'02 7.3 Not plugged in cold start.
v.redd.it/iehxn4k7j2481
v.redd.itPosted Dec 7, 2021, 6:56 AM UTC
4117
v.redd.itUnder no circumstances should battery voltage drop below 9-10 volts even while cold cranking. Time for batteries buddy, and some high end ones in those temperatures
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I have optima red tops and am super happy with them. Though I bought them before the supply crisis and they still cost an arm and a leg. Don't wanna know how much they are now.
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Something sounds unhappy...power steering pump maybe?
WrrrrrrrRRRRRRrrrrrrrRRRRRRR
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Yeah, power steering pump was a little upset in the cold weather. She got over it as it warmed up. Still works just fine regardless.
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The smoke was at a minimum it looked pretty good to me. My truck is like a mosquito fogger any time its under 35 degrees. As for the drop in voltage i am no expert but i would have to say it seems like quite a large difference but these engines are massive and it takes a lot to crank them over i replace my batteries every 3 years as i don’t like to take chances and its cheap insurance for getting to work.
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Yeah, I was pretty impressed with the amount of smoke or lack thereof!
The voltage drop seems a little extreme but the batteries are holding up well otherwise.
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New battery time, keep your terminals clean.
Best upgrade I have installed on my 7.3 yet is the 200 amp power master alternator
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Nice truck dude. Throw some headlights and updated mirrors on her after you take care of those batteries. 👌👌
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I've got updated mirrors for it but I think the headlights will have to stay for now.
Thanks for the compliment! I purposely didn't give y'all a look at how rusty she is!
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Could be a starter making her exit with that voltage drop. Overall I'd say not too shabby. I forgot to plug mine in last night as we saw 18*F. Thankfully previous owner took good care of it so she doesn't mind it.
Also where did you get your updated mirrors? I despise the stock ones
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Also where did you get your updated mirrors?
I think I picked them up off of Amazon a few years ago, just haven't gotten around to installing them yet!
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How many times did you cycle the glow plugs? Just curious
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Just the one time believe it or not!
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Like said above batteries and starter. What really helped my 7.3 was 5w40 oil for the winter. Night and day. Once I honed in my cold starting issues and running thinner oil my 7.3 started flawlessly down to 0 not plugged in. And would start even lower with letting the glow plugs warm for 2 full cycles. It wasn't my daily but normally drove it on weekends and haven't plugged it in for probably 5 years and that was in northern Wisconsin.
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Starter is 6 or so years old and batteries are about 3 but the truck has been sitting a lot. They've never been run fully down so I'd be disappointed if they were junk but I'll get them tested. I just switched to 5w-40 T6 this fall when I repaired the oil pan and the truck really likes it! If I would have waited another 30 seconds to start it I'm sure it would have been happier. The glow plugs actually stay on for 2 minutes below 50f on these trucks regardless of what the light is doing.
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Mine would not crank that long, if it doesn't start in the first 3-4 seconds I have to jump it. Probably time for new batteries.
Definitely