My truck is at the dealership today to get a few items looked at. Among them is pinging under load until the truck shifts into a lower gear. My thought was that it could be the fuel filter as I am not sure if it had been changed prior to my buying the truck. In fact that was on the list of things that I wanted done. Well I called the dealer for an update this afternoon, the service advisor indicated that because I run a K&N in my truck that something called OASIS indicated that I need a fuel system cleaning and that I should replace my K&N with a factory filter and that this should fix my ping. She also went out of her way to make it sound like Ford would void my warranty if I continued to run the K&N. For this they were going to charge me 150 for the fuel system service and 30 for the filter!

What a laugh, why would I want to get the fuel system serviced to fix the ping before they even replace the fuel filter?! I spoke with the shop foreman and he agreed that it would be smart to see if replacing the filter could fix the problem. Wow, big leap in logic there. I asked him to fix the problems that we had identified, flush the tranny and do a general inspection like I asked and get me my truck back.

Guess its time to find a new dealer.

Edit: I wanted to ask you guys if there could be any merit to what the dealer suggested, could the fuel system service fix my ping? Am I aproaching this the right way by having the fuel filter replaced first?

 

I would say it is posible. But if they do the cleaning and replace your filter. Make it clear that you do not want to pay them unless it fixes the problem. If it doesn't fix the problem than it was a waste of time on their part. I would also get the fuel filter replaced first though.

 

If oil/dirt from the K&N made it onto the mass air sensor and skewed the readings, yes, it can cause pinging and running problems. This is why I quit running K&Ns personally.

You don't need any hokey snake oil fuel system service though.

 

Thanks guys. The shop foreman indicated that the MAF looked fine so I think what I am going to do is let them do the fuel filter and the warranty work. If the ping is cured then fantastic. If not I will switch back to a paper filter and take the truck somewhere else to look into the ping.

 

I bought my (Motorcraft FG986B) fuel filter at Advance Auto for $9.99 and changed it myself.

 

Something else that needs to be considered......bad gas. How long has it done this? Just from the previous fill up or a frequent gas station? If so, I'd say change that fuel filter and get some fresh gas somewhere else, if not then I don't know........

 

I noticed it a couple of weeks ago, gas was the first thing I thought too so I switched stations at my next fill and the ping persisted.

 

How long have you had the K&N. Did you reset your computer when you installed it. When I installed my Airaid Jr kit mine pinged a little. After I reset the computer and gave it a few hundred miles to relearn it is fine now.

 

The K&N might be causing the truck to run lean.

 

Are you talking about a CAI or just a drop in?

 

I have had the K&N since April 6th and all I have is a drop in. I did not reset the computer. To do that I would just disconnect the battery for 5-10 mins correct? Do you guys really think that would help?

I must say that all this is making me seriously reconsider switching back to the old filter.

 

I would try putting the stock one back in, some of these trucks run lean right from the factory and the k&n might just lean it out more.

 

So just to make sure I follow, K&N filter adds slightly more air to the intake charge, this leans out the mix and I get a ping? I guess that makes sense. Now im glad I saved the factory filter.

I just hope I get my truck back soon, I really hate the Chevy HHR I got for a rental. That thing sucks.

Thanks guys.

 

Yes it does. It cant hurt to put the old filter back just to see what happens. Personaly I dont think its the filter.

 

Well I got my truck back, they turned the brakes, replaced the driveshaft, serviced the tranny and changed the fuel filter. The ping is still there after I switched back to the factory filter so for now I am going to run a bottle of injector cleaner through and see if that helps. I also disconnected the battery and will let the truck re-learn having the factory filter in. I dont think I will be putting the K&N back in for now.

For what its worth turning the brakes fixed my squeak and having the new driveshaft makes it feel like a new truck, much smoother from a stop and no unwanted vibration.

I will not be going back to that dealer just on principal. The whole experience just leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. They refused to lift the charge for the diagnosis of the ping because in Fords opinion the problem was the air filter.