Cold weather starts

[sween]

Greetings... just came across this site today. Spent most of the morning going through all the topics. What a great site and great bunch of participants.

Heres my dilemma: '96 XLT, 5.8, 141,000 miles,hates to start after sitting in the cold all day. Moved up to New England from Philly three years ago and thats when this started happening. The engine cranks, but does not sound like it is getting fuel. I have to keep tapping the gas pedal to get her to turn. When she does turn, the RPMs hit 3000, idles on the high side. The exhaust smells very carbon-y initially, but then she idles back down and runs fine.

Anyone else live in the arctic and have this dilemma?

Thx.

 

[Seabronc]

Well It is definately running too rich after you get it started. It certainly seems like a fuel supply problem possibly pressure. You might want to get that checked out, could be the fuel pump is sticking and not comming up to full speed in the cold. At any event, it sounds like a mechanical type problem. I take it that you don't have this problem after the temp gets up into the, say 30's. Do you use any additives in the fuel?

Good luck,

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[Seabronc]

PS Welcome to the Zone > . One other thought on cold weather, Is it hard cranking, like it sounds like a lot of effort for the starter? If so, you probably want to go to a lower viscosity oil for the winter. Don't know what you have in it now, but I'd drop down atleast one level. Another option is to put in a block heater to keep your oil warm over night. In the colder areas a block heater is almost a requirement, in the North East it is a good option especially with sustained temps near zero or below. The oil can get so thick it is almost impossibel to turn the engine over.

God luck,

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[sween]

hey fred

thanks for the reply.

been putting 5W30 in there since i've owned it. no fuel additives. when i got it new they had a tank of 89 octane in there which i have always put in it. the manual calls for 87. do you think that could be a cause? warm temps it starts right up all the time (knock on wood). not overworking the started at all, just wont turn.

I've had three suggestions from mechanics (you know how that goes): 1) carbon buildup 2) leaking manifold gasket 3) problem with the fuel supply/air supply.

I'm sure if I asked three more, I would get three more possible suggestions.

)

thanks again for your suggestions

 

[Seabronc]

The octane rating is a number that has to do with the resistance to premature ignition (detonation). The higher compression the engine the higher the octane rating needs to be. Since your engine is designed for 87, 89 certainly won't gain you anything. I have never heard of it causing this kind of problem, but I can concieve of it by combining it with cold which could cause it to not properly atomize, load up the engine and when it finally fires you have a load of gas to burn off explaining the temporary rich condition, so you might want to give it a shot. You should actually get better gas milage with the proper grade fuel because it will burn more efficiently, as long as everything else is working properly :huh: . That is a bunch of brainstorming, but as good as you got from the mechanic. Have you ever checked the torque on the intake, both parts ? Vacuum leaks do make an engine cranky. Cold causes the metal to shrink and might give you a temporary vacuum leak.

Good luck,

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