'97 Mountaineer V8 pinging

[jjue]

I just noticed that my Mountaineer is pinging only under full throttle, such as passing on a two-lane highway. I believe that the temperature outside was around 60 degrees F. The only mod is the K&N filter. I just got a tune-up with all fluids changed and the fuel injectors and the throttle body cleaned. Any pinging problems that I had were over when I got the tuneup at 60K, and it's at 60.5K. I think that it's possible that I need to reset the computer for the change in the "winter" fuel, for which I always use Chevron Regular Unleaded. However, what else could cause pinging? Could I possibly be having an exhaust leak? I think that I've been hearing a tapping at idle when I start up, especially on cold mornings.

 

[Cameron]

Try higher octane gas. Also, check the gap in your spark plugs. Make sure none of the spark plug wires are worn. Some times warn wires will arch and cause detonation (ping) to occur.

 

[DarkFox1]

piging?

whattya mean?

btw, very nice choice of vehicle

 

[Cameron]

Pinging is a layman's term for detonation. It's when the fuel/air mixture prematurely detonates and makes a "pinging" sound. It can be very harmful to your engine.
I think that’s a pretty accurate description. Anyone else?

 

[DarkFox1]

well, I had a problem earlier with a "full throttle" as well jjue, you must drive like I do

Anyway, I had a horrid sulfer smell coming from mine and it would lose all power at about 4500 rpm and just mindlessly fly up to about 5k+ before shifting, it wasn't a good habit.

I emailed a ford performance guy about it after talking to his friend on IRC, he explained that ford does this on purpose to prevent pinging or "detonation" as he and cameron called it, maybe yer engine is running too dry?

 

[Xplor]

jjue, I sorta have the same problem with my '00 V8. I get a rattling/pinging noise with the speed around 65mph, mild outside temperature. It only does it when I go over a overpass or a hill. I was using the regular 87. Plus I also have the K&N drop-in. I guess the V8 has a better benefit on a higher octane, since I filled it up with super and no more noise. It also might be a good idea to reset your computer too. Hope this helps ya.

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

I have a quick question. I don't have a V-8, I only have the OHV V-6. When I'm on the highway, I hit the gas, then I hear a very loud rattling (pinging?) noise from the frontend. It can be heard over the stereo. What do you think the problem is?? Is it just rattling or is it pinging? Thanks.

 

[DarkFox1]

sounds like a spark knock to me, my dad has one bad in his old chevy, I beleive you can stop it by replacing the spark plug, but don't quote me on that one

 

[jjue]

Well, to let you know, I couldn't get it to ping when driving 120 miles back to school, I don't know what's going on. I have noticed that this happens more when the air is cooler than 60-65 F, and the air was about 60-65 at the time. The engine likes the colder, denser air except for when the engine hits 4000 RPM in 2nd gear.

I remember that at 60K, I did have the sparkplugs changed at the dealership. However, I haven't been able to figure out if the wires were changed, but I doubt it since I don't see a mention of it anywhere on the receipt. I guess that I might borrow the wires from my roommate's '67 Mustang racecar (fuel-injected 302) since it's currently out of commission until after exams when he has time to finish porting the intake and the heads to get higher flow numbers. (His current numbers aren't much higher than the flow numbers on our STOCK Explorer/Mountaineer 302s with our factory-stock Cobra intake and heads.)

Hmmm, as a EE student, I should have thought about checking the electricals, especially since I've had some funny things going with my dash lights' dimmer switch, the radio harness going to the amp, and the relay/fuse assembly for my radar detector & communications equipment. I guess that it's have to wait until after exams, too. Just another thing on my super long list.

 

[DarkFox1]

oh I doubt its your wires that are making it ping.. I had a bad wire in mine about a year ago.. it would skip BAD when it went up hill.. I couldn't go over 45.. then my exhaust manifold cracked shortly after, argh! complications.. thank god for warrantys and the like

btw, I just noticed you said something about cobra intake? what ya mean? cos I've noticed a difference between my 5.0L intake and the 5.0L explorer intake.. mines a box filter while everyone else seems to have a round one....

[Edited by DarkFox1 on 11-29-2000 at 06:07 PM]

 

[jjue]

Originally posted by DarkFox1

btw, I just noticed you said something about cobra intake? what ya mean? cos I've noticed a difference between my 5.0L intake and the 5.0L explorer intake.. mines a box filter while everyone else seems to have a round one....

[Edited by DarkFox1 on 11-29-2000 at 06:07 PM]

I was referring to the intake manifold. This is supposed to be the same one according to one of the hot rod magazines that my roommates subscribe to and by looking under the hood of the Cobra that my roommate drives as a daily driver. Basically, the article was aimed at 5.0 GT drivers who wanted more power, and they were told to look at parts for 5.0L Explorer, for which the high performance intake manifold and cylinder heads are from the 5.0 Mustang Cobra. The '67 is pulled on a trailer by an F-150. Yep, the Ford to Chevy ratio at this place is 4:1 and the Ford to Chevy driver ratio is 2:1.