Detonation under load...

[ThespecialistKC]

OK, before anyone jumps on me, I did a search and tried everything that was suggected: complete tuneup with properly gapped plugs, new wires, cleaned MAF and idle control, checked intake bolts, replaced fuel filter, checked all vacuum hoses (they all seemed fine - no hardening) and seafoamed it (twice). I'm still pinging. It's a 92 2wd w/ 117k. Been in my family for around 8 years. Has pinged since my mom bought it w/ 50k on the clock. Now I have it (great for my new family), and I'm determined to rid myself of the ping. It happens under load between 1.5 an 3k on the tach. Downshift and take it above 3k and it's gone. Other than the ping it runs, drives and looks great. Go figure. I run 91 octane, anything less and it gets really bad. Any ideas, O wizards of the Exploder World??

P.S. - I haven't pulled the codes, Autozone said they only pull '96 and up. I'll have to do the old voltmeter trick I 'spose....

Thx

Ken

 

[Creager]

These cars are pretty much built to ping. The pinging isnt going to actually stop on these cars so you gotta live with it. Best i can say is rebuild the heads, put a 66mm throttle on it, a bigger MAS and you will get results. Im not too sure but im i bet puttin a aftermarket ECU on there will help too.

Personally im going all out and swapping to the 302. The 4.0 is weak, gas consuming and on top of that its maxed out. There isnt much you can do to it that ford already hasn't.

 

[FirstFord]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118297

 

[aldive]

These cars are pretty much built to ping. The pinging isnt going to actually stop on these cars so you gotta live with it.

That is simply NOT true.

 

[expo5.0]

they are built to ping- sure they are

 

[aldive]

Im not too sure but im i bet puttin a aftermarket ECU on there will help too.

Huh?

 

[MrShorty]

FWIW, my '92 doesn't ping.
It sounds like you've covered the most common causes of engine ping. A couple of thoughts:
Sometimes just tightening the lower intake manifold bolts isn't enough. The gasket is in such bad shape, that it requires replacing the gasket. Does your engine use coolant or oil? Any deposits on the spark plugs (especially #5)? These would confirm that the lower intake manifold gasket still needs work.
If you get into replacing the gasket, be sure to get the fuel injectors cleaned while they are out. I've heard of a couple of cases where fuel injectors got so clogged and dirty that they caused the engine to run lean and ping.
While talking fuel, if the fuel pressure were a little too low, that could cause the engine to run lean and ping. Verify fuel pressure.
I've heard of a couple of cases where the ECT was telling the computer the engine was hotter than it actually was. The computer leans the mixture out as it gets hotter, so a false hot signal from the ECT caused the engine to run too lean and ping. ECT is pretty easy to check; it's a basic thermistor.
In addition to those things, I'd do a more thorough check for vacuum leaks. Start at the MAF, work your way down the air intake tube (have heard of these developing cracks/seams that allow unmetered air in). Make sure all connections are good. Make sure there are no leaks anywhere into the upper intake.
LEt us know how it goes.

 

[ThespecialistKC]

Does your engine use coolant or oil? Any deposits on the spark plugs (especially #5)? These would confirm that the lower intake manifold gasket still needs work.

Holy Schnikes! As a matter of fact, it does use oil. About a quart every 2k. And plug #5 fouls out every couple of months. I wouldn't say fouls out, but it's greasy and oily for sure. I take it these are symptoms of a blown lower intake gasket??

MrShorty = Da' Man.

 

[goliath]

classic cause of ping in these engines.

mine did the same thing, sounded really bad. plug 5 fouls, and it used oil 1 qt about every 1k. Tightened down the intake gasket bolts, ran fuel injector cleaner, replaced the plugs, and drove the hell out of it for about 15 minutes to burn off the carbon, and it has never pinged since. you may need more drastic steps like seafoam, or a new gasket if it has been leaking and pinging a really long time. Even after the you fix the problem, it may ping for a while until the carbon burns off the piston head and the compression returns to normal.

good luck.

