At 45 to 50 mph my truck really pings loud (and sometimes hesitates). I used to use Arco and Costco Super Unleaded and have switched to Chevron. It still pings loud. I have to really mash the trottle to get it to stop. Is this something to do with the Superchip? Do I pull the chip (or leave it in) and ask the dealer for a tuneup? Any advice would be helpful.

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* 1998 White Reg Cab XL
* V6, Auto w/ 3.55 gears
* Lund Interceptor Bug Deflector
* Extang Saber Tonneau (complete with folded corners)
* Airaid FIPK w/ K&N Filter
* Superchip
* Cracked windshield
* Unprotected badly scratched, slightly dented 8' bed.
* 23,750 miles and no door cracks, no peeling raingutter paint, and no coolant loss.
* I'm 6'8", 315lbs and I don't play basketball!

 

Lose weight!

Just kidding. Do something though cause pinging like you describe is not good for your engine.

 

Sounds like you need a better gasoline, as some of those no-names can have low energy contents, which can cause detonation.

We recommend trying Texaco, Amoco, or Citgo, and see what happens. Also, do a battery disconnect when you change gas brands, so you clear the computer's accumulated memory and get a fresh start on the new gas.

It is very uncommon to have a V-6 getting detonation because of the Superchip, though if all your local fuel supply has low energy content then we can do an adjustment for this. However, this hesitation you mention is a very clear indicator of poor quality gasoline in most cases, you shouldn't have any hesitation.

Please feel free to give us a call if you'd like to discuss this in more detail, I think that might be a very good idea, ok?

Just keep in mind that we will be closing here at 5:00 pm Eastern on Thursday, to go to teh F-150 Online National Rally in Norfolk, VA. We will be back on Monday morning at 10 am Eastern, as usual.

Talk to you soon,
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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Info:https://www.f150online.com/rally2000/index.html


[This message has been edited by Superchips_Distributor (edited 07-26-2000).]

 

Amoco and Citgo don't exist in large numbers out here in Seattle. Texaco, however, is everywhere so I will try there. Their gas is just as expensive as Chevron's so what the heck. I hadn't thought of the disconnecting my battery but I will do so on the next tank. Thanks for the advice.

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* 1998 White Reg Cab XL
* V6, Auto w/ 3.55 gears
* Lund Interceptor Bug Deflector
* Extang Saber Tonneau (complete with folded corners)
* Airaid FIPK w/ K&N Filter
* Superchip
* Cracked windshield
* Unprotected badly scratched, slightly dented 8' bed.
* 23,750 miles and no door cracks, no peeling raingutter paint, and no coolant loss.
* I'm 6'8", 315lbs and I don't play basketball!

 

Do whatever you need to do to stop that detonation.

It (high-speed detonation) is a piston killer.

You may have already noticed a dramatic increase in oil consumption -- due to abnormal flame propogation burning off the oil from the walls of your cylinders.

It will not go away by itself (well, actually it will -- but then everything gets REAL quiet, heh heh) -- and could be anything from a knock-sensor to a computer being 'out-to-lunch'.

Please post your observations and ultimate resolution (check that oil!).



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Y2K™ Jim Gorka

Toreador Red, Keyless XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 4wDisc/ABS, 3.73LS, Skid, HD 7700# Towing, LT-245's on Chrome, Tube-Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, named: "Nick"

 

Look under the passenger side exhaust manifold and down on the side of the engine block. Behind a rusty half circle shield is the knock sensor. It is in somewhat of a vulnerable location. Verify that the wires are O K and connected and that the sensor has not been whacked by a road hazard.

 

Ok, I ran my last tank of gas (Chevron Supreme) until the low gas light came on. Filled up with Texaco Premium. Trucked pinged a little at 55 mph at first and 45 not at all. The following day while driving up a slight grade at 45 mph and just maintaining speed (no W.O.T. here) the truck pinged and clanked like a drum set.

I check the oil everytime I fill up. It does seem to be using just a little, but then it is pretty hot out and may be oil burn off. The oil level is still within the checkered area on the dipstick.

I'm going to run this tank of premium out, pull the chip and run regular. If it still pings then the dealer will take a looksee. I have the maintenance plan anyhow and am within 1k of a scheduled visit so regardless they will be looking over the engine.

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* 1998 White Reg Cab XL
* V6, Auto w/ 3.55 gears
* Lund Interceptor Bug Deflector
* Extang Saber Tonneau (complete with folded corners)
* Airaid FIPK w/ K&N Filter
* Superchip
* Cracked windshield
* Unprotected badly scratched, slightly dented 8' bed.
* 23,750 miles and no door cracks, no peeling raingutter paint, and no coolant loss.
* I'm 6'8", 315lbs and I don't play basketball!

 

I forgot to mention that I disconnected the negative terminal on my battery immediately after filling up with the Texaco Premium Unleaded.

 

There's a low gas light???

 

I pulled my Superchip two days ago and drove 50 miles yesterday. When I pulled the chip I disconnected the negative battery cable to reset the computer. Before starting the truck I ran the headlights for about 3 minutes. I had already filled the truck up with Chevron Regular Unleaded (Chevron is a good brand on the West Coast).

Results?
The truck runs just fine at all speeds. It doesn't shift as crisply and the power isn't as noticeable, but it doesn't ping at all. It doesn't sound like Chip'n'Dale playing the drums under my hood.

I talked with Mike Troyer (Superchip distributor) and he said that gas quality varies from region to region and that our region sucks for gas quality. "Low energy content" he said. Anyhow the problem was only at "throttle tip-in" and he said it is an easy fix for the the chip and he will update the programming for me.

 

Hi Big & Tall,

Thanks for calling! We were able to determine that this is a throttle tip-in issue, and not happening at any other time. There hasn't been any engine damage or increased oil consumption, that kind of damage from detonation takes severe and prolonged detonation in a normally aspirated motor, that doesn't happen with light detonation on throttle tip-in with the few miles that have been put on it.

We have a lot of other F-150's with that same code running the Superchip and not experiencing this, so it may have something to do with the energy content of your local fuel supply, which does tend to be poorer than average out there. However, I don't think it's really bad fuel, if it were a really poor energy fuel, usually we'd see the detonation at higher rpms and heavier throttle positions (engine under heavy load) instead of only at throttle tip-in, and only at that one speed range basically. Here it's only happening at throttle tip-in at a certain speed, and immediately goes away when applying the throttle or with a change in speed, so it's just throttle tip-in, that's an easy adjustment to make, which we'll take care of, of course.

I'm glad you called so we could go over this in detail, thanks!

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer