I agree with Rand. Going up in octane just masks the real problem and when it returns, it will be worse than ever. You either properly fix the problem now or you fix a worse problem later.

Running higher octane without a chip is actually a waste of money. The computer can adjust, but not as much as some think.

Bottom line is if your truck doesn't run well on 87 octane, then something's wrong with your truck. Fix the cause of the problem. Don't "Bondo" over it with higher octane gas.

btw, carbon build-up, from what I've gathered, is mostly caused by poor driving habits (short, low speed runs) and/or the wrong or malfunctioning thermostat.

 

Again, this is similar to the Synthetic vs. Conventional... How long do you want your engine to last? Do you want more or less wear to occur?

I gaurantee you that the computer does NOT make huge adjustments from an 87 to a 93 octane. Thats 6 points difference!!!

Because the 93 is a much slower burning fuel and your engine is set up for burning at a faster rate (87 octane)... What is happening?

Burning slower means the fuel has less time to acheive a COMPLETE BURN. Most engines will not completely burn all of the fuel! Although, the 5.4 apparently has a very advanced ignition system and achieves a very high percentage burn rate. Unlike my Honda CR-V which burns, on average, 78% of the fuel (I think that number is correct or close)...

Since the fuel is burning slower and the timing can not adjust adequately (I also beleive the compression has something to do with this??) you end up with what?

Quite a bit of carbon building up on your piston, valves, combustion chamber, exhaust system, premature clogging of the CATS, possible CAT failure, oxygen sensors being clogged and sending the wrong signals.......

This in turn probably shows up in your oil as well!

I agree pretty much with Dennis. Poor driving habits can also cause this!

I've never met a Porsche owner who doesn't know to blow out the carbon at least once a week! Its a good idea to do 1 or 2 WOT's each week to create enough heat and pressure to get rid of any carbon build-up, no matter what engine!

If anyone disagrees with what I've said, please explain where I failed and what info you have to offer!

 

I do 1 or 2 WOT's a day,,I must have no
carbon buildup,lol but I also take care
the cooling system, flush my trans
with a recirculatory fluid change,clean my
sensors behind the fipk monthly ,and other such maintenance. as I said before
I had no noticeable ping until I installed
the hypertech. Do you think it was there
before the chip,but just not as bad? When I yanked it out the performance
stayed for a day or so but the ping was
definitely gone. On another vehicle, the
pinging is definate,it's an 86 E-150 with
a 5.0. This van weighs 5300 lbs. and it
is way underpowered with a small block
engine. Any suggestions to stop the ping
on this one? It's already had a major $700 tune up which included replacing
all sensors and removing and cleaning
out the inside of the upper intake. The ping is still there and short of tearing down the engine,is there anything I can do? What I really would love to do is pull
it and replace with a GT-40 crate engine
with full length headers. The exhaust has
been modified with an aerochamber muffler and 2 1/2" pipe. And it also has
a K/N filter. The only other mod I have done is pull off the debris cover on the radiator air intake,and put screen over it
to keep bugs n other nasty stuff out of the intake. This particular intake system I
think is very restrictive. It sucks in air from
the rad. support, routes it all the way back
to the firewall,then back to the throttle body. Geez, the thing is six feet long!
I'm thinking about rigging a ram air system, if they still sell the van hoods with
scoops. Sorry for the long winded reply,
just curious. Thank you for reading,98

------------------
98 F-150 4.6 Litre XLT
K/N gen.II fipk
Custom duals w/glasspacks
color matched Snuglid
headlight covers.
doin the monochromatic boogie on the front end.
on the way(headers,air dam,wheels and tires,etc...........................

 

98SCREAMER,

I thought one of the things you had to do when you installed a Hypertech chip was that you were supposed to install a cooler thermostat? If you have the stock thermostat, I'm guessing the engine is running too hot for that particular chip and that's the cause of the pinging. Anybody else know for sure about the thermostat?

As for the van, all I can think of is to try some of the carbon treatments out there. I really like Chevron Techron because it's really inexpensive and gives good results.

