my exhaust or had the oil burnt onto them and covered in carbon.


We ran out of light as we put everything back together and about to start on the passenger side plugs. Figured it would be best to wait it out and do it tomorrow (or another day) when we had light. Tried starting it, sounds better than before, but still won't start. Cranking and cranking and wanting to start but won't no matter how much fuel we feed it, even holding down the throttle.

The only plus, is that there is no white smoke out of the exhaust, like there was when I was starting it before, and letting her warm up. But, it doesn't make sense not to be smoking, given the extra amount of fuel we are giving it. Leads me to think, if it is still doing this once we swap the other 4 plugs, that it could be a fuel line issue.

Also, I don't know if this is a concern, but when cranking the oil pressure gauge isn't moving. Whether it is supposed to show or not, I know that the engine, and starting work off the HPOP as well, and was wondering if it is supposed to show pressure while cranking and letting the plugs warm. If it is, it could fall back on the HPOP possibly.


As of now I have 3 suspicions.

1. Glow Plugs (still have 4 left to swap)
2. Fuel Line
3. HPOP
4. Oh, and some random guy said he had a '01 and his wouldn't start, and it was cause of his belt. But, from what I could see everything was turning, and the belt is fine, no cracks, creases or fraying anywhere on it.



Thank you for you time, and any advice. Let me know what you think.