I had a pinging problem with my '00 GT - it always used to run fine on 87, but this year it started pinging when I would step on the gas moderately to hard in fifth gear at 65 mph or so. The car has about 75k miles on it. I tried all the usual cures (cleaned MAF, ran injector cleaner, etc.) to no avail. Took it to Ford and after checking everything (plugs, etc.) they detected a bad MAF sensor so they replaced that, and the pinging is definitely alleviated, but is still there somewhat. I also put the stock airbox back on, since I didn't want my K&N causing any more MAF sensor contamination.
After talking about the continued (but much less severe) pinging with my service guy, we determined that I should try blending some premium into each tank of gas. Yesterday I mixed about 4.5 gallons of 93 into my tank of 87 (the equivalent of slightly higher than 89, I think) and the problem seems to have gone away (for now, anyway).
My question is this - at 75k on this engine, is blending my gas forever or running higher-octane something I just have to live with, or is it worth taking back to Ford to investigate further and possibly get it back to consistent combustion on 87? This is a very reputable dealer and I trust them, and my car has 75k miles on it so there may be a mileage factor here. I am just trying to see if this is typical for a car of mine's mileage. I hear that higher octane gas causes carbon buildup in cars not made for it, so I'd like to run as close to 87 if I can.
I realize that these cars always had some tip-in pinging, but the car has definitely had more detonation at 75k than it did when it was younger.
Any insight you can give me would be helpful in my deciding whether to worry about having the dealer look at it again.
After talking about the continued (but much less severe) pinging with my service guy, we determined that I should try blending some premium into each tank of gas. Yesterday I mixed about 4.5 gallons of 93 into my tank of 87 (the equivalent of slightly higher than 89, I think) and the problem seems to have gone away (for now, anyway).
My question is this - at 75k on this engine, is blending my gas forever or running higher-octane something I just have to live with, or is it worth taking back to Ford to investigate further and possibly get it back to consistent combustion on 87? This is a very reputable dealer and I trust them, and my car has 75k miles on it so there may be a mileage factor here. I am just trying to see if this is typical for a car of mine's mileage. I hear that higher octane gas causes carbon buildup in cars not made for it, so I'd like to run as close to 87 if I can.
I realize that these cars always had some tip-in pinging, but the car has definitely had more detonation at 75k than it did when it was younger.
Any insight you can give me would be helpful in my deciding whether to worry about having the dealer look at it again.