Ping in the winter

[jack1.1]

1998 EB 5.0
sniper tune (87 octane)
catback exhaust, no other mods

Pings under load sometimes, so here's the setups.

K&N panel filter in stock box and stock rubber inlet tube.

or

K&N cone filter with stock rubber inlet pipe.

or

K&N cone filter with chrome metal inlet pipe.

or

this is what I am running now, a K&N panel filter in stock box with a chrome metal inlet pipe.

I did an experiment last summer (with the data logging) with the cone filter and the metal inlet tube, thinking low restriction and my inlet temp was 151 degrees. I swapped out, back to the stock box and rubber inlet and my inlet temp went down to 108 degrees. So I have been running the stock setup for quite a while.

Could it be that since it is 20 degrees here now that the air is too dense and I am leaning the car out too much, and should heat up the air (i.e. go to the cone filter and metal pipe for winter)? I figured my MAS did adjust for that, but am I missing something?

Or is my tune just off?

Sorry for the rookie questions, I'm learning.

Thanks for the input,

Jack

 

[JDraper]

Do your gas stations run oxygenated fuel in the winter? Most of the northeastern cities do for emissions purposes. If so, that could cause the pinging.

 

[jack1.1]

I am not sure, all fuels here are 10% ethanol. They do use different mixes for the seasons, not sure if it's oxygenated or not but I'll check.