Nevermind, the pinging is back. It's not as bad as before but it's still there. I am going to keep running Shell for a couple more tanks, but I am also going to seriously look into changing to the colder plugs. Or maybe it's time for a new Mustang and an older truck for work that I don't care about as much, we'll see......

 

Quintin, for routine service, should the MAF be cleaned every 30,000 miles? On an 05, can you spray that far at that angle without removing the sensor and do an adequate job or is it better to remove the sensor?

 

Take this for what it's worth. On one of the other Ford truck forums Wix oil & air filters were a topic of conversation. Consensus was stay away from them;too many unexplained events.
As the FRAM commercial used to say: "pay me now,pay me later".
Stay with Motorcraft.

 

This makes me wonder if the Wix fuel filter I changed to is the culprit of my pinging. I might change it back to a Motorcraft since the pinging started shortly after I changed the fuel filter, it never did it before. Maybe the filter is to restrictive and not allowing enough fuel pressure causing the motor to run lean??

 

I would really doubt it, but then, I guess it is possible. Something is obviously causing it. I have always used Motorcraft.

 

That's kind of what I was thinking as I was reading this because the only thing different was that you had changed the fuel filter. Maybe it is in a fuel starved condition. Who knows, it couldn't hurt to change it to something else.

 

Just thought I would update. I replaced my Wix fuel filter with a Motorcraft filter this morning and added a bottle of Chevron with Techron. I will post my results after a couple tanks of Shell gas have gone through it. I did read in the owner's manual that Ford won't warranty any fuel related issues if a Motorcraft filter is not used. I don't know if this is a ploy to keep the money in the family or if it's because of a specific design. Either way it's got a Motorcraft filter back on it now, so I can rule that out if I am still having issues.

 

My 04 only has 10000 miles on it (work is so close) It has the same pinging sound after warm up. I was using cheap (if there is such a thing) gas and it started to sound like a friggin diesel. Took it to the dealer and made them come out and listen. At first the tech goes "you mean that whooshing sound?" meaning the air sucking in as I reved it (moron) the manager said he could just hear the sound, which to me was so loud I'm not sure how he could say "just hear". Anyway they recommended I use Chevron gas and they put a can of Seafoam in which they said they had started using on similar problems. They said it should go away in 40-5- miles.......150 miles later it's still there. I haven't had a chance to bring it back in yet, but I hope to this week.

 

Yeah, my pinging is still there too on my '05. I'm close to the end of my 36K mile warranty so I'm hoping to sit down this week and pen a letter to the Ford district mgr. to at least go on record about the problem, and to voice my frustration and lack of confidence in the area dealer.

As I think I've said, I also get a real hard KNOCK when I start the engine after a brief stop, like after getting gas or running into the store. And this weekend for the first time I got a pretty good sized puff of darkish smoke on a semi-warm start, not vapor but SMELLY SMOKE. That can't be good.