QuestionThe batteries were low and I did repeated starts. I put new batteries in, but when I start the engine acts a bit unbalanced, and I have to start it about three times and it smokes a lot at first. Also, it seems to make a 'whirling" sound if it doesn't fire like something is still spinning, if it doesn't start. Once I get it started, even after I let it warm to 180 degrees, it runs rough and won't go into high gear for about 10 miles, then it runs fine until my next cold start. Any ideas?
AnswerThe whirling sound may well be the starter still spinning, or the heater blower motor.
There is a cold start solenoid on the injection pump. It closes a valve in the return line at the front of the pump, causing the internal fuel pressure to build up, and advances the injector timing.
That solenoid is wired through a temperature sensor in the right side head, behind the exhaust manifold.
Really, it sounds like that system is probably working ok, but the higher pressure may be advancing the timint too much, due to internal wear in the injector pump.
If that truck was formerly an Air Force vehicle, they used jet fuel in some of them, and caused excessive wear inside the injector pump. But with it clearing up, I would be inclined to think it was something temperature controlled.
I have removed that little check valve/return line valve from the top front of the injector pump to see what happens, and sometimes they just run good there.
Van
