ok I will tell you of my way of helping the problem. I had a 4.6 that ran great! It started to ping about 3,000 rpm empty and when i pullled my trailer. I tried everything and was ready to give up when a Ford mechanic where I work asked me if I was using a K&N filer. I said yes. He told me to clean my mass air sensor with JB carb cleaner and take out the k&n filter and not to use it again. I also reset the computer and it stopped the pinging problem. I found out the oil from the K&N filter can mess up the mass air sensor when over oiled. So I have been using paper ever since.

 

mlaugh--

I am sure that that is ONE cause of the noise; however, I had the pinging noise when the engine was completly stock, in 2001. I have the same truck now and have a K&N FIPK installed...the truck doesn't make the noise anymore (maybe due to tuning issues with my Supoerchip). Another discussed cause of PS/pinging is the oil filter's anti-drainback valve noise. It's percieved as a "clicking" noise almost like loud injectors. I do not think that this problem is caused by anthing other than Ford's specs. of what is acceptable for use in their engines. As far as gas goes, 87 octane should not cause pinging because our engines are dialed in for 87. If they do ping something else is the problem.

talk to ya all soon!


I'm with STX/98 and I agree with his statments!@!@!@!@!

 

iron horse
Well, I'm not sure just exactly what the diaphram in the EGR looks like or it's exact location. I've got my old one still, so if I get bored I'll pull it apart. I know there has to be one in there, how else would it operate. I mean the vacuum has to draw on something to open or close it. Plus, they talk about not using certain solvents on EGR's in all the repair books.

I see you have been trying what you can on the quest to quicker steering. Just keep at and maybe someone will come up with something. It's hard to beleive that a quicker ratio box is not made yet or that something will not interchange with at lest a little modification.

I still think 80-95% of the problem lies within the tuning of the PCM. Yes other factors do make a difference.

 

The EGR "UFO thingy" is the Exhaust Gas Recirculation Valve. I had my completely replaced a while back under warrenty because I had an indicator light on. The new valve didn't affect the noise at all.

 

I think you hit the nail on the head and are exactly right.

 

I agree, that is where our problems lie. We have to remember that our trucks are mass produced!

 

Green_98,

When I read this I see then answer with in your question. If you did in fact use brake fluid (an oil used to operate your brakes) instead of brake cleaner (a spray cleaner which removes oil and leave no residue) to clean your MAF then this would leave oil on your MAF.

If cleaning your MAF is a good solution for a pinging problem, then putting oil on your MAF could make the pinging problem worse.

I would give the MAF one more good cleaning with electric contact cleaner. I think it is a good idea to remove it and do a good job of cleaning it. You might want to trial a paper filter after you clean it to rule out oil from the K&N. Might be a good idea to reset your PCM after you clean it.

If the pinging is because of a dirty MAF the pinging will be worse at WOT.

Here is a good link on the MAF:

http://www.tccoa.com/articles/intake/index.html#

 

I could be wrong, but I think Green 98 made a typo. He prob meant to say that he used brake cleaner to clean teh MAF sensor.
I made a mistake posting that I re-set the battery after a mod...naturally this cannot happen, we re-set the computer, not the Battery. At least I hope green 98 didn't mean he did that!

 

That was my first impression, but it seemed that the pinging got worse after he cleaned his MAF. The possibility seemed to fit all too well.

 

I can see where someone would think brake fluid would be used as a cleaner. It doesn't sound that dumb, at least not to some of the things I've seen and heard from people while working in the automotive parts business. Besides everyone makes a mistake or gets in a rush and doesn't stop to think something out.

mf150 said it right when he said that " these trucks are mass produced" of course for lower cost but I would like to add that they are also optimized to provide the best factory performance they can while meeting government guidlines and doing all that on low grade 87. All in all that's pretty good to me, ok so a few thousand trucks are tuned a little aggressive or the owners have modified something. If it's just a light pinging every so often no big deal, at least you know your getting top performance (in ways to speak).

 

Brake fluid works great for taking wax off plastic parts, but be careful it will eat the paint too, heh.

 

You can say that again. I painted my rad cover and set a bottle of brake fluid on it and left a nice little ring right in the center. Now I gotta sand and repaint again. Oh well, didn't like the finish on it anyways.

 

KYFordFreak made a good point. Ford does do a great job with the trucks. the F-150's are made well and keep running for a long time. A ping from time to time is an exceptable payoff for a truck that is going to last.

The only complaint I have is that Ford doesn't put enough grease on their idler pulley bearings! I recently put on some ASP's and that mod exaserbated the pulley that was already on the way out--so now it's squeeking and moaning all the time. Good thing their only $20.
I'll put a new one on when I install my headers.

 

nope i was told to use brake fluid--sounded weird to me too but thats what i was told a while back. Anyways after i put my exhaust and air filter in i reset the computer (negative battery terminal) and the pinging went away, for about a week. I just got back from a 120 mile round trip and it was all highway driving. Its about 40* degrees outside and it didnt ping any which i cant figure out cause it usually pings worse at colder temps. It wont ping below about 3000-3500 rpms. But when you get up around 4 grand, it sounds bad! Like marbles rattling in a tin can. I guess ill just live with it since i dont get on it too much.

 

Then I guess it can be said that if you put brake fluid on your MAF it will ping badly. Just hope you did not ruin the wire in the MAF. Severe pinging is hard on an engine. It's hard on the valves I believe.