when my engine is under load....like goin up a hill on a highway......there is what sounds like a ratteling noise.....gona assume pinging.... changed my sparkplugs and wires last month but this just started yesterday....i havent had a chance to pull codes yet....but does anyone have any ideas?

 

Yep...Sounds like pinging... May not leave any codes, as it's not really a "problem" as far as the puter is concerned, unless there is a anti knock sensor. If it just started, it may just be a bad tank of gas...But could be load, etc, making it show up more, and you just hadn't noticed it before. You may need to bump up a grade as far as gas. Low octane is the culprit if the timing is correct, and no other problems to cause pinging. But you could have a problem. IE: excess carbon buildup, or other "hot spots" in the combustion chamber, a faulty EGR system, overheating, etc, etc..Pinging is a very good way to notice overheating before you actually start blowing steam, etc and should never be ignored, if it usually does not normally do it..
The last time I blew a hose on the interstate, I noticed it before any real damage, cuz I started pinging. But I had premium gas! So I knew I had a problem. Sure nuff, I pulled over, and I was blowing steam out a cracked hose. Ignoring that pinging could have been a disaster. MK

 

i used autolite platinum plugs....and the engine ai't over heating....at least there are no signes it is..doesn't really start till around 55 mph.......plus its about 30 degrees outside.....the truck just rolled to 80k miles.i'll try a higher grade gas and see if that doesn't stop it.

 

You could try bumping the timing back a bit. Might cure the ping .... Using better gas is the better solution if it really needs it.
IE: pings almost at any timing setting... Regular now is 87 octane and watered down with chemicals. I think back in the 60's it was 89 minimum. Maybe in the low 90's even...Dang ...I forgot...Been a while...
The "stock" timing setting might not always be the best, with the funky gas they sell these days. Sometimes it's better to do it by ear. IE: set the timing until it just starts to ping, and then roll it back a bit so it doesn't. Thats the best place to have it. But of course, will vary with the grade of gas used. If it pings at the stock timing setting, using better gas will probably give more power than setting the timing so it doesn't ping. If I was pulling something up grades, I think I would splurge on better gas...Make sure the EGR, etc is working...MK

 

First off, the octane ratings WERE different back in the days of old....because they used a different method of calculation.
It's similar to the horsepower ratings....one can't compare the ratings back then to what we see now.
Secondly, I would disagree with you (sorry) about the quality of gasoline nowadays.
Much more emphasis is put into refining gas to burn very efficiently, so that there's fewer pollution emissions. In fact, if you live in California or any major metropolitan area in the US you're paying more for your gas because those areas are mandated by the EPA (or State of Calif) to have extra clean burning fuel.
I'm in Texas....Houston gets the high quality stuff, San Antonio doesn't, although we're headed there.

 

Yea, I knew they used a different way of calculating, but not sure how it compares with todays ratings. As far as the reformulated gas, "I'm in Houston", I'm not totally convinced it's better. To me, it seems worse. Maybe it burns cleaner, but it sure doesn't run any better. The fuels that are part methanol, "grain based, or whatever", seem the worse as far as runability. My monte carlo hated that stuff. Anyway, doesn't matter much I guess, but I still contend that the regular you buy these days is just barely able to cut it as far as octane for older cars. Really borderline...Many need the mid grade gas to avoid pinging, unless they alter the timing. Myself, I usually burn the cheap stuff in town, but if I take a trip to hilly country like say Arkansas, I'll run better gas. MK

 

I'm here in CA. The gas mix changes during the year because of smog laws. In the winter the octane rating seems a little lower. I bet just filling up with a higher octane will solve the problem. Have you checked the plug color? Are the plugs in there now the same heat range as the old ones? Pinging just means too much heat buildup. Timing, fuel, plugs: It's prob one of those. John

 

i went from 87 to 89....still pings....gona check out the plugs this weekend....see whats goin on with thoes.....then the timing....thanks for the help guys

 

changedplugs...wires...cap...rotor....tryed better gas.....code 311-thermatic air system failed during KOER test......could that code by why my truck is still pinging?

 

Please excuse me for butting in, but what exactly does pinging sound like? Is more of a deisel "knock-knock-knock" or a lifter "clack-clack-clack"? And is it consistent, or intermitent? I wish I could offer more help then have you reset your timing?

 

Pinging resembles a dozen or more marbles rattling around in a coffee can at a high rate of collision. It usually comes on during moderate to high load situations. I had a 62 Rambler Wagon that would ping no matter what we did to it until we removed the head and scraped out the carbon on the piston tops, and the combustion chambers. That's worse case. It burned oil to the extent I was going to sears for bulk oil twice a week for 2 jerry cans of oil. NO $^%&!!!! This was back in 70-71. The engine ended up throwing all 6 rods out the side of the engine.

Back off the timing a couple of degrees. or go up on octane if you have the 4-6 cents per gallon to spend.

 

Go to the auto parts store and get a container of Sea Foam and use it per the instructions. If nothing else has worked, you may have carbon deposits built up in the head that is promoting the detonation. That stuff will clean it out and at least eliminate carbon from the list of possibilities.

 

My 1988 used to ping (EFI 300).

1. O2 sensor defective. Helped.

2. Changed the TPS later on. Fixed hesitation and most pinging.

3. When the EGR wasn't working on my truck (not opening), it would ping. Fixing my EGR fixed that. (if the computer works the way I think it works, no EGR will cause a lean condition, possibly beyond the trim capability of the O2 sensor).

4. Sunoco 87 octane in northern Virginia makes my truck ping under load. No wonder it's only $1.86/gallon (ouch!).

5. Carbon deposits typically come from constant light driving and short trips. Engine never gets a chance to heat up properly. A 300 just loafs along in a half-ton pickup; it want's to be worked.

Check your computer codes; that'll give you an idea of what might be going wrong. www.fordfuelinjection.com. Real easy on an 87-95 pickup. All you need is a paperclip and a few minutes.

One old trick to blow carbon out of an engine is to run it hot and hard for a while. Not for weak/worn engines. Worked great on my old diesel. Go climb a mountain with a load. Might run a little rough for a minute once you really get going. That's just the deposits breaking up and burning off. Or it might actually explode, but I don't think that's the case for the 1995 300 in your signature. I run my 1988 300 hard if I'm hauling dead weight (firewood, stone, GM products), and it likes it.

Good luck.

 

it sounds like a ratteling....i'v herd the same thing on a 97 f-150 and the dealer said it was pinging.....gona assume its the same for me...on the last 2 sets of plugs i changed the porclin was blistered......i'm gona give that seafoam stuff a try and if that doesn't do it i'm gona play wiht the timing.........i don't have any hills here to haul stuff up......flat for the most part here in kcmo.

 

The hills are not necessary. I've had cars that would do it cruising down the freeway. You give it just a little gas to increase from 60 to 65 and the rattling would start. Good luck, John