Engine Pinging and Loss of Power

[Rapter554]

I have a 96' XLT 4x4 4.0 5spd. I just passed 100,000 miles. I have noticed that the engine pinging is getting worse. I really have no idea what to do to stop the pinging. I have searched the board for engine pinging and have found nothing. Im sure its here just beyond my newbie skills. Thanks!

 

[97BlackX5.0]

ever had a tuneup... by tuneup i mean spark plug wires , spark plugs, fuel filter, air filter, maybe run a some injector cleaner through it, do you have a check engine light on ?

 

[RickOTR]

I too had the same problem when I owned a 91 explorer. It involves removing cylinder #5's spark plug and observing it for carbon buildup. This buildup is due to a lower intake leak of engine oil from a faulty gasket. Ford has an updated gasket that is made of sheet steel with rubber vulcanized around the port openings. This is much better than the original cardboard gasket.

Also clean the MAF sensor with some denatured alcohol ad a cotton swap. This solved the pinging and hesitation on my 97 explorer.

 

[Rapter554]

I bought it a few months ago, and have no record if it has ever had a tune up. Sounds like a good idea. No there is no check engine light.

 

[Rhett]

Originally posted by RickOTR
I too had the same problem when I owned a 91 explorer. It involves removing cylinder #5's spark plug and observing it for carbon buildup. This buildup is due to a lower intake leak of engine oil from a faulty gasket. Ford has an updated gasket that is made of sheet steel with rubber vulcanized around the port openings. This is much better than the original cardboard gasket.

heheh! Taken verbatim from the Explorer Owner's Maintenance Reference Page:
Dead Link Removed

And Rapter, do a search on this site for a product called Seafoam...worked for me.

 

[Broccoli1]

http://www.explorer4x4.com/tips.htm

Scroll down to engine missing and pinging

 

[TheJMan]

At 100,000 miles, if those are the original spark plugs, they are probably in pretty bad shape. At 79K, I replaced my plugs and wires (the plugs were really bad), and although I haven't had a problem with pinging, it has really helped smooth out the engine and is much more responsive.