← Hard start / no-start on all engines
Symptoms · 6.7 Power Stroke (2011-present)
6.7 Power Stroke (2011-present): hard start, long crank or no-start
4 documented failures on this engine list this among their signs. They are ordered from the most widespread down. Each one shows the signs in its record's own words, how to tell it from the others, the usual fix and any recall or bulletin.
Not sure which engine you have, or want the recalls for your exact truck? Check your VIN: it names the engine and lists the campaigns for that model year. Whether a recall is still open on your VIN: nhtsa.gov/recalls.
verified
How widespread: Common
171 NHTSA owner complaints match it, out of 1,754 checked
How it shows up
- hard starting or a sudden stall, sometimes with no prior warning
- loss of power that does not clear, often followed by a no-start
Its other signs
- fuel rail pressure DTCs P0087 (too low) / P0088 (too high), P0093 (large fuel leak detected), P008F (fuel/engine temp correlation)
- metallic sheen or visible metal flakes in a cut-open fuel filter
How to tell it apart
- cut open the fuel filter and inspect for metallic debris before doing anything else - its presence changes the whole repair scope
- review rail-pressure command vs actual during cranking; pressure that will not build implicates the pump or pressure-control valve
- rule out the low-pressure supply side (lift pump, filters - see Low-pressure fuel supply weakness (lift pump, filters, water-in-fuel)) before condemning the high-pressure pump
Usual fix
full fuel-system contamination kit: new/reman high-pressure pump + full injector set + rails + high-pressure lines + filters + seals in one job - replacing only the pump on a confirmed contamination event guarantees a repeat failure
Recalls and bulletins
26V-15824V-957
Root cause, parts and sources →
verified
How widespread: Common
104 NHTSA owner complaints match it, out of 1,754 checked
How it shows up
- hard starting, hesitation, or power loss under load consistent with low-pressure fuel starvation reaching the high-pressure pump
Its other signs
- water-in-fuel (WIF) sensor warnings
- fuel filter restriction/replacement-interval codes
- visible fuel weeping/staining around the fuel filter housing - the factory PLASTIC housing is known to crack over time (S&S Diesel Motorsport product literature, via Dave's Auto Center)
How to tell it apart
- always check the low-pressure supply side (lift pump, filters, WIF sensor) before condemning high-pressure components when diagnosing a starvation-type complaint
- drain the water separator whenever the lamp requests it, and investigate repeated water warnings rather than just clearing them
- inspect the fuel filter housing itself (not just the element) for hairline cracks or fuel weeping, especially on higher-mileage trucks - a housing crack is a durability issue the OEM filter change interval does not catch
Usual fix
replace the lift pump on confirmed low-pressure-side failure
Root cause, parts and sources →
verified
How widespread: Common
49 NHTSA owner complaints match it, out of 1,754 checked
How it shows up
- hard starting, especially cold, with extended crank times as internal leakage bleeds off rail pressure
Its other signs
- injector circuit codes P0201-P0208 (one per cylinder), or cylinder-specific misfire codes P0301-P0308
- white smoke at idle (unatomized fuel from a leaking injector) or black smoke under load (an injector stuck rich)
- fuel dilution of the oil: a rising oil level or oil on the dipstick that smells strongly of diesel
How to tell it apart
- review cylinder balance and fuel trim data at idle and under load; run PCM power-balance/relative-compression tests to separate fuel problems from mechanical ones
- check rail pressure command vs actual during cranking - pressure that will not build implicates the pump/pressure-control valves or gross injector return leakage (a leak-back test isolates which)
- always rule out the low-pressure supply side (Low-pressure fuel supply weakness (lift pump, filters, water-in-fuel)) before condemning high-pressure components
Usual fix
replace failed injectors in matched sets, not individually - pairing one new injector with seven worn ones causes balance complaints and repeat labor
Root cause, parts and sources →
verified
How widespread: Occasional
5 NHTSA owner complaints match it, out of 1,754 checked
How it shows up
- routine wear: extended cranking and rough running on cold mornings, growing worse as more plugs fail; white/gray smoke at cold start that clears as the engine warms
Its other signs
- glow-plug circuit codes P0671-P0678 (per-cylinder) or P064C (control module)
- a 'wait to start' lamp that no longer illuminates (points at the control module/wiring, not the plugs themselves)
- SERIOUS defect, 2011-2013 engines specifically: a broken-off glow-plug tip travels through the cylinder, hammering the piston, valves, and turbocharger - a compression-test-worthy finding on any used 2011-2013 truck with unknown history
How to tell it apart
- individual plugs test with a multimeter: ~1-2 ohms to ground on a healthy plug, open circuit confirms failure
- verify control-module voltage delivery to each plug during the pre-glow cycle before condemning plugs
- on a used 2011-2013 truck with unknown service history, treat a broken-plug-tip suspicion as a borescope-inspection and compression-test item before driving it further, not a wait-and-see
Usual fix
replace glow plugs in complete sets on a high-mileage engine, using a quality torque wrench (routine wear)
Root cause, parts and sources →
Other symptoms on the 6.7 Power Stroke (2011-present)
Loss of power, limp mode or derateWhite smoke from the exhaustLosing coolantOil leak, oil consumption or rising oil levelTicking, knocking, rattle or whineMisfire, rough idle, hesitation or surgingDEF, DPF and regeneration warnings
Everything on the 6.7 Power Stroke (2011-present)Its recalls and bulletins