My 94' 5.0 has a pinging noise around 2000 Rpms. I seem to be adding a quart every 1000 miles. I bought the truck with 45K miles on it, I've put 10k on it in 5 months. I've heard that ford changed to using 5w30 on all engines. I'm wondering if the 10w30 caused some sludging on my valves causing a pinging or valvetrain noise. Any suggestions would be great.

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1994 F-150 4X4 Regular Cab, 302cid 5.0, 5 spd. K&N Filter, Gibson Super Truck Split Rear Exhaust

 

First thing, I would check is the timing. It supposed to be at 10 BTDC, although I advanced mine for a little more responce. I have been told to run 87 octane and set the timing to 10 BTDC and she'll be okay. Also, you might want to clean your fuel injectors, and the throttle body, and maybe get a new fuel filter, if it hasn't been done in awile.

 

Also, check that your dist is giving you a total advance. At 2000 rpm, you should be somewhere around 40 degrees (at least on a carbed engine, I understand the fuel injected are a little different). You could have a vacuum leak, a bad advance can, or even weak springs on the advance; or it could be weak fuel delivery like Pastmaster stated. Other areas could be weak plug wires or coil wire, or even a coil that's starting to die and is giving you some weak spark.

Happy hunting,
Slik

 

A engine builder told me that at idle, the timing set at 10btdc, the computer would put it at about 17 degrees. Would that be correct?

 

My base timing was set at 6, changing it to ten makes it ping worse, so it might be correct to say that it is around 17 when set to 10. I'm going to try, some fuel system cleaner and switching to 5w-30, maybe synthetic.

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1994 F-150 4X4 Regular Cab, 302cid 5.0, 5 spd. K&N Filter, Gibson Super Truck Split Rear Exhaust

 

I didn't even know you could retard the timing on a efi equipped engine.

 

Just to let everyone know, I got rid of the pinging problem by using intake and carb cleaner through the local ford dealership. It is sucked into the intake through a vent hose. Let it sit for 30 minutes added the rest and drove for 10 miles at highway speed. It smoked like hell, but got rid of all the carbon build up on the valves and intake, my engine breathes a lot better now, with not pinging. I switched to 5w30 to prevent the sludging and carbon build up on the valves. I'm going to have the fuel injectors cleaned by the ford service technician. My only problem left is to get rid of the oil problem. I still go through a quart in a little less than 1000 miles. I've been told switching to synthetic will keep the oil from volatizing, there are no leaks and no signs of oil burning in the exhaust, any suggestions?

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1994 F-150 4X4 Regular Cab, 302cid 5.0, 5 spd. K&N Filter, Gibson Super Truck Split Rear Exhaust

 

Pacat1, can you tell us more about the intake cleaner? Where does it attach and how? Is it an aerosol can? Thanks!
About the oil use, 1Qt. in a 1000 miles won't show up as smoke. Could be valve stem seals?
Could leaky valve stem seals been the main source of your carbon? I know its not unusual for 302's to ping on regular, but I usually haven't seen it start till maybe 80K miles or so.

[This message has been edited by Granpa (edited 03-20-2000).]