It was 22 degrees this A.M. Idle is not smooth on cold start.Like it "romps".Even when it goes to the 1000 rpm mode.Tach dosen't really move but engine has noticable surge like bouncing 100 rpm up and down.Noticed it last winter just kinda forgot about it.As engine starts to warm up it subsides to a smooth normal idle.This is normal.My old 93 12 valve(not apples to apples I know)was smooth running and steady no matter what temp.

 

I think that's OK, I was in Wisonsin last week and mine seems to do it for about a minute or so and then smoothed out. I parked outside and no plug in.

Pete

 

Mine last longer then a minute.More like 5 or more.Of course if I drive off sooner then that it smooths right on out.

 

Mine does too. Temps below 25, especially if it has sat a day. About 15-30 seconds of rough idle, and then she smooths out. I live in a condo, so I can't plug in. It's supposed to go down into the teens tonight, so I'm expecting tomorrow morning's startup to be a little rompy.

FWIW, this truck starts alot better, and warms up alot quicker, than my 01 PSD did.

 

Mine does it too. You ought to hear it at -15. You would have to depend on your hearing though, you couldn't see the truck for the smoke cloud.

 

Same here. I notice it when temps are below 10*F or so. Sounds really intense at -0*F or colder. Mine will do it for as long as I let it idle, normal idle or high idle. As soon as I take off, it smoothes out. Been that way since brand new.

Brian

 

Same here as well. The first minute or so w/ mine is occupanied by lots of white smoke on really cold mornings. Guess its normal, my 2000 would only act that way for about 20 seconds or so though

 

I think most of you guys that are thinking your truck is running funny for the first 20-30 seconds in cold weather are just experiencing the heater grids cycling on and off. If you watch your voltmeter, you'll see the needle drop and rise, and the lights dim/blink when this happens. I would suggest letting your truck idle/warm up until the cycling is over before pulling off - just wait for the voltmeter needle to shoot up above 14 and stay there. You will notice the idle is much more consistent. HoundDog, try watching the meter and see if that's it!

 

Well the volt meter wont go up until what 1400 rpm or when moving? This a.m. I did not start it until late morning,about 32 degrees.Was a low of 19 last night.Anyway it ran pretty smooth this morning.Nothing like the 22 degree morning.Maybe fuel and just plain cold.I want a hand pull throttle to be able to manualy ramp it up.Trying to figure out HOW.

 

When it is cold here mine will do the same thing. I have tied it to the grid heaters. The idle seems to smooth out when they cycle off and becomes rough again when the cycle back on. This is with the truck parked in the drive. Another thing worth mentioning is I do not get any smoke at all. I have a couple of times after the truck has sat a while like 5 or 6 days, but nothing more than a puff. The grid heaters turn off once you get to about 18 MPH, not sure if it goes off at a certain RPM because mine will continue to cycle with the high idle turned on RMP up to 1500 max. computer will not allow a faster idle speed.

 

Mine chugs...spits...coughs...stumbles and bellows out blue/white smoke for about 30 seconds every morning first start (worst when below 40 degrees). I have noticed that if I cycle the grid heater twice its not so bad but more importantly what I do now is right when the engine starts I rev it up to about 12-1400 rpm for about 5-10 seconds then I let it drop down and idle for about 2 minutes before I head out, seems to smooth it out quicker and run a little better for me.

 

Thats why I want to hook up a hand throttle.Pull it(lock pulling out a old choke pull on a car)and it can run at 1200 or what not rpm.

 

Hounddog - it's the grid heaters. I sit and let it run until they have stop cycling, which is what I believe Cummins recommends. It only takes about a minute. They will cycle (and make a little click/pop type noise) and the rpm will fluctuate about 100 rpm. The voltmeter will be well below 14. When they have stopped cycling the volts will shoot above 14v, and thats when you know you're good to take off. I've been starting all this week at 6-12F outside, and it only takes about a minute. Sure is cold sitting there waiting with those slow heated seats tho!

 

Real familier with grid heaters,on my third truck.Other two ran great cold.

 

And mine takes considerably longer than a minute for the grid heaters to quit coming on. I let mine run until the idle smooths out, about 2 or 3 minutes, check the oil pressure one last time, and drive off. I'm at least 1/4 mile away from home before they kick off the first time, and if it's cold enough they'll come back on again. The temps I'm talking about are between 0 and -15.