Pinging? - question ?? '98 Cobra

[winddysvt]

OK --

I thought this would be a great discussion in the ladies forum...

after all... we have to take care of our engines too!!

:thumbsup: :rolleyes:

anyway -

Trigger is pinging....

not the average "tick" that you hear in the Cobra engine...

it is a "ping"....

I have not gotten on it and to tell you the truth, I would be afraid to now with the supercharger and modifications that this Cobra has...

any ideas on what it could be before we spend money on a scanner, and or end up taking it to Ford ??

any suggestions, examples, experiences?

it isn't "normal", this engine has never had a "ping" like this before....

oil is clean as a whistle
19,999 miles
Vortech SC SQ and a few other modifications ...
If you need to know what other engine / exhaust modifications it has, you can see it by going here:

[winddysvt]

hey Tony --


remember this?


:thumbsup: :bounce:

[NO 5 OH]

Detonation, or "pre-ignition" can be caused by a number of things. It ocurrs when the air/fuel mixture is too lean (and this varies from car to car). As far as what causes it these are a few:

Bad gas in tank (could be a bad wintry mix, not enough octane... to sitting in the tank for a long period of time)
Any part of the fuel system on it's way out (pump, regulator)
Ignition components going bad (wires, plugs, coil packs, etc)
Too much timing advance
Too much boost with not enough octane
Plugs too hot (heat range)
Dirty combustion chamber

This is all I can think off right now... there might be more. I'd try getting a good batch of 93 octane... then check the fuel and ignition systems.

Let me know if I can be of any other help.

Shannon

[winddysvt]

Detonation, or "pre-ignition" can be caused by a number of things. It ocurrs when the air/fuel mixture is too lean (and this varies from car to car). As far as what causes it these are a few:

Bad gas in tank (could be a bad wintry mix, not enough octane... to sitting in the tank for a long period of time)
Any part of the fuel system on it's way out (pump, regulator)
Ignition components going bad (wires, plugs, coil packs, etc)
Too much timing advance
Too much boost with not enough octane
Plugs too hot (heat range)
Dirty combustion chamber

This is all I can think off right now... there might be more. I'd try getting a good batch of 93 octane... then check the fuel and ignition systems.

Let me know if I can be of any other help.

Shannon

=========

I'm thinking the same -- that it might be the gas -- however, its not last years tank...

we've filled it up 3-4 times already this year...

maybe its the actual gas and I should try using a different gas station?

guess it could be a part...

but I have a hard time seeing it being any of the rest of the things on your list... :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

we keep it so clean !!

I'm going to start with the gas and see if perhaps the station that I'm using is providing less than perfect gasoline...

been there before.... thanks for reminding me!!!

I haven't used boost for awhile --- and I probably won't until I make sure she's right again....

:eek:

[ausie]

I used to use Mobil gas, no longer, since the mobil product caused a fuel filter failure. I would get pinging more than I desired with the 93 mobil fuel. I also had severe carbon buildup on the pistons which can be cuased by burning oil, improper fuel/air mixture, bad EGR valve, etc..... I know for a fact that the 4.6L engine will use oil (0.5 - 1 qrt every 3000miles). The oil consumption is caused by the high vaccum produced by the motor which draws in small amounts of oil through the breather hose and PVC valve. Remove one spark plug (if possible) to see if it is has carbon on it (it would have a flat black color on the plug, and the insulator may be reddish brown to black). There are other causes for pinging too. IF the MAF (mass air flow sensor) has oil on it or is dirty will cause the fuel/air mixture to be lean. Last but not least, is the EGR (exaust gas recirculator) valve becomming clogged or sticking closed will cause pinging when the engine is running at temperature. If the pinging is periodic, or does not occur until the engine is warmed up it may be the EGR valve not opening correctly. If the spark plug is black (per above) the EGR could be stuck open which will cause carbon buildup. Pinging can also be caused by a clogged fuel injector, since you have a blower, you probably have new injectors to compensate for the increased air. Hopefully the fuel regulator and fuel pump can provide the correct fuel pressure. I suspect that timming and the fuel system is not the fault unless this was the case after the supercharger installation. More than likely it may be carbon buildup since it takes time to develop. The only thing a scan tool will do for you is report which sensors or systems may be at fault or malfunctioning but it will not solve the problem. Finding the cause so it can be corrected is the hard part.
=========

