Pinging Problem

[Beverly BSP]

Hi - any idea why my 1992 Explorer Eddie Bauer edition pings? It starts pinging after driving it for about 5-10 minutes. It does not have a knock sensor so would it be the EGR valve? I use Rebel gas which has higher octane than most.

 

[Drg racr]

Mine did that, so I ran some Sea Foam thru it. It quit for a while, but now is back and louder than ever. It sounds like a diesel!

 

[ElGuero]

Just a guess, but my 1999 Ford Explorer Sport sounds like a diesal also and I was told that it may be the drive chain tensioner. Search this forum and you will get plent of info. I'm going to do mine, just need the time for it (=SCARED to tear my engine apart).

 

[MrShorty]

The OHV doesn't have the same issues with chain tensioners that the OHC engine does. I doubt you're having problems with the chain.

As noted, carbon build up is one of the common causes of ping on this engine. Often times this can be cleared up with a de-carbonizing treatment (like seafoam).

The other primary cause is an engine that is running a little lean. Dirty MAF is one common cause. Another is a small vacuum leak. Sometimes it's a loose lower intake manifold, that introduces a little leak, that can usually be fixed by simply tightening the bolts back down.

This is a common complaint with the 1st gen OHV, and all of these "fixes" have been discussed many times. The search engine on this site seems to work pretty well, I would suggest plugging a few terms into the search engine and see what you can come up with.