 

I described the color of the MAF sensor elements to mlaugh (we are in the same area) and we both came to the conclusion that this may be the cuplrit. The best way I can describe the color is that it looks like a burnt resistor. Carbon buildup may also be the problem or ... maybe I messed up when I changed the plugs. At very minimum it sounds like its time for the truck to visit the shop to get its codes read and isolate it down. I'll update after it comes back.

 

Weeelll, i just had my MAF replaced and throttle body cleaned under warranty for pinging and.....you guessed it....no change in pinging. still there. no codes tripped...one more visit and I am invoking the "lemon law". time for a toyota or chevy, methinks.....

 

I did have the 160 deg.installed and some 104+octane booster. and 93
gas, It still pung like a solienoid rattle.
I just used some techron let you know
what happens with the next chip I try......

 

2 things guys:

1. Try switching fuel.

2. Get a diagnostic done and have them look for codes.


They should NOT ping! Something is wrong.

If the ping is there with the chip, ITS THE CHIP!!! AND YES you need to run those Hypertech chips with a 160, the instructions tell you that! In order for the Hypertech chips to give the full spark advance for 93 octane, they require the use of a 160... Thats what I remember from owning one!




------------------
Rand

98 Ford Expedition 4X4 XLT
5.4, 3.73s, 17" wheels,
Homemade 3" "COLD" Air-Box
mod, SuperChip, Amsoil
everywhere but tranny, Perma-
Cool combo 6 pass trans/oil
cooler (FQR 5.4 @ 50K)

 

I have ran a Hypertech chip for 2 years now never changed the thermostat my book that came with it did not specify this. And no pinging.

------------------
F150 4x2 4.2L 5-speed XL
SmittyBuilt:Brushguard
Nerfbars
Tires:Micky Thompsons Baha Radials MTX 285/75/r16
Vent visor:Bug Guard
Window vents
Hypertech:Superchip
Jacobs Ignition Milage Master,Jacobs Super conductor Wires
Flexlite 150 electric fan
fabtech 3" front lift coils.
Trailmaster 2"lift blocks
Add a Leaf spring
Monroe sensatrack: Front/rear shocks
4.10 gears
Pioneer audio single disk tuner/cd
Planet audio speekers
Billit shift ****
Window Tint
Wolf bench seat contractors consoles
Cab clearence lights
Xenon sport flares
Reese frame hitch
Blue wire loom
Redline Synthetic:5w30 motoroil,Atf trany fluid,75w140 gear lube
Hellwig rear sway bar
polyurithane upgrade endlinks front swaybar
pilot fog lamps
vortecs free flow exaust
Swiss Camper top

 

I wouldn't change to a 160 thermostat, these engines don't react well to changing the engine temp. Someone posted about changing their's before with not so good results.

As for the 93 vs 87 its all up to you, for me I have gotten 91500 ping free miles from my Explorer and 53000 ping free miles from my truck. See you at 100000!

------------------

The Truck: 1997 Black F-150 Flareside. Regular Cab ORP and Towing Package
The Mods: K&N Filter, Eurolid Hard Tonneau, Profile Windstream Side Deflectors and Lund X-Terminator Bug Deflector.
The Site:
Triton's 4.6 Liter Web Page

 

Well I finally got the skinny on my truck. It was a bad MAF. I got it back from the shop today and ran it as hard as I could without a trace of ping. Its running 87 octane and has more power than it did before (so I guess they didnt remove the octane bar). Its amazing what happens when the perceived Air/Fuel ratio matches what is actually being produced! Thanks again everybody.

 

Hey thats great!!!!!!!! Whoever sold you that truck is a fine fellow. Get a hold of me if yu want to get the WMS Velocity Tube>http://www.wmsracing.com/

MIKE

------------------
97 F-150 4.6 auto, 4x2, 3.55 LS, WMS Velocity tube, Dynomax Super Turbo exhaust with Echo tube.
Oh yeah, it's Oxford White with crome wheels, Legacy shell & custom grill!