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[updated:LAST EDITED ON 09-Oct-02 AT 11:45 PM (EST)]I need help chasing down a pingning problem, occurs at 1/2 or more throttle. I've got the time set at 10* right now, lowereing it to 8* didn't do any good so I put it back. The plugs are about 3 months old, I pulled one and it still looks good. Anything else for me to look at? I'm running 87 octane, I know it pings less with 91, but I'd like to fix the problem rather than just cover it up.
You must have auto transmission and its lugging alittle. With the standard trans, that signals downshift time. I've always felt that the fairly low compression of these motors keeps pinging to aminimum. Timing is key and low octane gas makes it worse. I use thr 87 octane and have minimal problems, unless I'm in a high gear pulling up a hill with low RPMS.
Yours is a an 84 carburated model with 4 speed manual (and bunch of miles, I'm sure) and the pinging must be pretty bad. Some of the older models had an anti-knock sensor. You might see if yours has one and check that. Unless the plugs are showing a problem, I wouldn't change them. Can you comment if this has gotten worse or stayed the same over the years? And hows the general condition of the ignition system (coil, distributor, wires and plugs) and filters (problems with the basics can always accentuate a problem)?
I'm out of ideas, maybe one of the more experienced mechanics can address if a colder or hotter plug would help and if another timing change would be beneficial.
It baffles me too. I bought it from my paretns since I needed a second car. It had been sitting for about 5 years prior to that, I replaced plugs, cap, rotor, and all that stuff when I got it going again. I remember driving it a before when they owned it and it did it then too so it didn't just appear. The timing was off, but not it is right. I know it's possib;e for the balance to have maybe slipped, but I don't think that happened. It actually doesn't have many miles at all 80,000. I guess since the higher octane gas seems to help I will just have to do that. I already have to for the other car.
If it's been sitting a while, check to make sure all your rubber vacuum connections are tight. A vacuum leak would cause a lean condition, which results in a lot of pinging.
My '78 has pinged for years, I now run Mobile 89 octane and it pings no more, never had much luck with the 87 octane not pinging so started using the mid grade or premium only after the 100,000 mile mark.
Over the last 17 years that I have driven my 1980 300 F100. I,ve had a pinging problem a couple of times. Once it was just carbon build up and a can of Sea Foam cleared it right up the other time it was caused by ethenol that had been around to long and had a lot of moisture content and very low octane.
I'm not sure if the 84 is carburated or not but on my 72 i had the same problem and it ended up being the accelerator pump was warn out.
the viton plunger was cracked and preventing the proper amount of fuel from being delivered for power enrichment. This problem happened off the line from 50% throttle and up until about the 2000-2300 rpm range. Anyway hope this helps. Good luck!