going into my first winter with a diesel. other than using the additive to keep it from gelling and plugging it in..what do you guys do in the winter to make start ups easier or any other tips. thanks guys

 

Thinner oil for sure. My work truck ('06 F550 6.0) starts and sounds much better running 0W40 compared to 10W30. I know they are different engines, but they are still both HEUI's.

 

Ford recomends 30wt for winter time use, but I have always run 15-40... ALWAYS.

I dont add anything to the fuel and the only time I have ever jelled is when I ran Bio. Stick to good old #2 and you will be fine.

You can add a glow plug relay light to know for sure your glow plugs are getting juice.

 

I run the same oil year round and have never run an additive... Keep it simple... When it gets really cold. Just plug it in...

 

Take care of any small rust issues now before they grow over the winter, pay special attention to the bottom of the doors, the door sills-rockers, and the tailgate. Cancer on Fords spreads quick, especially the bottom of the doors on the superduty being exposed to salt, cinders, or the worst idea that they love here in the snow capitol of the country, BRINE, since they started using this ultra concentrated salt slurry vehicles are really getting f'ed up fast.

Hit the door locks with some lock anti-freeze from the parts store. Don't get the alcohol based stuff that's like a buck or 2, you want the preventative stuff, not the reactionary after the fact unfreezer.

If you get 8+ inches a night of snow like we do, stick a tarp over the windshield so its cake to get that clean in the morning, the rest can blow off using the 60mph snow brush.

Load check the batteries and make sure they have plenty of cranking amps and that they're fairly close to each other in amps, if one is more than 25 amps from the other replace the weak one or better yet both. A weak battery will only degrade faster as you strain it vs the strong battery.

Follow csipsd's advice and put on a glow plug relay lamp, ensure the relay stays on, and if it can't start the truck after 45 seconds of the plugs being on, replace the glow plugs.

Ensure the battery terminals are clean and solidly tightened down, takes alot to spin the big 7.3 when its chilly, weak battery connections create heat and resistance which slow down the starter. I'll try and post pics of what I did to avoid buying the 130+ positive cable by installing military battery terminals and taking all wires to ring connections. I think I spent around 60 or 70, but its SOLID, easy to fix if I somehow strip out a terminal clamp, and easy to add more accessories at any time.

 

make sure you drain your water in fuel separator. i did not do that my first winter and payed for it.

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running 15w40 and i am guessing you have a 7.3. it takes alot to warm up 16quarts of oil. so plugging in your block heater is a great idea. warming the coolant helps start with ease and is better for your motor.

 

plug it in if you can. if not just make sure your relay is good.

 

i try and plug mine in when it gets below 30 degrees to help starting. my 95 has an aftermarket mini type starter and that dam things starts right when you crank it up where my 01 takes a split second no matter how warm or cold it is!

 

i've noticed that. my 94 would fire right up as my 99 turns a few times and then fires. i don't think you have a special starter...

 

The difference in starting has to do with the way the fuel system works. On the older idi engines the injector pump can spray fuel the first time over but the powerstrokes have to crank some to build high pressure oil pressure before the injectors can spray any fuel.