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Oct 24, 2002 | 01:35 PM

#16

MickeyP

Senior User

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 134

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From: NJ USA

Pinging

There's one thing nobody has mentioned yet: A dirty mass airflow sensor (MAF). This seems to be a problem with the 3 and 4 liter engines -- the dirty sensor (looks like a light bulb filament) sends bad info to the computer, causing the ping. A previous poster described how to remove and clean the little bugger, just do a search on pinging and you should find the detailed method.

Since my '94 Ranger 3.0 also pings under load, I'm going to clean mine this weekend (I'll report back).

As for premium gas causing problems in an engine, that's news to me. Running regular in an engine designed for premium, now that can be a problem, but many newer engines (and lots of old) have knock-sensors to prevent damage. The only damage you get running premium in an engine designed for regular is in your wallet.

Mike P.

Oct 24, 2002 | 08:14 PM

#17

phatpharm85

Elder User

Joined: Jul 2001

Posts: 773

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From: torrington,ct

Pinging

i have a 94 4.0 and i always try to run 92 or 89 if possible. the only time i use 87 is if i only have like 5 bucks to throw in and it needs to last me a couple of days. the lower prices helps get more for my dolar. i've only had this truck for a couple of weeks in that time (about 1000 miles) i have not experience any pinging.

Jon

Oct 24, 2002 | 10:33 PM

#18

Torque1st

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Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 30,255

Likes: 37

Pinging

Too high an Octane for the engine can cause heating problems just like late timing and it also lowers your power output.

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Oct 26, 2002 | 02:29 PM

#19

Kofi

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Joined: Oct 2002

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Pinging

My 91 2.5L ranger has pinged its way through 250,000+ miles. Some day does and some it does not.

Oct 26, 2002 | 05:12 PM

#20

TOUGHLover

Elder User

Joined: Aug 2002

Posts: 773

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From: VA/USA

Pinging

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 26-Oct-02 AT 06:14 PM (EST)]>My 91 2.5L ranger has pinged its way through 250,000+ miles.
>Some day does and some it does not.

A vehicle under load (towing, hauling, steep grade, A\C) will cause this - but I believe that the weather will also affect this, seems like dryer air will cause it more than when the air is moist (damp, humid). (?) - Just my novice observation . . .

PS - greenpus - do you live (drive) in an arrid (dry) climate?

Oct 27, 2002 | 01:22 PM

#21

amp17757

Senior User

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 420

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From: Harrisburg USA

Pinging

H2O is the best anti-knock compound that exists. Works as good as lead or octane, is basically free & readily available, reduces emissions, reduces risk of engine damage from excessive temperatures & pinging, etc. You're correct in your observation that pinging will be agravated by DRY (low humidity) weather. High humidity will generally diminish or eliminate pinging. Of course malfunctioning MAF's & knock sensors may conceal that effect. The reason EGR was introduced in the 70's was for the water vapor in the exhaust stream. All the other gases that came along for the ride were undesirable, diluting the fresh oxygen in the incoming air stream. But the H2O in the exhaust stream was a quick cheap easy low-maintenance way to lower octane requirement, reduce emissions, and reduce or eliminate pinging, at the expense of fuel economy & performance. Pure H2O from a high-humidity day won't hurt fuel economy or performance.

Oct 28, 2002 | 12:30 AM

#22

JohnnyMack

New User

Joined: Aug 2002

Posts: 10

Likes: 0

From: Clanton USA

Pinging

My '96 4.0L will ping when I don't use premium. I have the SuperChip
installed. If you have no chip installed, regular gas should be used,
and no ping should occur. Ford retarded the timing in their engines
to allow them to run on regular gas. The chip advances the timing to
obtain more power and requires using super premo gas. Some of the
Rangers from '97 thru '99 have a problem called "marbeling" which
produces a "ping." Many engines have been changed out under warranty
because of this problem. The engine change has produced mixed results,
some good, some bad. The problem has been linked to the timing chain
causing a noise that sounds like pinging. Using a different grade of
gas will not make a difference. Getting a Ford rep to tell you this
may not happen.