This is my first diesel, and we had a cold night of OF and a high of 5F today.
When I went out to start the PU tonight, I waited for the glow plug light to turn off, and then turned it over five to six times. Didn't seem to turn over very fast.
Turned the key off, and recycled it (glow plugs) to light went out. Then cranked it over about four or five times, then started. By that time I wasn't sure it would go as it was not cranking very fast. Any ideas of what I may be doing wrong/or is this something that I should see the Dealer about! Thanks for any help.

Did you by any chance plug it in the night before? They say you are suppose to that when the temps get down that low. Not sure what the spec is but I think it is something in the area of about 20 degrees.. You might want to start doing that and that should solve the problem....Good luck

Thanks for your reply. I read the owners manual and I thought it said that it will start down to -20F without plugging it in. Also it is a 2002 SilveradoHD which I bought used this spring with 57K on it. It now has 64K. I put in two new batteries this fall (Sept) to be sure I'd be ready for winter. It seems to run fine when it warms up. Do you suppose I have a starter or alternator problem that is affected by the cold temps?? It started fine and cranked fast when it was warmer out.

Use synthetic oil (5-40w)
Use a good additive like primrose 409
Use diesel number 1
Plug in if you can

Ive started at -6f while camping....

That may be something I'll need to do. I'm running 15-40 now and running artic diesel in the fuel tank to avoid gelling. As I said, I'm as green as you can get with a diesel. I sure do love the power as I have a pop up pickup camper and a boat I pull on behind.
75 MPH wind or not and it pulls without downshifting up and down hills. We have some horrendous winds up here 30-45MPH and usual winds to 15-20. I'm just concerned that I may be overlooking something that needs to be checked out. Again Thanks for the help.

My 2003 started at -20 with very little effort last winter in Northern Wyoming. I forgot to plug it in and needed to drive it. It ran a little rough for a minute or so, but it did start OK!!!! As for running #1 most places start blending the fuel in November and you shouldn't need to run straight #1. When it's real cold I do put in 10 or so gallons of #1.

A lot of people on this site recommend using a timer when you plug it in. Maybe set it for 2 hours before you leave the house.

cold weather is rough on these trucks, however I have started it many times at negative temperatures without plugging in. Go to a lighter oil, it'll make a big difference in starting. Also you can expect it to run rough for a minute or two.

I almost always add something to the tank so I've never had a gelling issue.

Mine has started at -23* at hunting camp in northern Maine. Synthetic oil helps a lot as well as the heater on a timer. I plug it in whenever it is around zero or below.

I would also have to say go to a lighter oil. I know from personal experience that going to a synthetic 5w-40 makes a huge difference when it gets that cold. There is no comparison at all in how fast that engine will turn over at those temps with a 5w-40 in it.

If you can't tell, I am running synthetic in mine. I run it year round.

Hello Again:

Thank you folks for replying and helping get me squared away. I will be looking for synthetic oil and changing real soon. Thanks again. Jim

put the truck in a garage

Might be your batteries showing their age. Cold weather really takes it out of them as they get older.