I'm thinking the same -- that it might be the gas -- however, its not last years tank...

we've filled it up 3-4 times already this year...

maybe its the actual gas and I should try using a different gas station?

guess it could be a part...

but I have a hard time seeing it being any of the rest of the things on your list... :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

we keep it so clean !!

I'm going to start with the gas and see if perhaps the station that I'm using is providing less than perfect gasoline...

been there before.... thanks for reminding me!!!

I haven't used boost for awhile --- and I probably won't until I make sure she's right again....

:eek:

[winddysvt]

I used to use Mobil gas, no longer, since the mobil product caused a fuel filter failure. I would get pinging more than I desired with the 93 mobil fuel. I also had severe carbon buildup on the pistons which can be cuased by burning oil, improper fuel/air mixture, bad EGR valve, etc..... I know for a fact that the 4.6L engine will use oil (0.5 - 1 qrt every 3000miles). The oil consumption is caused by the high vaccum produced by the motor which draws in small amounts of oil through the breather hose and PVC valve. Remove one spark plug (if possible) to see if it is has carbon on it (it would have a flat black color on the plug, and the insulator may be reddish brown to black). There are other causes for pinging too. IF the MAF (mass air flow sensor) has oil on it or is dirty will cause the fuel/air mixture to be lean. Last but not least, is the EGR (exaust gas recirculator) valve becomming clogged or sticking closed will cause pinging when the engine is running at temperature. If the pinging is periodic, or does not occur until the engine is warmed up it may be the EGR valve not opening correctly. If the spark plug is black (per above) the EGR could be stuck open which will cause carbon buildup. Pinging can also be caused by a clogged fuel injector, since you have a blower, you probably have new injectors to compensate for the increased air. Hopefully the fuel regulator and fuel pump can provide the correct fuel pressure. I suspect that timming and the fuel system is not the fault unless this was the case after the supercharger installation. More than likely it may be carbon buildup since it takes time to develop. The only thing a scan tool will do for you is report which sensors or systems may be at fault or malfunctioning but it will not solve the problem. Finding the cause so it can be corrected is the hard part.
==========


thank you for the tip!!

I was having problems when I was using the BP -
and I only use Mobil occassionally --

I tend to switch gas every now and then especially when I notice a problem.

I will be trying Shell for awhile, however, I have decided to take the car to Victor Ford --

We don't want to mess with it -- it isn't worth it. Having the Vortech in there makes me doubly aware of anything so Matts gonna check it for us.

If it was just an accessory - so be it...
but if it ends up being something more -
than it was well worth it...

updates later and thank again for your help --

by the way,
it wasn't an actual "ping"...

its more of a

"eek... eek"....

:eek:

[ausie]

An eek eek? hmmm, that sounds more like an accessory belt slipping and the belt tensioner is crying. If it is just an eek eek, the supercharger may not be aligned or may have moved since the installation. It could verywell be the neighbors cat but some how I don't thik that is it. Hope you fix your problem. It is good that you are getting someone to take a peek at the eek eek!

[winddysvt]

An eek eek? hmmm, that sounds more like an accessory belt slipping and the belt tensioner is crying. If it is just an eek eek, the supercharger may not be aligned or may have moved since the installation. It could verywell be the neighbors cat but some how I don't thik that is it. Hope you fix your problem. It is good that you are getting someone to take a peek at the eek eek!

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


thanks for your help Ausie --

we did some "peeking" after the 40th Anniv. in Nashville...

and the "eeking" goes away and comes back again...
sometimes very loud, sometimes barely noticeable --

I think your right --
sounds like a belt? something slipped? a pulley?

we'll get it !! :thumbsup: :bounce: