Pinging badly *update*
For the last month or so, my car has been getting increasing amounts of pinging, which first started with high rpm loads on the highway while passing. Since then, it has slowly been showing up in the 3k & 2k range, and currently, whenever I even step on the gas pretty much at all. As is, I can barely keep freeway speeds without getting pinging. Forget going up hills or passing, as even the slightest gas will make it sound like a can of BB's being tossed around. BTW, this happens after the temp gauge is on the R of M in NORMAL; aka after the car has warmed up.
I have changed the fuel filter and installed a step colder plugs (Autolite 103's) to try to solve the problem, but it has not gotten any better. When I pulled the plugs, 5 were slighly burnt as I expected, and three were oily, which I also expected from the leaking coolant crossover on my intake. When I checked the gap, they varied from .065 to .070.
I don't think my cracked coolant crossover is really the problem ( does not leak until 3k+ rpm, and then not too badly), because it has been cracked for about 2 months now, and it never pinged particularly heavy until recently. Since I noticed the crack, I have babied it (>2k rpm) but still get pinging.
Anyone have any ideas? I would get this thing dyno tuned to see if I am running lean, but I need to get my lower intake swapped first so I won't spray coolant all over the engine when I dyno it.
I am thinking all of this may cause pinging:
timing - will check on wideband dyno after swap. I suspect I am running lean, although the spark plugs were not white (although they were burnt). I figured because of the huge spark plug gap from the previous plugs that timing was not being pulled enough due to the gap, which would cause the engine to run hot and ping, but it is still doing it even with Autolite 103's @ .045.
Coolant sensor's bad maybe?
lack of fuel- Changed fuel filter, maybe fuel system flush now? Fuel Pump?
carbon buildup- Have ran seafoam through gas & oil, but don't want to run through PCV line b/c of miles on motor and all the junk it may unloose that is probably in my motor right now.
bad gas -Tried random gas stations and filled with 87, 89 & 93 octane. I am currently trying to run 87. I disconnected the battery after plug swap to see if it would relearn on the colder plugs & 87 I put in directly after using 89 the previous tank.
too hot of a plug- Now running Autolite 103's from previous motorcraft AWSF32c's. Changed wires as well.
incoming air too hot -Will try a 180* thermostat when I install the PI intake. I guess the only other thing to do is get a dyno tune afterward or a predator tuner and have the fans to come on ~10* sooner.
Other than this, I give up.
For the last month or so, my car has been getting increasing amounts of pinging, which first started with high rpm loads on the highway while passing. Since then, it has slowly been showing up in the 3k & 2k range, and currently, whenever I even step on the gas pretty much at all. As is, I can barely keep freeway speeds without getting pinging. Forget going up hills or passing, as even the slightest gas will make it sound like a can of BB's being tossed around. BTW, this happens after the temp gauge is on the R of M in NORMAL; aka after the car has warmed up.
I have changed the fuel filter and installed a step colder plugs (Autolite 103's) to try to solve the problem, but it has not gotten any better. When I pulled the plugs, 5 were slighly burnt as I expected, and three were oily, which I also expected from the leaking coolant crossover on my intake. When I checked the gap, they varied from .065 to .070.
I don't think my cracked coolant crossover is really the problem ( does not leak until 3k+ rpm, and then not too badly), because it has been cracked for about 2 months now, and it never pinged particularly heavy until recently. Since I noticed the crack, I have babied it (>2k rpm) but still get pinging.
Anyone have any ideas? I would get this thing dyno tuned to see if I am running lean, but I need to get my lower intake swapped first so I won't spray coolant all over the engine when I dyno it.
I am thinking all of this may cause pinging:
timing - will check on wideband dyno after swap. I suspect I am running lean, although the spark plugs were not white (although they were burnt). I figured because of the huge spark plug gap from the previous plugs that timing was not being pulled enough due to the gap, which would cause the engine to run hot and ping, but it is still doing it even with Autolite 103's @ .045.
Coolant sensor's bad maybe?
lack of fuel- Changed fuel filter, maybe fuel system flush now? Fuel Pump?
carbon buildup- Have ran seafoam through gas & oil, but don't want to run through PCV line b/c of miles on motor and all the junk it may unloose that is probably in my motor right now.
bad gas -Tried random gas stations and filled with 87, 89 & 93 octane. I am currently trying to run 87. I disconnected the battery after plug swap to see if it would relearn on the colder plugs & 87 I put in directly after using 89 the previous tank.
too hot of a plug- Now running Autolite 103's from previous motorcraft AWSF32c's. Changed wires as well.
incoming air too hot -Will try a 180* thermostat when I install the PI intake. I guess the only other thing to do is get a dyno tune afterward or a predator tuner and have the fans to come on ~10* sooner.
Other than this, I give up.