Help! My trusty 4.6 runs great. Just one problem: When towing my 5x8 Wells Cargo trailer (not heavy--just catches some wind) with the o/d off my engine pings while driving at highway speeds. That's the only time I hear it--not while accelerating or while towing in o/d. In this part of the country the roads are nice and flat and with the wind in the right direction towing in o/d is possible occasionally. I always burn premium unleaded; usually 90 octane is tops here. Any help or suggestions would greatly be appreciated. Thanks...........

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*97 F-150 supercab XLT
*Christian fish on tailgate
*4.6 v-8
*summit white
*grey interior
*kenwood cd/tuner and speakers
*International Association of Firefighters sticker on back window
*diamond tread tool box
*receiver hitch
*factory bedliner
*K&N Filtercharger
*well's cargo landscape trailer usually attached(trailer jacknife dent on bumper...oops)

 

90 Octane sounds pretty low for premium. I have found out that if I burn gasahol of the same octane rating that mine will ping bad towing also.(but I have a chip in it) So I really stay away from that stuff. If you have a lot of miles on it, you may clean your mass air sensor. My Explorer pinged like a SOB no matter how good of premium I put in it till I cleaned the mass air sensor. I will take by your signature line that you don't have a chip in it??

Mike

 

thanks ksmike,
No, I don't have a chip yet, but am considering getting one. The truck has just over 44k on it, but I will try cleaning the MAF, sure couldn't hurt. As for gas, I agree, 90 octane is pretty low for premium but this is the Texas panhandle and it seems like this is the only place I've ever been where 90 octane is considered premium. As far as I know gasahol is not available here.

 

I would like to clean my MAF sensor also but . . . where is it located and how do you get at it?

I know that this should be basic stuff but please help !!!

 

If cleaning the MAF doesn't work, get a bottle of Techron (not the fuel injector cleaner w/ Techron) and follow the directions. Check your oil before you treat the engine and check it again when you fill up the next time. If the oil is black/darker, that's all the carbon that the Techron got rid of. Change your oil at that point.

 

Thanks for all the help...I'll let you know the results asap!

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*97 F-150 supercab XLT
*Christian fish on tailgate
*4.6 v-8
*summit white
*grey interior
*Blaupunkt cd tuner and infinity speakers
*AFD est. 1897 fire department sticker on back window
*diamond tread tool box
*receiver hitch
*factory bedliner
*K&N Filtercharger
*well's cargo landscape trailer usually attached(trailer jacknife dent on bumper...oops)

 

Definitely clean your MAF. I did mine with a cotton swab and a bit of windex. The pinging vanished. I'm curious as to whether this malady is exclusive to us K+N users???

 

years of driving a fleet of Town Cars with 4.6's, and 350 vans with 5.4's always using 87 octane, taught me one thing, and that was to order my 99 Lariat with the 5.4, its cheaper to run...I have to use 93 octane in wifes Grand Marqis, I can't stand the rattle...

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Linwoods, try the Techron in your wife's car. I had a 1987 F-150 that pinged horribly, even on premium gas. Chevron came out with Techron and I put a bottle in according to the instructions. By the time I used up 1/2 of the 10 gallons or so, the pinging disappeared. Oil turned black. Changed oil and tried regular gas. Engine pinged. Did the Techron again, thinking the first time didn't get all the carbon out. Pinging stopped. Oil was black again.