So for starters, I have a 2005 Dodge Dakota, automatic, with 98766 miles.

Last year in winter, my engine block heater shorted out, and I procrastinated getting it replaced. Truck ran just fine without it, so that only furthered my procrastination.

So this year, I've run into issues of it not starting when it's left off for too long when the temperature drops to anywhere below 0. Recently I found it to not want to start after about 3-4 hours being off at around -15 or so.

I replaced the battery 2 months ago, so I know that isn't the issue. When I turn the key, it cranks without issue, but I hear a bit of, I guess I would call it a sputtering noise, but its high pitched. The engine occasionally rumbles a bit, like its trying to turn over but won't.

In the most recent issue I mentioned of it being around -15, I kept trying and trying and eventually got it to turn over after I heard it trying to start, and seeing the needle on the RPM gauge jump a bit. So I kept trying and gave it a bit of gas at the right time when it would do that, and eventually I got it to fire up after a few tries.

Based on what I've looked into, there's lots of suggestions about the battery, alternator and starter. Battery is good, so ruled that out. The other 2, the symptoms I've read about don't seem to match. Also read about potential issues regarding fuel pump, filter, or injection system. That seems a little more likely, but I haven't had it die on me once it's running, so I'm not so sure it's the pump.

Also, I l use HEET anytime I fill up when near empty usually aiming to fill up at no less than half a tank. I typically put in in every few fill ups anyway. I use the red bottle of it that says it has full injector cleaner if that matters.

So yeah, in the end, I have a few suspicions on what the issue could be, but my lack of knowledge on the subject, beyond what Google can tell me, brings me here to see what anyone much more knowledgeable than me might have to say.