I have a 2.3 in my '89 Ranger 5-speed that has 206,000 miles on it and runs great except for a slight pinging. When its idling and accelerating it doesnt ping but when your cruising it will ping slightly and when it starts going under a load like goin up a hill it will get worse. I switched from 87 to 89 octane gas and did notice a difference but havent went to premium yet. The engine still has great power and runs excellent except for that. Anybody have any ideas?

Thanks
Ryan

 

Yeah, i have a 94 XLT with the 2.3 and 5 speed. Mine does the exact same thing! Here is what i have done so far: New fuel filter, new air filter, new spark plugs, new wires, cleaned MAF sensor. All of this helped some.
I recently tried it with 95 octane gas and it improved a lot, but it still does it some. Any other ideas? Mine truck works fine when cold, but as soon as the water temp gage gets to operanting temp. It starts pinging during cruise and under light load. Ah, the other funny thing is that it does it even in 3rd with the gas pedal in mid range, but if i floor it the pinging goes away. Any ideas??

 

Sounds to me like it may be running lean. Intake loose or maf or oxygen sensor. You might want to tighten the clamps on the air intake hoses after the air sensor to the engine. The sensor reads so much air passing thru and adjustes the mix but the leaks
downstearm result in a lean mixture. My thoughts.

 

Could also be not enough EGR flow. The exh gas tends to lower peak combustion temperature, which is how it decreases NoX emissions, and also lessens pinging, so they take advantage of this and advance the timing more at cruise to gain some gas mileage. Therefore, if theres not enough egr, you get pinging. EGR only comes on at cruise speed and throttle, and you may have noticed that if you push on the gas more, the pinging goea away right?
mike

 

Prolly carbon build up over time.Most often the case is the rings and guides are wore and allowing for more oil to get in the cumbustion chamber.You can knock out the carbon by sprying water down the intake post filter.You ever see a cracked head and the water knocks out all the carbon,same thing here.Just don't over doo it hydrolic bad.

 

hey guys and gals i got a 92 ranger 2.3 5sp and had the same problem . i changed egr , egr postion sensor , evr, fuel filter - nothing would stop the ping at cruise speed except removing the octane spout which retards the timing . about two weeks ago i changed the oxy sensor and since then the ping has gone - it may work for you