I currently have "pinging" on the 87 octane gas and even went up to 89 octane fuel... do I get a "tune-up" or try a superchip? The price of 89 octane in CA is $2.40 - ouch. Any advice? This should not be happening, right?

 

A chip is not for fixing such problems and will make pinging worse.. Take it to the dealer and find out why its pinging. It should run 87.

 

OK... I'll do that. Regarding air filters... are the K&N or the Airaid about the same? I was planning to buy the Superchips 1715 (won't use it until AFTER I take the beast to the dealer), and install a good aftermarket air intake system... any advice is appreciated. I at least need to adjust the tire size with the Superchips unit... speedo is OFF!

 

this subject has been posted on alot.. the bottom line is these trucks dont run too high of compression for 87 octane, not even close.. so contrary to what people belive higher octane doesnt produce more power, just gives a slightly later burn(extremely small timing changes, in effect)... Anyway all that being said i there are allot of people who experiance it, i dont know why.. I Do get it pulling a trailer in a high gear before it downshifts it pings on 87, so i run 89 and it goes away, i fill up with 89 when im pulling a trailer and i know there are hills ahead.. As for taking it to a dealer? my 93 ford ranger did it from brand new and lasted well over 200k, my parents 99 suburban 350 vortec started doing it real bad at 150k and is currently at 240k, my truck has done it as long as i can remeber and is at 35k... So i dont even bat an eye, just dont hold it at that low rpm while its pinging for very long.. make it shift.....Now this is opinion... i think the reason more people dont admit this problem is they dont know what it sounds like, they think there hearing there valvese clicking etc...
well good luck and i know of at least 6-7 superduties, the ones i ride in, that do the same thing.
Jetjock16

 

jetjock,
I have read several threads on this and I just got back from a trip with the same problem. I have a 2002 super crew with a 5.4 and tow a relatively light load about 3500lbs. I noticed the ping as the rest and put 89 in it as per my father-in-law's recommendation and didn't notice it as much. It just doesn't seem right, I would like to take it to the dealer but don't want them to charge me driveway rate and tell me to put in higher octane fuel.

 

I am on the same page & symptoms of Jetjock16.
I get it trailering on hills with some 87 fill ups. I go to 89 when expecting it. I've never had an engine melt down because of it on my last 3 Fords. Somewhere in the owner's manual says some knocking is to be expected on Tritons.

 

Never got mine to ping towing yet. 2001 F250SD Supercab 5.4l pulling 3000lb trailer and the bed loaded to the hilt. The drive to the cabin is up and down a lot of hills and not a problem. You sure someone didn't slip a dodge v8 in your 250 as a joke?

 

Hey now none of that. I travel from So Cal to NO Cal up an down a lot. Only noticed it on small inclines when in cruise and in overdrive. Once I put the 89 in it and take it out of OD on hills it runs very well. I had an 85 F150 for about 12 years with I think the 302 and it never pinged. But I am very happy with the baby super crew I was holding out for a 7.3 but finally realized the 5.4 fit in the budget much better. No regrets yet. Maybe if I ever talk the wife into a boat I might kick myself.

 

Wow.. this thread is OLD>>>> Update... my truck now has 48k miles on it and still does same thing.. runs awsome.
JJ

 

when a vehicle "pings" does this not have something to do with timing? where the sparks plugs fire a little bit too early thus resulting in a pinging noise?

 

I bought my truck prebroken-in with 50,000 and I got no compliants on the performance, and seems this pinging thing isn't anything to worry about.

Thanks guys

 

I had a bad ping problem which was made worse by installing a hypertech tuner. Even switching to 91 octane didn't help. Well I sold the hypertech, and problems solved. After resetting the computer the ping was gone. Try diconnecting the battery for about half an hour or so to reset the computer. I have not had any pinging for the past 2 months since I reset mine and ditched the hypertech.

 

Thanks I think I have read that premium fuel was required for those chips. I will try the battery thing thats not a bad idea, also cheaper than $75/hr driveway rate at the dealer.