What kind of socket do you use to take off the air flow sensor.. its a 6 star with a metal pin in the middle... i was planning on cleaning out the sensor.. but can't get it off.. any ideas..

 

its called tamper proof torx. You can get a cheap set at any parts house.

 

Or you can punch out the pin and use a regular torx

 

I went to sears last night and got the proper tools.. took of the sensor and cleaned it with 02 save spray.. hopefully this will help with the lifter sounding noise when i am going 70 + mph..

 

So you're talking about pinging? A knocking noise during hard acceleration?

Yes this can cause this.. also a lean fuel system or inoperative EGR system as well.

What year/engine? Any codes?

 

Yeah it kind of pings/pops its only during acceleration hard or not.. when i am going 70 mph plus.. i drive interstate 45 miles a day.. thats the only time notice it.. its a 98 xlt. 4.0 pushrod. There are no codes.. i just hear it.. thanks for ur help

 

I have a 99 with a similar issue trying to accelerate up hills... like on ramps...

Switching from 87 octane to 89 octane got rid of most of it...

As far as the security Torx, I bought a set at Sears for working on my clothes dryer... but I've used them on my Explorer more... I went through Home Depot, Lowes, Advance Auto, and Pep Boys before Sears... None of them know what I was talking about until I got to Sears...

 

If cleaning the intake did not rectify your problem, look to decarbonizing the heads. There is a proceedure where you inject water into the intake and the steam created in the cylinders will break down the carbon.

 

I put in some 93 0ctane and that seemed to fix it.. cleaning the injection with water.. never heard of that.. but again.. u have the exp with 400k so i trust ya?? do you ever use seamfoam??

 

Seafoam is not available in Canada

 

Or if you have a dremel tool, you can just cut a slot in the screws and use a regular screw driver.

 

Seafoam is not available.. oh my heart aches for you.. if you ever feel the need. i will ship you some..