Spare Change in my engine?
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Spare Change in my engine?
I will start off by saying sorry if this is a repeat thread, but after looking I did not see a problem quite like this.
When driving economically(taking my sweet *** time to get up to 60mph) I hear a sound at about 45 mph and it is the sound of lack of octane when it is making that kind of crackling noise or someone throwing a handful of change onto the engine block. Does anyone know if this is an immediate problem, because I just recently started hearing the noise. I also tried using Gumout because I was not sure If my injectors were dirty and creating the noise. I also tried using that plus premium fuel and the sound went away, but as soon as I switched back to regular I heard the crackle noise. Maybe thats all it is, but if so, why did it start after 40k miles? Is it age factor? ?...? ....?
When driving economically(taking my sweet *** time to get up to 60mph) I hear a sound at about 45 mph and it is the sound of lack of octane when it is making that kind of crackling noise or someone throwing a handful of change onto the engine block. Does anyone know if this is an immediate problem, because I just recently started hearing the noise. I also tried using Gumout because I was not sure If my injectors were dirty and creating the noise. I also tried using that plus premium fuel and the sound went away, but as soon as I switched back to regular I heard the crackle noise. Maybe thats all it is, but if so, why did it start after 40k miles? Is it age factor? ?...? ....?
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
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Are you talking about a light valve clatter? What kind of gas do you normally use? Certian brands of gas create a light clatter in my engine(01 59,000 miles). Consectuctivly run a few tank fulls of a good fuel injector/ fuel treatment and/or try a different brand of gasoline.
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2003
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its a lifter, my 97 with 50k on it just got a cloged lifter. change the oil and put one quarte of type-f tranny fluid in it and then change the oil every 1000 miles until it stops, it will take about 3-4 oil changes.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Cincinnati
If it went away when you put premium fuel it and came back later after you started running regular again then it's pinging. I've heard it best described as sounding like "marbles rolling around in the engine". It's usually caused by a lack of octane. Have you recently installed an aftermarket chip? If you haven't I guess try filling up at a gas station in a different area for awhile and see if it gets any better. If not you'll probably be stuck using premium gas or you'll have to get a mechanic to check it out.
CO River Rat
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
You may have a carbon problem (it raises the compression ratio; that's why premium fuel helps). There are de-carbonizing treatments available; if you eliminate everything else, one of them might be worth a try. Good luck!!!
Steve
Steve
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Pinging was the very word I was looking for. I get pinging when I use a cheap brand gas. If I use something like chevron or exxon(Believe it or not exxon is cheaper where I live), I never get it. I have to watch what I use because I am running NGK Plugs, which are a step hotter, more prone to ping.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: North Carolina
Black 4.2 beat me to the punch. I too have noticed that certain brands of 87 ping slightly. My '02 has 142k on it , so I regurlarly use seafoam to keep the carbon out. You can search many threads about seafoam in this forum. Also I would consider going to one step colder plugs. Only one step though, because too cold will actually cause carbon to build up. Has anyone else noticed that when the price of gas goes up, the quality seems to go down, or am I just paranoid?? Hey just cause your paranoid, doesn't mean someone's not out to get you, right??
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Ok my truck is an '02 with 40k miles. I also started using Ford Motor oil "Motorcraft", it was a cheap semi-synthetic, but trusted by for so i bought it. Could that be a problem also. I will try using a different fuel injector treatment and decarbonizing treatment also and see if that helps. I am also stock except for k&n filter and flowmaster exhaust.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Trussville, Alabama
It seems contrary to what I'd expect, but I can definitely notice more pinging when the weather turns cold.
Maybe the denser air leans the mixture out just a little. But I'd expect the O2 sensors and computer to account for a lean condition. Whatever, it just occurs more in cold weather.
During the summer, I don't notice it much. When the weather turned cold yesterday, I noticed slight pinging - not bad, but noticeable.
Honestly, I don't worry too much about it. It mostly occurs in 4th or 5th under very light acceleration and moderate to heavy loads.
In other words, if I run it moderate to brisk, I don't have much problem. "Baby" it, short shift, pull slowly from 50 mph in 5th, and I'll get pinging. I can easily avoid the circumstances that bring on the ping, so that is - generally speaking - how I deal with it.
Also, winter gas is different from summer gas and that might have something to do with it.
edit: The oil is not the problem. If you are using the 5W20, do not worry. That is a very high quality motor oil. It will serve you well.
Maybe the denser air leans the mixture out just a little. But I'd expect the O2 sensors and computer to account for a lean condition. Whatever, it just occurs more in cold weather.
During the summer, I don't notice it much. When the weather turned cold yesterday, I noticed slight pinging - not bad, but noticeable.
Honestly, I don't worry too much about it. It mostly occurs in 4th or 5th under very light acceleration and moderate to heavy loads.
In other words, if I run it moderate to brisk, I don't have much problem. "Baby" it, short shift, pull slowly from 50 mph in 5th, and I'll get pinging. I can easily avoid the circumstances that bring on the ping, so that is - generally speaking - how I deal with it.
Also, winter gas is different from summer gas and that might have something to do with it.
edit: The oil is not the problem. If you are using the 5W20, do not worry. That is a very high quality motor oil. It will serve you well.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 752
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From: North Carolina
Good point about the gas being different Brian. However, mine seems to ping more in the summer, as opposed to the winter. This really started when I went to a K&N filter, no, I don't over-oil, and I clean maf? Map? regurlarly, and the aftermarket exhaust. It is my beliefe, that the stock computer settings and the stock injectors, can only compensate for so much. However, all else being equal,I will change to some new Bosch "super" plugs tomorrow. These are not to be confused with any platinum plug which has been established to be possibly the worst plug for our truck's period. I am currently running Splitfires (gasp) which run really well, but seem to have a shorter life, and run a little hotter than stock. I also ran some v-groove ngk's, that ran very well, but kept loosening up in the plug holes of all thing's. I would have to go back and tighten them occasionally. Finally , one of them broke, so I replaced the whole set. 
CO River Rat
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
Travlnman -
If "this really started when I went to a K&N filter", why don't you go back to a good-quality paper filter to see if that helps? Also, why not install plugs that are specified for your motor? If you're having pre-ignition problems, you sure don't need plugs that run hotter than stock.
Steve
If "this really started when I went to a K&N filter", why don't you go back to a good-quality paper filter to see if that helps? Also, why not install plugs that are specified for your motor? If you're having pre-ignition problems, you sure don't need plugs that run hotter than stock.
Steve
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 782
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Hey all,
I've never experienced pinging, and therefore have no idea what it is or what it sounds like. If my engine starts to ping, am i for sure going to know right away? More specifically, is it super noticeable?
Rman
I've never experienced pinging, and therefore have no idea what it is or what it sounds like. If my engine starts to ping, am i for sure going to know right away? More specifically, is it super noticeable?
Rman
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I live in Houston, Texas and right now it seems as the weather gets colder, the more it is pinging. I think I am just going to do the safest thing and take my truck in to the local Ford and get them to check it out. I guess that is a no-brainer because I have extended warranty on my truck, but it will just be a scheduling problem. I also read on another thread that the extended warranty is crap...has anyone else had any problems with their extended warranty with powertrain issues or even this one specifically?
-Richard
-Richard