7.3 Engine knock sensor
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1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 1
Likes: 1
7.3 Engine knock sensor
I couldn't find any posts about this.
I was driving my 2020 F250 yesterday and the check engine light came on. I didn't notice anything different and filled the tank. The FordPass app says "The engine control system has detected an electrical concern with the engine knock sensor."
I am still under warranty, so taking it in next week. Just wondering if anyone else has had this issue, or if anyone knows what this means exactly.
Thanks!
I was driving my 2020 F250 yesterday and the check engine light came on. I didn't notice anything different and filled the tank. The FordPass app says "The engine control system has detected an electrical concern with the engine knock sensor."
I am still under warranty, so taking it in next week. Just wondering if anyone else has had this issue, or if anyone knows what this means exactly.
Thanks!
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,454
Likes: 4,952
Knock sensor is just what it says, detects spark knock in the cylinders, ecm retards the timing a little if it detects knock, this is what lets the engine operate on varying octane fuels.
Not sure where it is on the 7.3, but will be screwed into the block somewhere.
Not sure where it is on the 7.3, but will be screwed into the block somewhere.
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 6
Likes: 5
From: Thornton, NH
Me Too
I couldn't find any posts about this.
I was driving my 2020 F250 yesterday and the check engine light came on. I didn't notice anything different and filled the tank. The FordPass app says "The engine control system has detected an electrical concern with the engine knock sensor."
I am still under warranty, so taking it in next week. Just wondering if anyone else has had this issue, or if anyone knows what this means exactly.
Thanks!
I was driving my 2020 F250 yesterday and the check engine light came on. I didn't notice anything different and filled the tank. The FordPass app says "The engine control system has detected an electrical concern with the engine knock sensor."
I am still under warranty, so taking it in next week. Just wondering if anyone else has had this issue, or if anyone knows what this means exactly.
Thanks!
I'd like to find where the sensor is myself without spending $226 for the service manual.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 413
Likes: 285
From: N. Appalachistan
My truck has thrown this code 3 times now. The first time it was headed to the dealer for other reasons - they cleared the code and it didn't return after they drove it. A week or so later the code returned but I topped off with premium and it went off on its own after a couple days. I thought perhaps I had a bad tank of gas so I started running mid grade. Fast forward one month and it threw the code again, and again it went off after a couple days. Sooo...it's tough to replicate. I'm out of warranty now but it was documented with them before warranty expired so I'm guessing it would be covered.
If it's an easy repair and the part is cheap I'll probably open fire with the parts cannon rather than have the truck be down & sitting at the dealership for a couple days.
If it's an easy repair and the part is cheap I'll probably open fire with the parts cannon rather than have the truck be down & sitting at the dealership for a couple days.
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 431
Likes: 247
Maybe the sensors are doing what it is supposed to do?
If what info out is true then the 7.3has 10:5 pistons. The 6.8 has 10:8. Is this not high test gas territory?
I know the computer is supposed to retard timing so it can use low octane gas. With that fact. Why not use high test and let the computer advance timing?
The owners manual even has a blurb about running high test when pulling is not a bad idea.
If what info out is true then the 7.3has 10:5 pistons. The 6.8 has 10:8. Is this not high test gas territory?
I know the computer is supposed to retard timing so it can use low octane gas. With that fact. Why not use high test and let the computer advance timing?
The owners manual even has a blurb about running high test when pulling is not a bad idea.
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 413
Likes: 285
From: N. Appalachistan
Maybe the sensors are doing what it is supposed to do?
If what info out is true then the 7.3has 10:5 pistons. The 6.8 has 10:8. Is this not high test gas territory?
I know the computer is supposed to retard timing so it can use low octane gas. With that fact. Why not use high test and let the computer advance timing?
The owners manual even has a blurb about running high test when pulling is not a bad idea.
If what info out is true then the 7.3has 10:5 pistons. The 6.8 has 10:8. Is this not high test gas territory?
I know the computer is supposed to retard timing so it can use low octane gas. With that fact. Why not use high test and let the computer advance timing?
The owners manual even has a blurb about running high test when pulling is not a bad idea.
I don't think it's realistic for Ford to expect what was designed as a fleet truck motor to run high test for day to day operations, and I also don't ever recall seeing any documentation to that end.
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 413
Likes: 285
From: N. Appalachistan
And my local rural gas station is, I am sure, providing the absolute lowest quality gas they can get away with. I'm 40 minutes from the closest Top Tier pumps so changing up is not practical, not to mention the $.
I have not noticed any changes in the way the engine runs with code thrown or without.
I have not noticed any changes in the way the engine runs with code thrown or without.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 155
Likes: 37
My 2020 7.3 has thrown the code twice. First time at round 10k miles and warranty replaced the sensor. Happened again a year and half later and service told me a rock had chaffed the knock sensor harness they replaced it then wanted to bill me I think it was over $400. I called BS and asked to see pics of the rock and the old harness. They ended up covering it under warranty. What they actually did or replaced i have no idea.
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 431
Likes: 247
They're not supposed to throw codes - as you said, they're supposed to adjust timing. The code is for a knock sensor failure, not a low octane warning. I started running better gas as insurance against the failed sensor not being able to do it's job.
I don't think it's realistic for Ford to expect what was designed as a fleet truck motor to run high test for day to day operations, and I also don't ever recall seeing any documentation to that end.
I don't think it's realistic for Ford to expect what was designed as a fleet truck motor to run high test for day to day operations, and I also don't ever recall seeing any documentation to that end.
It was designed for best performance with 91 or better.
Search octane.
https://www.fordservicecontent.com/F...1_om_EN-US.pdf
For best overall vehicle and engine
performance, premium fuel with an octane
rating of 91 or higher is recommended. The
performance gained by using premium fuel
is most noticeable in hot weather as well
as other conditions, for example when
towing a trailer. See Towing a Trailer
(page 365).
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 4,281
Likes: 2,415
From: Everywhere and nowhere
For best overall vehicle and engine
performance, premium fuel with an octane
rating of 91 or higher is recommended. The
performance gained by using premium fuel
is most noticeable in hot weather as well
as other conditions, for example when
towing a trailer. See Towing a Trailer
(page 365).
performance, premium fuel with an octane
rating of 91 or higher is recommended. The
performance gained by using premium fuel
is most noticeable in hot weather as well
as other conditions, for example when
towing a trailer. See Towing a Trailer
(page 365).
FTE Community Team
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 8,692
Likes: 4,212
From: sussex county, nj
Maybe the sensors are doing what it is supposed to do?
If what info out is true then the 7.3has 10:5 pistons. The 6.8 has 10:8. Is this not high test gas territory?
I know the computer is supposed to retard timing so it can use low octane gas. With that fact. Why not use high test and let the computer advance timing?
The owners manual even has a blurb about running high test when pulling is not a bad idea.
If what info out is true then the 7.3has 10:5 pistons. The 6.8 has 10:8. Is this not high test gas territory?
I know the computer is supposed to retard timing so it can use low octane gas. With that fact. Why not use high test and let the computer advance timing?
The owners manual even has a blurb about running high test when pulling is not a bad idea.
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 431
Likes: 247
those compression ratios are what we used to say were for high-test only , yet in todays world of auto's ratios' of 10 and up are normal, thanks to the use of knock sensors . how high some are is more in the diesel ranges today mazda with the skyactiv-g runs 14.0 to 1, my wifes little 2024 subaru crosstrek runs 13.5 ,heck mazda even has a gas engine called the skyactiv X with 16.3 to 1
The only reason to get by with high compression and low octane is because the knock sensor retards timing.