97 truck runs fine ~ 106,000 miles no problems usually cranks easily.
I had a little hard starting episode after work yesterday and I have a few questions: My truck did not want to start. Note: strong batteries (less than 7 months old - 700 cranking amps plus each) it just spun and spun fast and did not do anything. So took key out waited for starter to cool a min then tried again - nothing. Waited a min tried again switched key to run waited for second cylcle of glow plugs then tried same thing ~ 10 sec on starter and it spinning like crazy and - nothing. Again after a starter cool down spins fast but didn't sound like it was combusting at all.
I took out airfilter and squirted a 1-2 sec burst of wd-40 in intake then tried again. It spun fast for ~ 10 sec nothing. Waited tried again nothing. I asked a friend to spray intake at box w/ wd-40 while I tried to crank - nothing. Not sure how much he sprayed though (probably not that hard).
I could hear clicking for glowplugs and the lift pump too. So I had my buddy turn the key to run and I cracked valve on top of filter - out came a stream of diesel so I shut it quick, therefore lift pump working right?
Wait another min plus and after 10 sec on starter it sputtered hit, missed, hit, missed, so I held it on crank and it finally started after a total of ~ 15 seconds on the starter. It sounded normal and ran fine. No cloud of exhaust no white, grey, or black smoke or nothing. No SES light nothing. Outside temp ~ 80F ish. Same power as always ran like a top. 15 min later I cut it off and it started right back up as usual same again later and this morning.
It usually cranks up within 2-5 seconds on starter.
I had drove it at lunch in heavy rain and thru some big puddles could something have gotten wet? It did not look wet under the hood.
I had this same kind of thing happen last fall just once. Now thinking back it might have rained then too. Same hard starting then finally cranked and did not repeat hard starting again.
Anything I should check or do different when and if this happens again.
When it doesn't start how exactly should I apply the WD-40 heavy spray in air intake at the box while cranking or a light intermittent spray or spritz? I know Ether based starting fluids are a no no with the glow plugs. How about other types. I have a 3 in 1 brand starting fluid that has no ether and it is a conditioner too. Its kind of oily and worked great for my lawn mower. It did not high rev the motor like an Ether based fluid. What about Ether based fluids if you wait for the glow plug cycle to finish and spritz it a little just to make it hit a little?
What about throttle position. Doesn't the computer do everthing on a 97 or should I also tap pedal a little or hold to floor (its hard not to do it anything).
I once cranked, ran, and bled the injectors on a N/A diesel tractor with a gas soaked rag over the intake. Is it safe to use a gas rag on a 6.5 The tractor knocked from preignition bad while doing this but ran fine after I bled injectors and took gas rag away.
Hubert
97 6.5 K2500 5 spd no mods except fender to airbox thingy off.
Not just for the glow plugs but it can do some seriuose internal damage as well. What I have is a spray can that is pressurized with an air compressor and uses what ever fluid you put in it. I use diesel fuel with a good dose of cetane boost. I've never had to use it on my 1999 but it worked great on our farm and in the Marines with 6.2s. 
I have heard there were other problems with the original 5.7 too, but my neighbor (a mechanic) has replaced several 5.7's with the 2nd generation 5.7, & says he's never had one come back.
