My 4.2 v6 is pinging on 89 octane. The last place I got gas was at Phillips 66. And this is the worst it ever been. I've tried almost all the 87 octane gases, and it alway's pings on any brand of 87. Now it's pinging badly on 89??? WTF??? Can someone tell me which one of these gas stations in my area is the best? Let's see, there is Shell, Chevron, Phillip's66(suck's!), BP. That's about it. I Wish we had a Texaco station around here. OK, another quick question. Will a Techron treatment help with my pinging? Any help is welcome.

 

I have never had pinging even on 87 (with either one of my 4.2's). I did have it on 4 cylinder Rangers. I'm not sure if this is true or not, but I read somewhere that some states' gasoline octanes are not regulated. In other words, you could be paying for 91 or 93, but actually getting 87. Has anyone else heard this? If you have pinging that badly, especially on 89 when your engine is designed for 87, something else is wrong. How many miles do you have?

 

13,650 miles. I was thinking maybe they are taking the winterized fuel additives out of the gas about this time of year here in east Tennessee, and my ECM has to relearn the program for the regular unleaded without the winter additives??? I dunno, just a psychological guess...

 

the winter additives are just fuel line antifreeze. Dont worry about them at all.

You should probably have your truck hooked up for a diagnostic. These trucks are designed to run on 85 octane with a lot of dirt and water in it.

So if you are still pinging on 89, something is probably wrong.


As far as unregulated octane levels, you get what you pay for. If the pump says 93, it has to have 93 or its misrepresenting the product (which is legislation covered at the state and federal level)

 

I'm gonna try a different brand of 89 today. Problably from Shell, since I have never tried their 89 yet. I'll keep you guy's informed.

 

check your air intake for cracks and tight seals..
that just doesen't sound right you might be sucking in air your senser is not catching and leaning out your mixture..

 

I changed my air filter my last oil change (FRAM). Could it be that the filter is not seated correctly in the air filter housing? I tried some Shell 89 octane today and the pinging seemed to have stopped. But it's to soon to tell just yet. Would a K&N drop in filter help the matter any?

 

I drove my truck to town and back today. No more pinging that I can hear. From now on I'm using Shell 89 octane. Very good gas IMO. Made sure that the airfilter was in securely and checked the air intake and tubes. Everthing seems OK.

 

it woulden't matter about the air filter cause it is on the other side of the air senser..

if you get a K&N I have heard about the oil getting on the air senser and causing missing and ruff idle..
just letting you know for future reference.

 

Yeah, I've heard about that, and I totally forgot about it. Thanks for warning me.

 

Where might the air sensor be on a 4.2?

 

Anybody???

 

right after the air filter(look down the plastic tube.)