Run Quality & Starting Issues - 2018 L5P

[Icutmetl]

New 2018 GMC 2500HD L5P

2,400mi+/-

Location- Northern Ohio

 

I’d like your guys’ input on some issues I had with my new truck yesterday. It is my first diesel, although I feel I’m aware of most of the pros, cons, & quirks.

 

Due to the impending cold weather and an upcoming trip from Ohio to Minnesota and farther west, I poured in a 16oz bottle of white bottle Power Service treatment and plugged in the block heater the night before leaving. 

 

The truck started and ran beautifully thru most of Ohio; although I was heading right in to a 25-30mph wind and was seeing ambient temps of -20+/- the closer I got to Indiana. (I saw quite a few semis with their flashers on along the side of the turnpike.) It was running fine at cruise, but would crap the bed when I applied light to moderate power to accelerate. No warning lights. 

 

Since it did it a couple different times, I pulled off the highway near Fremont Indiana at a Pilot station. I was at about 1/2 tank of fuel. I added one more 16oz bottle of white Power Service and one bottle of the emergency red stuff; with the truck running, and topped it off with fuel.  I saw a nearly instant improvement and didn’t have any power issues all the way to my destination in St.Paul lasnight, even passing thru temps of -23 to -25. I stopped to stretch every 1/2 tank or so, and added another 16oz white bottle each time; which as I gathered, is the recommended dosage for colder temps (32oz per 40gal). 

 

However; and here’s the interesting part, I did stop near Wisconsin Dells for lunch, and shut the truck off while I ate. I watched the truck from the restaurant window, and took no longer than 20-30min. I remote started from bathroom, but came out and found that it hadn’t worked- I may have forgotten to lock it though, not sure on that. Went to turn the key, and it took a couple tries to start. Almost acting as if it had dead batteries, it cranked harder than anyone could expect, even for -13F ambient. It eventually fired right up, but gave me a “service trailer brake system” warning message. I haven’t used the trailer brake system yet and have only pulled a small utility trailer with a 4-blade connector.

 

After that; out of curiosity, I shut the truck off and restarted it twice with absolutely no issue, other than the trailer brake warning message each time. My voltage usually seems to run around 14v, but it was closer to 15v for a little while after this incident.

 

I had no more issues from Wis.Dells to St.Paul, but didn’t shut my truck off, either. Felt like a heat wave there, coming in to -3F. We plugged it in and are leaving in the morning for Montana, pulling a smaller aluminum enclosed trailer w/o brakes.

 

I’m a little nervous about the starting issue and the trailer brake warning message. Any ideas???

 

Thank you in advance!

[avalonandl]

First, don't put treatments in your fuel. These new engines don't like that. SOunds like it worked its way through...

[EXSlider400]

Are the winter fuel blends able to avoid gelling without treatment? 

Edited February 2, 2019 by EXSlider400

[Icutmetl]

13 hours ago, EXSlider400 said:

Are the winter fuel blends able to avoid gelling without treatment? 

That’s the idea; but in many states, the pumps don’t tell you what you’re getting. The farther out west I’ve gotten, I’ve seen stations offer 3-4 different diesel options.

 

I’d rather not add anything to my fuel, but I also don’t enjoy driving far away from home into the middle of nowhere in a truck that’s surging like a dog crappin’ a peach pit.

[Icutmetl]

Update- out in West Yellowstone now, no additional issues. Had a few stumbles out of St.Paul to Fargo, but none since. Of course, the temps climbed to well above 0F. I’ve still added the white bottle juice at every fill up because I’m still a bit gun shy, but haven’t had to use the emergency stuff.

 

Im going to change the fuel filter when I get back to Ohio; it will be due (or close enough) for it’s first oil change anyway.