I have a 96 Explorer 5.0L V8 that will ping on 87 octane fuel either by putting the pedal to the floor or going uphills, but if I run 93 Octane in it, it doesn't make a noise. I know there are alot of things that can cause pinging, but if it pings on one grade fuel and not another, does that point to carbon buildup in the chambers causing the pinging? I have been using FP60 for about a year now with no change. thanks for the help
Ping on Regular Fuel Only?
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It could. It could also be the brand of gas. There is sometimes a big gap in octane quality control from one refining company to another.
I could also be from engine tune related problems as well, such as EGR passages that are restricted but not bad enough to turn on the CEL yet or dirty injectors.
I would start with a good vacuum suck decarbon followed with a bottle of high quality injector cleaner added to the fuel. I like RedLine SI-1 or Chevron's Techron.
I could also be from engine tune related problems as well, such as EGR passages that are restricted but not bad enough to turn on the CEL yet or dirty injectors.
I would start with a good vacuum suck decarbon followed with a bottle of high quality injector cleaner added to the fuel. I like RedLine SI-1 or Chevron's Techron.
I've seen several Ford V6's that pinged from clogged EGR systems. If your V8 has EGR consider it possible. Of course carboned up combustion chambers can cause this also. I believe that the FP60 should be taking care of combustion chamber carbon deposits, and or dirty injectors, maybe I'm wrong
. How long has it been pinging? Does it only ping when hot? Mileage? One other thing not often mentioned: If the sparkplugs are worn to the point that the ground electrodes are thin you can get a glow plug effect that will cause pinging. This takes a lot of miles though in my experience. Good luck Rickey
[ June 04, 2006, 12:19 AM: Message edited by: Rickey ]
[ June 04, 2006, 12:19 AM: Message edited by: Rickey ]
If it pings for a 1/2 a second then goes away I'd say it's normal. Continues to ping as long as you hold your foot in it? then I might be looking at the electronics. The knock sensor should hear it and make it go away.
There is theory of combustion chamber and piston crown carbon buildup raising compression and causing ping? In my experience engines that rattle usually have no carbon problem at all. Detonation seem to do a great job of knocking it loose (plus things that shouldn't be). So the whole thing sort of takes care of itself, IMO. Great way to market the cleaners though, LOL.
FWIW, what does your Ford spec for fuel? my 92 5.0 f150 runs/pulls/hauls fine on 87
There is theory of combustion chamber and piston crown carbon buildup raising compression and causing ping? In my experience engines that rattle usually have no carbon problem at all. Detonation seem to do a great job of knocking it loose (plus things that shouldn't be). So the whole thing sort of takes care of itself, IMO. Great way to market the cleaners though, LOL.
FWIW, what does your Ford spec for fuel? my 92 5.0 f150 runs/pulls/hauls fine on 87
Should not my dad's did not after 165000 miles. Ran great. If you have a growig octane requirement then you have a problem somewhere be it carbon buildup or what not.
There are many different reasons why your engine may be pinging, but it takes experience, understanding and good troubleshooting skills to narrow things down.
Did you buy this vehicle new?
Has it always pinged on 87 octane up hills or did the pinging suddenly start or gradually start happening?
If the engine computer management system has been reprogrammed for more performance from a Super Chips Micro Tuner programmer or something similar, then you'll need higher octane fuel to satisfy the engine's requirements.
If the ECM has never been reprogrammed with a performance tuner and no chips have been installed, then it could be as simple as a dirty mass air flow sensor.
I'm not familiar with the exact details of 5.0 used in the 1996 Explorer, but finding the cause should not be terribly difficult for a smart tech with experience. Maybe the distributor advance isn't what it's supposed to be (bad advance can, weak springs, etc) or perhaps there's a vacuum / intake leak or perhaps the timing is too far advanced (find out where it’s at and try retarding it a degree or two), etc. It could also be a weak coil producing too weak of spark or maybe there’s not enough EGR.
