I hear a ticking, possibly exhaust leak coming from my car, most notibly, at idel. being that i am doing my own tuning now, i want to make sure its not pinging.
I hear a ticking, possibly exhaust leak coming from my car, most notibly, at idel. being that i am doing my own tuning now, i want to make sure its not pinging.
Pinging sounds like marbles rattling in a metal can, and it doesn't (at least usually) happen at idle. It's usually under load at really low RPM when bogging or at high rpm accel.
Pinging sounds like marbles rattling in a metal can, and it doesn't (at least usually) happen at idle. It's usually under load at really low RPM when bogging or at high rpm accel.
A good way to check for ticks is to use a wooden broom handle and touch it to the area that you think the ticking is coming from. Then put your ear to the other end of the broom handle and it will transmit the noises through it.
Works like a charm.
Autoparts stores also carry a stethoscope that you can buy to do the same thing. I don't remember the cost though.
You can get the stethoscope on sale at HF for a few bucks. It works well - just dont bang the probe into anything unexpectedly cuz you'll crap yourself.
You can get the stethoscope on sale at HF for a few bucks. It works well - just dont bang the probe into anything unexpectedly cuz you'll crap yourself.
I would check for exhaust leaks first. Either between the head and the header, or the header and h-pipe. You can sometimes feel exhaust leaks by running your hand around the header right after you start the car, when it's cold. Keep in mind you only have a few seconds before it gets real hot.
I would say the next most common place for ticking noises is from the valvetrain, specifically rockers or lifters. Rocker ticking would probably be best located with the stethoscope or the broom-o-scope. I personally usually use a long handled screwdriver cuz I'm too cheap to buy a real automotive stethoscope.
I've had ticking noises before that I could SWEAR were a valvetrain noise, and they turned out to be an exhaust leak, so that's why I say always check for exhaust leaks first.
Pinging or spark knock is not the same as detonation.
Pinging is preignition of the fuel air charge by some source of ignition other than the spark plug. The source of the ignition can be a hot spot in the combustion chamber such as carbon, a spark plug insulator, side electrode, or a sharp edge on a valve. It occurs before the spark plug can fire and while the piston is still on its upward movement towards TDC. That is the cause of the characteristic ping or ringing sound, much like shaking a coffee can full of BB’s.
Detonation is the uncontrolled explosion of the fuel air charge after the spark plug fires and starts to burn. In a properly running engine, the spark plug ignites the fuel air charge and it burns slowly and evenly across the combustion chamber, much like a fire as it burns its way across a grassy field. When detonation occurs, the ignited fuel air charge causes an increase in the combustion chamber pressure and temperature. The remaining fuel air charge that has not been burned self–ignites explosively causing tremendous heat and pressure. The source of secondary ignition can be the same as preignition, or can be simply due to the heat and pressure. Detonation is what damages engine parts because of the excessive heat and pressure.
Pinging can lead to detonation, and the results are the same: engine damage because of the excessive heat and pressure.
Fords aren't known for a nice quiet valvetrain, especially after years of abuse. Another common tick is a leak on the exhaust manifold gaskets. If you have headers go get a set of copper gaskets and some locking header bolts, or the bolts that come with the rounded allen head tool to tighten them, plus they have a small enought head to get a gear wrench on!