Hard Start At Times

[BOWTIE 3]

My '01 Silverado, 5.3, 55,000 miles, has always cranked right up, cold or hot. For about the past week or so it takes a few more seconds of cranking than usual when cold. I just ran a couple of bottles of Chevron cleaner through it recently to eliminate the fuel gauge/sulfur problem, which didn't have much effect. Could it be time for plugs already or is it maybe a fuel-pressure problem?

[Lincoln30]

Sounds like a fuel pressure problem to me.

[2004GMC1500CC]

My '01 Silverado, 5.3, 55,000 miles, has always cranked right up, cold or hot. For about the past week or so it takes a few more seconds of cranking than usual when cold. I just ran a couple of bottles of Chevron cleaner through it recently to eliminate the fuel gauge/sulfur problem, which didn't have much effect. Could it be time for plugs already or is it maybe a fuel-pressure problem?

How old is your battery?

[BOWTIE 3]

My '01 Silverado, 5.3, 55,000 miles, has always cranked right up, cold or hot. For about the past week or so it takes a few more seconds of cranking than usual when cold. I just ran a couple of bottles of Chevron cleaner through it recently to eliminate the fuel gauge/sulfur problem, which didn't have much effect. Could it be time for plugs already or is it maybe a fuel-pressure problem?

How old is your battery?

 

 

 

The battery is a 3 month old NAPA high-line job.

[gm4yrs]

I would go through your tank of gas, install a new fuel filter, and then see how it runs. On my truck, I am having this issue, but I wait a few seconds after turning the key to "on", and then start it. The fuel pump / sender was replaced, when it was under warrantee, and I'm not ready to replace it again. Also, my fuel guage acts up, when I put extra gas the tank. The dealer put 2 short bed senders in my truck, and then the third time, the got the right sender for a 34 gal. long bed tank. I would go 50 miles and the fuel guage would move 1/4 down, instead of 100 miles.

[BOWTIE 3]

I would go through your tank of gas, install a new fuel filter, and then see how it runs. On my truck, I am having this issue, but I wait a few seconds after turning the key to "on", and then start it. The fuel pump / sender was replaced, when it was under warrantee, and I'm not ready to replace it again. Also, my fuel guage acts up, when I put extra gas the tank. The dealer put 2 short bed senders in my truck, and then the third time, the got the right sender for a 34 gal. long bed tank. I would go 50 miles and the fuel guage would move 1/4 down, instead of 100 miles.

 

 

I replaced the fuel filter at about 30,000 miles. I've used BP 87 octane in it for several years. They began putting 10% ethanol in it about a year ago. It's performed great up until about a week ago. My wife also uses BP 87 octane in her 2000 Lexus RX300. Her car used to get a gas knock once in a while, but it hasn't happened since the fuel has had ethanol added to it. I think the ethanol raises the octane a bit, but hurts fuel economy a little. The Lexus dealer kept telling her to use 93 octane to eliminate the gas knock. It'a Toyota Camry engine and I don't know of anyone who uses 93 octane in a Camry. Eventually she kept using 87 octane and I would pull the ECM for a minute after each fill-up and it quit getting the gas knock. I was a little concerned about the BP fuel containing sulfur and screwing up the sending unit in my truck, but I understand a good number of GM trucks experience this problem. Maybe the sulfur kills the pump also. I miss my '78 short-bed with the 406 small block, Turbo 350, headers, Comp cam, etc. This is what they call progress?

[gm4yrs]

From reading older posts, I remember someone saying that the fuel, keeps the pump cooler, and not to let it get below half. On the knock, you may try new spark plugs. Buy what came with the vehicle new. I replaced mine around 75k. I've always used 87 octane but did notice a slight ping under accelation on the freeway. I don't know much about ethonol. I replace my fuel filter every 30k, so if it has been that long, I would replace it again.