I've been having trouble getting the truck going on these recent cold (sub 20F) mornings. Truck is plugged in and starts fine for about 1 Min. Then idle slows and truck dies. To start it after that, I have to crack the injectors for a minute, and really crank the ignition until it (slowly) starts to catch. 2 Questions - 1) Am I doing harm by cranking it for a long time (generally less than 1 minute), and 2) is there some problem beyond just fuel gelling in the tank. This happened the first time with b50, but the latest was on straight diesel. Thanks,
Mike

 

Update,
Can't get it started at all. Turns over but doesn't catch. Black smoke puffing out tailpipe.

 

Maybe you have a small air leak and it only leaks when the fuel is thick from the cold. I have no idea where to tell you to start looking though.

 

Change your filter.

Then thin out that b50 with some Dino diesel. Bio gels a lot sooner than Dino. I won't run bio up here in the winter even if I could find it. #1 gels on me occasionally .....

 

sounds like your filter is gelled, get a new fuel filter, fill it and put it on, you probably wanna run some #1 diesel mixed or maybe some anti gel additive, just do not get the white bottle Power service anti gel! it didn't work for me and i still gelled with it. You may have to bleed injectors too.

 

usually #2 diesel doesn't gel until the single digits. You could have some water in the filter freezing at 20*.

 

That used to be true. The ulsd fuel gels at much warmer temps.....

 

It sounds like OneMopar is on to something to me, with the gel also. Low pressure to the fuel tank from an air compressor will help find the leaks. 10ish psi with a shop rag wrapped around the nozzle.
I try not to use a starter more than 15-20 seconds at a time. Have I done it more than that. YES but it was never my truck.

 

Well, Fuel filter and some fresh dino diesel did the trick, as did our warmer temps yesterday and today. Cold Again next week, so we'll se if that really fixed anything. Thanks for help.
mike

 

sure sounds like what mine is doing

 

Keep running the Dino if it's gonna be cold.

 

Carry some Power Service 911 (the stuff in the red bottle). If you're out somewhere you may need to "thaw" out your filter with it.

 

I carried that stuff for a while but then decided that if I had to pull the filter and pour that stuff in to un-gel it I might as well just put on a new filter and make haste for some #1 fuel/kero asap......

 

They might tbe blending your fuel in NC good enough for the weather your getting . Perhaps even your dino you are purchasing is gelling.

Chug some anti-gel to her every tank. SOmeone mentioned they don't like Powerservice in the white bottle, however I've used it for years in all 6 of my diesels without an issue. I use more than they suggest however. No issue with using a little more. It even tells you it increases cetane more with adding more than the "normal" dose. I just give a good glug or 2 down the tank, no real measuring after you learn the first few times actually measuring.