There’s also the PCV to think about and it too can be the root cause of pinging under load, although most people will overlook it because they don’t see the relationship it might have to the cause of pinging. Underneath the valve cover on some vehicles is a splash guard / baffle around the PCV and this splash guard / baffle has a hole that permits accumulated oil flung on to it to drain back down into the engine. If the hole in the splash guard / baffle clogs up, then the PCV sucks in oil, which of course flows into the intake and then into the combustion chamber where it combines with fuel, thus lowering the fuel’s octane rating to some degree.
Also don't overlook something as simple as the fuel filter, which again is something most people wouldn’t think of when it comes to pinging. If the fuel filter is too restrictive (dirty / partially plugged), then the fuel pressure reaching the engine may be slightly reduced from what it should be and this might first start to show up as a pinging problem when the engine is under heavier loads (too lean of mixture for higher fuel demands).
It’s also possible the pinging is caused by carbon build and maybe FP60 hasn’t cleaned it all up? You could try using a more potent intake / carb cleaner and suck it into the engine through a vacuum line.
There are more reasons as to why your engine might be pinging, but I hope I’ve given you a couple more things to think about. Good luck and I hope the solution is something very simple and inexpensive for you.
Did you buy this vehicle new?
Has it always pinged on 87 octane up hills or did the pinging suddenly start or gradually start happening?
If the engine computer management system has been reprogrammed for more performance from a Super Chips Micro Tuner programmer or something similar, then you'll need higher octane fuel to satisfy the engine's requirements.
If the ECM has never been reprogrammed with a performance tuner and no chips have been installed, then it could be as simple as a dirty mass air flow sensor.
I'm not familiar with the exact details of 5.0 used in the 1996 Explorer, but finding the cause should not be terribly difficult for a smart tech with experience. Maybe the distributor advance isn't what it's supposed to be (bad advance can, weak springs, etc) or perhaps there's a vacuum / intake leak or perhaps the timing is too far advanced (find out where it’s at and try retarding it a degree or two), etc. It could also be a weak coil producing too weak of spark or maybe there’s not enough EGR.
There’s also the PCV to think about and it too can be the root cause of pinging under load, although most people will overlook it because they don’t see the relationship it might have to the cause of pinging. Underneath the valve cover on some vehicles is a splash guard / baffle around the PCV and this splash guard / baffle has a hole that permits accumulated oil flung on to it to drain back down into the engine. If the hole in the splash guard / baffle clogs up, then the PCV sucks in oil, which of course flows into the intake and then into the combustion chamber where it combines with fuel, thus lowering the fuel’s octane rating to some degree.
Also don't overlook something as simple as the fuel filter, which again is something most people wouldn’t think of when it comes to pinging. If the fuel filter is too restrictive (dirty / partially plugged), then the fuel pressure reaching the engine may be slightly reduced from what it should be and this might first start to show up as a pinging problem when the engine is under heavier loads (too lean of mixture for higher fuel demands).
It’s also possible the pinging is caused by carbon build and maybe FP60 hasn’t cleaned it all up? You could try using a more potent intake / carb cleaner and suck it into the engine through a vacuum line.
There are more reasons as to why your engine might be pinging, but I hope I’ve given you a couple more things to think about. Good luck and I hope the solution is something very simple and inexpensive for you.
thanks for the replys. the vehicle has 112000 on it and I have had it since 70000 which it has pinged a far as i can remember. The plugs and wires i am changing this summer, but everything else should be fine. the computer has not be touched, the MAF I just cleaned, the ERG system is only a few years old and all other maintenance has been done on this truck in the last few months. As for a leak or vacuum leak, would that also ping on 93 octane not just 87. And for brand of gas, I have tried different stations, plus i add FP60 to it every fillup so it shouldn't be bad gas. I will give the plugs a try, but other then that or carbon buildup, I am not sure what else it could be that I have not changed or cleaned already. thank again.
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