Hesitant cold start up

Good morning, I have a 2012 Tundra 5.3L crewmax. For a couple years now I get hesitant start ups for cold cranks. If I use a fuel additive like Lucus (mainly) or seafoam (occasionally) it cranks fine. I use about every 2nd or 3rd tank and it's fine. Any longer it starts to spin and gets very hesitant to crank. I can treat again and it gets better. Any ideas? I've tried gas from different locations it doesn't seem to matter.

 

Flex fuel engine?

 

Yes it will use regular unleaded or the E-85 grade (ethanol)

 

I don't use the E85 because the couple times I've tried it the fuel mileage drops so bad it doesn't save any money

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)! Stay away from E85 if at all possible. Not sure about a permanent fix for the hesitant startup. You might post the question in the Ask the Toyota Mechanic thread.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/ask-the-toyota-mechanic.2404/

 

Yes I agree only used it twice a few years ago. It's no good!! Thanks for the link I'll check it out

 

You likely have the same problem most of the FFV Tundra guys with long crank times have. It's an incorrect ALC% stored by the computer. Ethanol has less energy by volume than gasoline, so it takes more of it to do the same work (hence the lower MPG when using E85). That means the computer is programmed to add more E85 than it would regular gas when the truck is running and at startup. Your truck may think it has E85 (it's adding more) when your trying to burn gas (needs less) essentially flooding the motor at startup. Often times when it finally starts you get a puff of white smoke (excessive fuel burning off). There's a TSB for this condition and the fix is spendy. Most have had luck just resetting the ALC% and the truck goes back to normal. Just don't add any E85 to it and it may stay just fine. However quite a few that have never run E85 have also experienced this problem and many have had to reset the computer more than once of the course of the years. Doesn't seem the expensive recommended fuel pump change has solved anyone's issue. Numerous threads in here about the Flex Fuel issue.

 

Welcome from the Great State of Texas!

 

Welcome from NY.