2000 Ford Ranger Ping (BAD!)

[Timothy Ferguson]

I have a 2000 flex fuel 3.0l engine ranger with the automatic trans. I have been running 87 octane fuel in it like the book says. I have been using MMO in the gas for quite some time know. It seems to make the truck handle better I don't know. I always put in fuel injector cleaner in the take at every oil change. Thats at 6000mile or 6month OCI'S.

My question is when I am riding along in 4th gear which is overdrive for me and when I need to give it a little gas to pick up speed. I don't give it a lot of so where the truck comes out of overdrive it stays in 4th gear. I hear the truck ping and rattle something bad. If I force a down shift on it says making it go down to 3rd gear I have no problem there is no ping or rattle or knock. Does any one else have this problem on there ranger? What octane fuel do you use. My parents always told me that there ranger does that but putting a higher octane fuel in makes it go away. What do you think? I would put premium in it if I could be satisfied that it wouldn't hurt anything be making the problem worse or haveing the threat of making the eninge dirtier by not exploding the fuel mixture enough so I get this carbon fouling all the time. Is there a possibility I should have to be running maybe midgrade or premium even though the truck manual says other wise? I don't think the trucks computer can adjust itself to take advantage of the higher octane.

 

[JohnnyO]

I used to have a '99 with the same engine, it is a common problem. The dealer can adjust the computer and something called an "octane rod"(?)

that would get rid of it for a while. Depends on your gas mix too, mine was okay on the winter blend but pinged in the summer. I just gave up and ran 89 in the summers.
There is more info on this at www.therangerstation.com.
Some people say that adding an MSD box will fix it. Also try just disconnecting the battery for about 5 minutes so the ECM will reset itself.
If it's pinging, you don't have to worry about carbon fouling from too-high octane because it IS all burning up.

[ March 06, 2005, 10:23 AM: Message edited by: JohnnyO ]

 

[Timothy Ferguson]

So running a higher octane says premium wouldn't hurt anything other than my pocket or clearing up the pinging right?

I wonder if it is because I just added a K&N air filter on the tuck less than 4 days ago. The computer probably hasn't had time to adjust for the more air flow maybe? I don't that it would make it ping that bad though.

 

[JohnnyO]

I put a K&N in my '02 Ranger, I didn't think it made any difference. DO NOT put too much oil on the filter, it can foul the MAF sensor. It's cleanable by spraying the sensor wire with electrical contact cleaner, then a shot from a can of compressed air. If you just dropped in the K&N out of the box with the oil it came with, you should be fine. Since you put in a K&N I would definitely advice disconnecting the battery for a few minutes.

 

[andrews]

I used a K&N filter on a smooth running 2000 F150 I had. Soon after the install the engine idled rough. Slight, but I could notice it. I will never use one of those things again. As for the Ranger, I know what you mean about the pinging. I've got a 2001 with a puny 4 banger and I get the same thing every now and then. I've tried running higher octane (rip-off) gas in it and it seemed to work well. I stay away from 76 stations....they seemed to be the worst. You can also carry around a small bottle of an octane booster in your cab. Whenever you get pinging just pour it in. I used to frequent a Ranger site on the web and they often spoke of this issue. I think taking it to a dealer and asking them to adjust it may work....or you may get ripped off. That's why I haven't bothered.