Knock/Ping Detection
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Senior Member
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 789
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From: Bay Area, CA
Knock/Ping Detection
All this talk about knocking and pinging with a chip has me concerned...
It there any way besides your ear to detect knocking/pinging? I know that knock/ping levels far below what you can hear are still dangerous.
Is it possible to tap an LED into the stock knock sensor's signal?
Does anyone make an aftermarket knock sensor for the 'L? (The J&S unit is not compatible.)
TIA
-Dreamin
It there any way besides your ear to detect knocking/pinging? I know that knock/ping levels far below what you can hear are still dangerous.
Is it possible to tap an LED into the stock knock sensor's signal?
Does anyone make an aftermarket knock sensor for the 'L? (The J&S unit is not compatible.)
TIA
-Dreamin
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 0
From: Allen, TX, USA
Best way I know is to pull the plugs and look for detonation.
Certainly there is such a thing as inaudible detonation...and yes, it can certainly be bad.
Detonation (pinging) at full throttle will wipe out pistons in a hurry...at least on motors with forced induction like our L's. The cylinder pressures are very high to begin with.
The only detonation I've heard with my PSP chip is under low loads. This is likened to when you're driving up a steep hill and you're in OD, the truck doesn't downshift, and you're running bad gas... you hear an intermittent knock. I have NEVER heard of engine damage/wear resulting from this. Not saying its a _good_ thing at all...don't get me wrong.
Anyone who has a chip that leans out the A/F ratio enough to cause pinging under full throttle will be in for a trip to the dealer to replace head gaskets soon...if not a piston.
I say pull the plugs and take a look, if you're nervous about it.
------------------
Wes Tarbox
90 LX 5.0 (10.69 @ 134.7)--597rwhp/590rwtq
96 Cobra (12.63 @ 114.5)--390rwhp/441rwtq
99 Lightning (13.20 @ 103.3)--364rwhp/444rwtq
00 Expedition XLT 5.4
http://members.aol.com/Wa2fst/index.html
Certainly there is such a thing as inaudible detonation...and yes, it can certainly be bad.
Detonation (pinging) at full throttle will wipe out pistons in a hurry...at least on motors with forced induction like our L's. The cylinder pressures are very high to begin with.
The only detonation I've heard with my PSP chip is under low loads. This is likened to when you're driving up a steep hill and you're in OD, the truck doesn't downshift, and you're running bad gas... you hear an intermittent knock. I have NEVER heard of engine damage/wear resulting from this. Not saying its a _good_ thing at all...don't get me wrong.
Anyone who has a chip that leans out the A/F ratio enough to cause pinging under full throttle will be in for a trip to the dealer to replace head gaskets soon...if not a piston.
I say pull the plugs and take a look, if you're nervous about it.
------------------
Wes Tarbox
90 LX 5.0 (10.69 @ 134.7)--597rwhp/590rwtq
96 Cobra (12.63 @ 114.5)--390rwhp/441rwtq
99 Lightning (13.20 @ 103.3)--364rwhp/444rwtq
00 Expedition XLT 5.4
http://members.aol.com/Wa2fst/index.html
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 0
From: Allen, TX, USA
You will see several things potentially.
Light detonation will look like "peppering" on the electrode and insulator. Literally, like someone shook up a pepper shaker and dumped it on the plug. Flaking like deposits...concentrated and they'll be blackish.
More severe detonation will show up as small ***** of aluminum stuck to the electrodes and insulator. This is the top of your piston!
On my two Mustangs, I go as far as to get a magnifying glass to inspect them.
------------------
Wes Tarbox
90 LX 5.0 (10.69 @ 134.7)--597rwhp/590rwtq
96 Cobra (12.63 @ 114.5)--390rwhp/441rwtq
99 Lightning (13.20 @ 103.3)--364rwhp/444rwtq
00 Expedition XLT 5.4
http://members.aol.com/Wa2fst/index.html
Light detonation will look like "peppering" on the electrode and insulator. Literally, like someone shook up a pepper shaker and dumped it on the plug. Flaking like deposits...concentrated and they'll be blackish.
More severe detonation will show up as small ***** of aluminum stuck to the electrodes and insulator. This is the top of your piston!
On my two Mustangs, I go as far as to get a magnifying glass to inspect them.
------------------
Wes Tarbox
90 LX 5.0 (10.69 @ 134.7)--597rwhp/590rwtq
96 Cobra (12.63 @ 114.5)--390rwhp/441rwtq
99 Lightning (13.20 @ 103.3)--364rwhp/444rwtq
00 Expedition XLT 5.4
http://members.aol.com/Wa2fst/index.html
