i have a 1997 F-150 4x4 automatic with 4.6 Windsor motor. i just swapped the old one with 103k miles on it for one with 76k miles. the problem i have is pinging. both engines seemed to have this problem (when passing, driving up steep inclines and towing). does anyone have this same problem? Does anyone tow with their truck with same setup?

would adding better exhaust system, or chip, or better intake help with the pinging?

thanks for any help you can give~~~~

 

My 2000 5.6 pings all the time. No way to make it stop. Even good gas don't work.

 

There are a lot of things that could be causing your pinging.

The first thing I would try is higher octane fuel, if this takes care of your problem the pinging you were hearing before was very likley normal. Ford says that pinging under heavy load (towing, steep hills, hard accel) is normal. Mine does it when running 87 octane, jump to 89 octane and it goes away almost entirely.

If that doesn't fix it, try using the search feature. There have been a lot of threads on this before.

Good luck

Rob

 

Try cleaning you MAF(Mass Airflow Sensor) with some electronic contact cleaner. It might help with your problem and cleaning it won't hurt anything. Don't touch the little wires though. They break easily.

Also, cleaning of the EGR ports can get rid of this problem as well. The 4.6 is known for this.

 

My f150 2000 s crew 4x4 is green. I think it pings becuase of that. I have changed every other possible reason.

So far the only thing that will cure the constant pinging is a loud radio volume.

 

My wife has a 98 Expedition with a 4.6. It would ping just as you describe. I cleaned the MAF sensor and it stopped. Easy fix.

 

My 98 4.6 had a terrible detonation problem last year, I think mostly because of the K+N and the chip, even though I always use 93 or 94 octane. Over the winter I cleaned the MAFS, switched to a lower temp thermostat, added Water Wetter, and plumbed a throttle body cooler. Now the problem is almost completely nonexistent, only popping up on the hottest days above 4000rpm...

Gibson Cat-Back, K+N Gen II, Performance Distributers coils & wires, Superchips BlueChip, HyperTech Thermostat, Helwig Traction Springs, Eaton Posi, Nitto 305/60 18s, Blau 4x6s with 75x4 Profile amp, and self-designed and installed graphics.

 

Are you the original owner? If not is it possible that the truck already has a chip and needs 91 octane? I've often wondered if this ever happens. Somebody trades in their truck without removing the chip and down the road the next guy (ok or gal) gets it and shortly fills the tank with regular, ... ping.

 

I am sure I need to replace my ECM. Plugs show so lean after a 1000 miles it would almost have to be that. EGR DFPE and MAF all been replaced needlessly on mine.

I would have been really happy if cleaning a MAF would do it and that was where I started when I got the truck.

 

My 97 4.6 Windsor w/ 126,000 miles just started "Pinging" a few weeks ago. It only happens while hitting the gas, not at idle in neutral. I have also had a decent loss of power...any thoughts on a fix. The exhaust is original...maybe new cats/pipes?? Also I have always used 87 octane...maybe it's time to jump up?

 

the 4.6's are famous carbon builders. you do not need to replace parts as tkarter has shown just replacing things doesn't work nor is it the propper thing to do.

first and foremost the 4.6 is not supposed to ping so if a dealer tells you that run!

the ping is detonation caused by too much heat in the combustion chamber. the 2 primary causes for too much heat in the combustion chamber are carbon and Insufficient EGR flow.

there are three things that you can do to remidy this concern. 1.) clean out the ENTIRE EGR system including cleaning (not replacing) the EGR valve. This must be done completely or you will still have detonation. 2.) have a reputable shop do a carbon depletion service such as BG or Snap on motor flush. 3.) check and or replace the coolant temp sensor. this is the most overlooked item on the 4.6 detonation concern

the longer the motor has "pinged" the more problems there will be like clogged cats, vacuum leaks, leaky intake manifold gaskets (Which the cause for most import cars pinging), prematurly worn plugs, oil loss, and last but not least a clogged PCV system due to the excessive heat sludging up the oil.

 

Would the PING actually cause loss of power? My truck seems to motor fine if I drive very conservatively, but at hard acelerations and up hill, she's a dog...! My main concern is to get this fixed. Even though the F is old and has alot of miles, it's still REALLY clean and I'd like to keep it for at least another year or more. I just recently cleaned the throttle body ports and changed the EGR, DPFE looking to fix a P0401 error so now I will move onto the carbon depletion and coolant temp sensor. I will also clean the MAF and try adding higher octane fuel as I have put in 87 octane since day one. Thanks to everyone for the help/advice.

ML

 

yes it can cause major power loss.

do not up the octane of your gas just try changing brands. some believe that higher octane gas can cause carbon build up

 

I cleaned the MAF sensor yesterday and it did help the ping somewhat, but there is still a noticeable loss of acceleration. I found a product at Auto Zone called ELECTRO CLEAN that seemed to work great on the MAF. Has anyone tried SEA FOAM as a do-it-yourself project...?

THANKS-
ML

 

someone please tell me where the 91 octane "myth" started.......i dont understand the need for the higher octane fuel....i too have a superchip in my 99 F-150 with a 4.6 5 speed tranny....but i use nothing but 89 octane..without the pinging problems everyone else seems to be having..i have approx 82 grand on the truck.......and i am the second owner...buying the truck from a close friend, so i know all the modifications that have been performed on the truck..i am starting to get bad hesitation but i have concluded thats from the 100.000 mile spark plugs breaking down........too lazy to change them as of yet btw.....please someone clairify this question for me........thanx p.s i also run nothing but Shell/Texaco fuel through my truck.