Why does the 6.0 Powerstroke hard start long crank time? It can happen due to many issues, but cold weather is the most common reason behind the hard start.
Apart from that, some other reasons include leaked cooling holes, fuel leaks, weak battery connections, etc.
In this very article, we will discuss all the possible issues of 6.0 Power stroke that can lead to a hard start and long crack
Causes and Solutions of 6.0 Powerstroke Hard Start Long Crank
| Causes | Solution |
| Leaked cooling hose or loose connection | Repair or replace the cooling hose. Also, secure the connection. |
| Weak battery cable connection | Properly secure the battery cable connections. |
| Fuel Leak | Check for any fluid or fuel leak and stop the leak |
| Low fluid levels | If the fluid level is low, refill the needed fluids such as engine oil and coolant. |
| Damaged exhaust system | Install a new or repair the oil exhaust system |
| Clogged air filter or inlet ducts | Replace with new air filters and inlet ducts |
| Contaminated fuel | Take out all the old fuel, and fill the tank with good quality fuel |
| Clogged or contaminated fuel filter | Change the fuel filter |
6.0 Powerstroke hard start and long crank could be due to any reason. Here we have one shown the most common ones.
Leaked Cooling Hose or Loose Connection
If your car is hard to start or doing long crackings, you would first want to do a visual inspection of the vehicle. Now, this inspection includes hose checking, battery cable checking, and wiring harness checking.
Open the hood and check the coolant hose. Check if there is any leak or also check the connection. The hose connection needs to be secured tightly. Otherwise, a coolant leak can make the engine struggle to start.
Weak Battery Cable Connection
After checking the coolant hose, now inspect the battery cables. Be very careful with touching battery cables. Hold the cable and try to move the cables a bit. If the connection is loose, you would want to tighten it immediately. A wrench or a plier is all it would take to tighten the battery cable.
When everything seems okay, the last visual check you will have to do is to inspect the engine wire harness. Make sure they are well-connected and in good condition
During the inspection, if you find any leaking hose or worn-out cables, you should get them replaced as soon as possible to avoid further troubles.
Low Fluid Levels
Engines will crank and won’t start if there is no fluid left. The vehicle has two types of major fluids: engine oil and coolant.
Start checking with the engine oil. For this, you will have to open the hood and open the engine oil tank, where you will find a scale. Dip the scale into the engine oil tank to know the oil level in the engine. If it’s low, refill the tank with good engine oil.
And then, similarly, open the coolant tank, and to check the coolant level, you won’t need a scale. The tank opening is big, and the tank isn’t deep, so it can be seen easily.
Check the Intake & ES
Most vehicles have the input intake gauge near the engine. So locate the intake gauge and check if it is in good condition.
Look if the gauge has any scratches or not. If everything seems good, then for safety, you would want to remove the entire intake system and get it checked by a professional mechanic.
If you don’t have much idea about the intake or exhaust systems, do not take the risk of opening and checking the intake all by yourself.
To check the exhaust system of the vehicle, one either needs to get under the vehicle, or the vehicle needs to be lifted up for comfortable inspection.
Air Filters
If the air filter is clogged, the engine will not start and will crank loudly. So check the air filter and make sure the filter isn’t clogged. Usually, every filter has an expiration date. When it is past that date, they get clogged and don’t allow air to pass through.
After opening the oil filter, if you see the filter isn’t heavily clogged, then cleaning the filter should work. However, it will be wise if you replace the air filter with a new one.
Fuel Filter
After checking the air filter, take a look at the fuel filter as well. Fuel filters get clogged faster than air filters, and when it is clogged, they don’t allow fuel to pass. As a result, the engine struggles a lot to start.
Contaminated Fuel
Another reason behind the 6.0 Powerstroke long crank in the start is contaminated fuel. It is why engines struggle to start, and sometimes they stall.
Having your fuel contaminated is a serious problem as this problem is hard to find. If your fuel is contaminated, you won’t know until you test it.
Fuel contamination happens due to many reasons. But if you notice your fuel is contaminated, don’t try to start the engine and get the fuel replaced as soon as possible.
A Helpful Tutorial You May Need!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the biggest problem with the 6.0 Powerstroke?
The major problem with most of the 6.0 Powerstroke engines is head gasket failure. And after that, the second most common issue is FICM and EGR valve failure.
Why is my 6.0 Powerstroke hard to start?
It could be due to many issues. The reason could be cold weather, clogged air filter or fuel filter, leaking coolant hose, low fluid level, etc.
How long should a 6.0 crank before starting?
Usually, a well-conditioned 6.0 shouldn’t crank more than 1 or 2 seconds. But sometimes, due to the cold weather, it might crank for 5-10 seconds on the first start. After the first start, the engine should not crank.
Why does my 6.0 Powerstroke take so long to start?
Maybe it is because of the cold weather, clogged filters, leaking fluid hose, or loose battery connections.
Conclusion
These are the most common reasons behind the 6.0 Powerstroke hard start long crank time. Whatever happens, if you don’t have any knowledge or very little knowledge about engines, do not try to inspect them on your own. Spend a little money and have the vehicle inspected by a professional for the greater good.
You Can Also Read:
- 6.4 Powerstroke Firing Order: Is It Challenging To Comprehend?
- [Quick Solution] How to Fix Powerstroke 6.0 Fan Slipping Issue?
- Can’t Find the 6.4 Powerstroke Cam Sensor Location? Here’s Your Answer!
- Why 7.3 Powerstroke Won’t Start No Smoke- Included Details!
Sadeek Matt, “The Human Truckopedia”, has dealt with all types of trucks for 6 years with another 2 years of experience in the automobile industry. He is one of our key team members who solve truck-related problems for Vehicle Bro’s content team to come up with answers to readers’ queries.
He loves scuba diving apart from handling trucks and according to team members, he’s a guy with a great sense of humor who loves living life to the fullest.
