Engine Ping

[rmc]

Has anyone experienced any engine ping problems with their Ford Explorers? I have a 1998 4.0 SOHC and it has approx. 48,000 miles. I have our truck serviced by Ford on a regular basis to maintain our warranty, and they have adjusted it a couple of times already. The ping is back. Are there any suggestions? How can I fix this problem?

 

[Quick]

Change gas stations. Try different grades from a different gas station.

Sometimes you can get a "bad" tank of gas that has the improper octane levels. Try various places and most of the time, it will help.

 

[AgExplorer]

Cleaning the MAS may help. This has helped a lot of the folks on the board. There has also been a suggestion to get down to a 1/4 tank of gas and pour in Ford's fuel system cleaner. You may also want to try AMSOIL's Power Foam and Performance Improver (PI). The Power Foam is great for cleaning the upper air intake system. The PI will clean up your fuel injectors and fuel system. I use the PI with every tank and have not had any pinging problems since I started using it.

 

[sink]

My 94 XLT 4.0 bad ping was resolved by cleaning the MAS. The Ford dealer service shop manager had no idea the MAS was even possible culprit. I cleaned it myself in about 10 minutes and instantly fixed a year and a half of unknown ping. Also- Do a search here. I believe some 98 folks have discussed ping of a different nature here recently.

 

[todd_c]

Not sure if this applies to the SOHC, but I eliminated a pinging problem on my OHV 4.0 by retorqueing the upper intake manifold. It's made of plastic on the OHV, and over time the plastic can take a compression set. Hope this helps...

 

[JDraper]

One possible cause of 'ping' is the computer. The computer reads how you drive the vehicle normally, and adjusts the engine parameters to optimize the performance (It's mentioned in my owners manual). If you drive it alot at part throttle and accelelerate gently without going to wide open a decent amount, the computer will adjust accordingly. If you then decide to stomp on it, it can cause pinging. Mine did it after I installed a new battery (which reset the computer) and then promptly went on a long road trip on cruise control. I yanked the battery cable to reset the computer, and then ripped around for a little while. Pinging vanished...

 

[eatonc]

1998 Pinging

I have had the same problem. The bottom line is that the pinging is really the cam chains rubbing against the tensioners. From what I understand most people see this upon start up. Mine happens under load. A rep from Ford drove with me today and heard the noise. Right away he said it was the chains.


This link is what finally led up to this conclusion.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=23465&highlight=detonation

 

[Rhett]

I think on the 97's and 98's there is a cam tensioner problem that can surface as eatonc suggests. From my understanding of it, the timing gets off on those early SOHC engines. I think the service for it is under Ford warranty/recall. There are many threads about it here, do a search.

 

[Mark Drysdale]

I get a rattle/ping at 2600 rpm is this the same thing, ie camchain tensioners, mine has 53K on it and full history but apparently the tensioners have been done already.