acceleration noise at 30 mph

[socialite]

help please i have a 2002 ford explorer xlt and it has been fine so far i just got it in jan and it has 93000 miles so anyway while accelerating around 30 mph i notice a tapping noise from the engine but it stops when i get to about 45 mph or 50 mph could someone please help me diagnose this issue because i am a college student in a small town and i think you guys know more than these mechanics here

 

[socialite]

?

 

[davey2451]

well if its like a ping noise its probly just timeing you could try runing a higher octane fuel and if that stops it from pinging then its timing and in that case just have a garge hook up a timing light to it and correct it if its wrong

they should carge u any more then $40 cuz it only takes like 10 min

 

[socialite]

so i use 87 should i go to 89 or something cause i really dont know lol and i am not sure what a ping sounds like i just know it kinda like a tapping noise

 

[davey2451]

is it like taptaptaptaptaptaptap or tap tap tap tap tap?

 

[socialite]

its the taptaptaptaptaptaptaptap and it only last for about 5 or 6 second only starts at 30mph then stops around 40mph

 

[davey2451]

hhmmm well i would say timeing is srewwed up
but it could not be cuz the speed it stats and stops at
but if i were u i would have the timing checked cuz its fast and cheap
and if u try the higher octane go with the highest the gas station offers like 93 or 94

 

[davey2451]

ooo and u should jack it up and craw under it and wiggle ur driveshaft at both ends to see if it has any play in it cuz that could make noise to

 

[socialite]

thanks for the advice i really appreciate it lol and if i tried to jack it up i would be dead lol i am not a mechanic lol i can barely pump gas lol

 

[socialite]

well heres and update i finally took my truck to the shop and the man test drove it and he said that it i need higher octane gas so i went and got a bottle of octane fluid and sure enough that solved the problem so next time when i fill up i will get better gas so hopefully that will solve it for good thanks for the advice