 

[general x]

HOLY SHAMOLY! could this mistery pinging could be the same as that tick i hear in my truck when i drive??? the only time you cant hear the tick is at idle, rev the engine the slightest bit and she ticks "tick tick tick tick tick"

(anyone knowtice an increase in power when they fixed this ping? )

 

[ThespecialistKC]

HOLY SHAMOLY! could this mistery pinging could be the same as that tick i hear in my truck when i drive??? the only time you cant hear the tick is at idle, rev the engine the slightest bit and she ticks "tick tick tick tick tick"

(anyone knowtice an increase in power when they fixed this ping? )

Hmmm, that sounds like a lifter to me, but what do I know, I'm driving an Exploder that's been pinging for the last 10 years. Anyways, it sounds like I may have to replace the gasket. I'll re-check the bolts and make sure they are torqued to spec. If that doesn't solve it, then I'll pull it down and replace the gasket, probably around X-mas. I'll keep y'all posted.....

KC

 

[Rhett]

HOLY SHAMOLY! could this mistery pinging could be the same as that tick i hear in my truck when i drive??? the only time you cant hear the tick is at idle, rev the engine the slightest bit and she ticks "tick tick tick tick tick"

(anyone knowtice an increase in power when they fixed this ping? )

Ticking at idle is probably the lifters. Lifter tick sounds different than pinging, too. Pinging won't occur at idle; only on acceleration.

 

[TPLYNCH]

Another cause of Tick Tick Tick is a pinhole in the EGR tubing (think '92's got the EGR) or in the exhaust manifold.

 

[general x]

well i can only hear the tick tick tick at idle if im listening to it with the hood open, from in the cab i cant hear the tick unless the rpms are higher then idle

 

[ThespecialistKC]

well i can only hear the tick tick tick at idle if im listening to it with the hood open, from in the cab i cant hear the tick unless the rpms are higher then idle

Here's a trick my old man taught me. Take a broom handle (or any long peice of wood) and VERY CAREFULLY place it on the valve covers near the lifters while the truck is running. Let me stress the VERY CAREFULLY part. Place your ear near the end of the broomstick and listen. If the tick is from a lifter you should be able to distinctly hear it through the broomstick. If it's an exhaust leak, the sound won't be pronounced, or will be absent altogether. This often works trying to identify where a sound is coming from if it's mechanical in nature. However, done improperly or by someone who is a spaz this often results in wood shards driven through your face and neck. I'm not kidding. If you choose to do this, be VERY CAREFUL. On second thought, don't do this.

Note: ThespecialistKC is not responsible or liable in any fashion for any injury resulting from any advice (good or bad) he may give at any time. And it's usually all bad. So there.

KC

 

[Rhett]

However, done improperly or by someone who is a spaz this often results in

A spaz. hehehe. Haven't heard that one in a while.

I never heard that broom trick, pretty interesting.

 

[Rhett]

well i can only hear the tick tick tick at idle if im listening to it with the hood open, from in the cab i cant hear the tick unless the rpms are higher then idle

If it's that quiet, I would say it's pretty normal. OHV's aren't the quietest engines anyway. You are going to hear some ticking with the hood open and engine idling.

 

[MrShorty]

One common tick you'll hear is from the fuel injectors, which is completely normal.

Rather than use an unwieldy broom stick, I spent a couple bucks and bought a stethoscope. Does the same thing, but it's a little easier to handle.

 

[general x]

If it's that quiet, I would say it's pretty normal. OHV's aren't the quietest engines anyway. You are going to hear some ticking with the hood open and engine idling.

thing is that when the hood is open you can easily hear the tick and when you hit the gas while driving you can REALLY hear the tick, i think theres an exhaust leak as well so my x sounds pritty bad from the inside of the cab

 

[ThespecialistKC]

And to resurrect another dead thread.... here's an update. Soooo last weekend I finally had the time to pull the ol' Sploder off the road and dive into the intake manifold project. What a PITA. The actual mechanical teardown isn't bad, but all the electronic junk everywhere makes it really fun getting stuff off once it's loose. And whoever designed the engine bay with the passenger side valve cover that close the the A/C stuff should be tarred and feathered and stacked in a pyramid. Jeez. After all is said and done and put back together with no leftover parts... it's much better. Not gone, but better. I'd say 75% gone. The gasket was definitely leaking around #5, I could see the leak marks (maybe I'll take and post a pic). The bolts were loose. I mean uncomfortably loose. Maybe that's what started the whole thing. So now I'm gonna re-check all of the vac. lines, run some more super cleaner through the injectors and pull the codes. One strange item though, I replaced the thermostat (since I was there), but the truck still runs cold. At least cold according to the guage. Maybe that's sending a false signal and leaning everything out????? Thoughts???? I'll keep everyone posted and thanks for reading the ramble. Verbosity, indeed.

KC