07' F150 w/ 38K miles, Pings??

[panthermike]

Wanted to try and get some suggestions on this. Last night, I borrowed my brother's F150(5.4), to use it today. It's a beautiful truck, but I noticed under "light" acceleration, it pings. It wasn't constant, but did it often(was pretty light, not loud).

I thought this was unusual on such a new truck. My first thought is that his wife drives this truck, 95% city. Secondly, she said she always gets "whatever" gas, usually AMPM

. So, last night I put some Shell fuel in and had to drive 45 freeway miles or so. Still there, sometimes I didn't hear it though.

Suggestions? I told my brother to use a good cleaner like SI-1, run "quality" fuels, and get the darn thing on the highway like once a week. If this doesn't work, take it to the dealer under warranty? Oh no codes either, aside from the ping the truck runs beautifully.

Thanks guys.

 

[01rangerxl]

Working the engine a little may help. It sounds like it doesn't get past 3K RPM very often...

 

[panthermike]

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
Working the engine a little may help. It sounds like it doesn't get past 3K RPM very often...


You're right, she drives conservatively and usually not above 50mph on surface streets.

Last night I did a few WOT runs, for the sake of the truck

 

[wander2039]

At work we have one smaller shuttle (08 E350 V10) that for the most part a older guy drives. That thing pings like crazy.. well until I drive it on the weekends. V10's start getting a bit smelly when their not used to.

 

[punisher]

If it pings too much for you/your brother, see if there are any TSBs for the problem. FoMoCo might have a PCM reprogram available to correct the problem. MAF sensors that go slightly lean will also contribute to pinging.

Then again it might be the specific tank of gas that is in there now. I wouldn't worry about it till I tried a couple different gas brands.

 

[mechtech2]

Use mid grade fuel. Go to 89 octane if you are using 87.

 

[The Critic]

Decarbonize the induction system.

Buy a can of Seafoam and run it through the vacuum lines. It should solve the problem.

 

[panthermike]

Great input guys, I'll have him run the SI-1 first, as well as better fuel.

Punisher, I didn't think of cleaning the MAF, I know it hasn't been done. Plus, it's easy to do.

Mechtech2, I could see this stopping the ping. Convincing them to spend the extra coin may be tough though. But shouldn't it run just fine on 87?, or at least supposed to.

Critic, I may do this. Seafoam scares me though, as far as the cats, etc. Ever had an issue?

 

[97tbird]

I have the same problem on my 1997 Tbird with the 4.6L v8 - but my pinging started at about 90k miles, and I also had to run premium

to compensate.
I recently replaced cats and O2 sensors, and right now i am in the process of going back to regular and see if the pinging still exists; if it's due to carbon and not due to the bad cats I had, i guess it will still ping

After a long time, my car will be getting some interstate miles in the next few months, and hopefully it will help "clean" the combustion chamber a bit..
... I am going to run some Amsoil PI in the tank...

I really want to try Seafoam too - and just like you, I am scared to try it, i don't wanna hydrolock the engine or damage the (new) cats....although i've never heard that seafoam is bad for cats...

 

[Warstud]

Try Citgo's 87 octane. It made the ping go away on my blazer.

 

[bdcardinal]

i didnt see any open TSBs for pinging. there could be an available PCM calibration update, but i wouldnt know without having a VIN and checking what the latest calibration is. that is the motor where spark plug replacement is tricky and the plugs are prone to breaking off while removing.

 

[PT1]

Try filling it up with Shell Vpower 93 and one 16 oz bottle of redline SI-1 or a double dose of techron and take it for a 2-300 mile highway trip. Also, if it is a VVT engine make sure they are useing the correct viscosity oil.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: panthermike
Great input guys, I'll have him run the SI-1 first, as well as better fuel.

Punisher, I didn't think of cleaning the MAF, I know it hasn't been done. Plus, it's easy to do.

Mechtech2, I could see this stopping the ping. Convincing them to spend the extra coin may be tough though. But shouldn't it run just fine on 87?, or at least supposed to.

Critic, I may do this. Seafoam scares me though, as far as the cats, etc. Ever had an issue?


I'm going to try it on the Saturn soon.

GM used to make a very potent product called Top Engine Cleaner (TEC). It was much, much stronger than Seafoam. However, they've discontinued it because of environmental reasons I think. But Mopar still makes the "Combustion Chamber Cleaner." It's a foaming aerosol can that you can buy at a Mopar dealer for about $7-- cheaper than Seafoam and supposedly stronger.

 

[panthermike]

bdcardinal, I will try to get the VIN soon, yes that's the tricky spark plug engine.

PT1, that's the plan minus the premium fuel. I do the oil changes on the truck so that's correct. PP 5w20 every 5-7K miles.

Critic, I've heard of the GM stuff, shame it's discontinued. I'll have to look into the Mopar stuff. If I don't use it on this truck I may consider it on my Corolla.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: panthermike
Critic, I've heard of the GM stuff, shame it's discontinued. I'll have to look into the Mopar stuff. If I don't use it on this truck I may consider it on my Corolla.


Mopar stuff is fairly inexpensive from the dealer. Here's a video of someone using it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EZmYyrAU58

 

[dwendt44]

It needs an Italian Tune-up!

Seriously. A good 'blow the snot out of it' run might help.

Injector cleaner for a couple of tanks will help.
As will a 180º thermostat.
And/or a step or two colder spark plugs.

 

[97tbird]

wouln't the colder plugs and 180* t-stat require a re-tune of the pcm/calibration, though?

 

[Colt45ws]

Yeah.

 

[kaboom10]

I have a 2002 w/5.4L and 45k miles. I'm a stickler on keeping the fuel system clean. I clean the MAF once a year along with the reusable air filter. The timing table has been tuned to give a lot more spark advance than the stock tune. I do NOT have any spark knock and use 87 octane fuel. It sees 4000rpm a lot when city driving.

 

[PT1]

Originally Posted By: dwendt44
It needs an Italian Tune-up!



LOL.....true!