Side by side picture of the #2 cylinder spark plug and brand new one. Going to reinstall and hopefully fixes issue. All of the other connections are down tight with the other spark plugs and wires.

comparison of the new spark plug on the bottom to the old one on the top.

 

I reinstalled the new spark plug and didn't make any difference. Still getting a lot of pinging in the exhaust. Switched the spark plug wires from 2 to 1 and no difference. I also noticed coil and spark plug wires were very hot after running the truck for a little while. I am going to turn my attention to cleaning the fuel injectors as they might be dirty but still doesn't explain the pinging and also the truck running like crap. VERY frustrated!

 

I spent about 6-8 hours yesterday pulling the top of the motor to get to the fuel injectors. Found out they were dirty and cleaned them up. Was only able to put 3 of them back on before I had to pick up my wife at work. Going to wrap it up this morning. As you can see I wasn't apparantly getting fuel spray which might account for the truck feeling fuel starved. I think I have ruled out any spark issue as spark plugs, coil, and spark plug wires are good. The other Catalytic converter on the PS I was not able to get off. I took a rubber hammer and hammered on it and there was no loose rock sounds from inside so I am thinking it is ok. When I do my exhaust upgrade down the line then I will just cut it off.

This was the #2 fuel injector that I pulled. NIIIICCCCEEEE!

 

Same #2 fuel injector cleaned up and ready for reinstall

 

Got done with the fuel injectors this morning and bolted everything back up again. No change at all and still getting pinging noise in exhaust from burned fuel. Truck still running badly. Unhooked downstream 02 sensors as the upstreams had been replaced before and NO CHANGE! Thinking that the upstream sensors were probably damaged as per previous comments. Going to try and get the PS CATS off today and hollow out to see if that makes a difference.

 

Pulled the upstream O2 sensors off and included a picture. Working on the PS cat still. Soaking it in Blaster to get it off. I am wandering if the 02 sensors upstream were at fault. I read here on the site about someone suggesting 02 failure. Here is what was said.

Ok, that sensor will need to be replaced for sure. The converters on F series rarely fail unless the O2 sensor starts to get out of whack, even if there are no sensor codes. If you have sensor codes, then the sensor is definitely shot. The sensors output voltage drops over time, which the computer interprets as a lean condition. This causes the vehicle to run rich, which in turn damages the cats. Add a slight misfire or just incomplete combustion on one of more cylinders, that leaves unused oxygen, which then mixes with unburned fuel in the cat, causing it to overheat.

 

 

Yesterday after working I jumped back on the F150 issue. Replaced the fuel filter and air filter along with a new battery. The battery that was in the truck was from June 2010 and had run its course. Disconnected the rear downstream 02 sensor on the DS. The truck ran better. Redid compression test after talking with my brother in law on the phone. All cylinders were at least 180 PSI except for the #2 which came in at 130-140. Anyway pulled the plugs and found out that the 4,5,6 plugs had more oil and fuel fouling on them. I cleaned them up and put those on the 1,2,3 side and reinstalled. The truck ran better and did not make the "pinging" noise in the exhaust system. My brother in law suggested that I replaced the fouled plugs and ultimately that cylinder will probably need a valve seal replacement and that oil is blowing past it.