Engine Ping! - 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor

[RepMontreal]

I bet with 91 or 93 octane and OEM air filter, your pinging will all but disappear, and your milage wili improve. I regularly get 23-25 mpg empty, mixed driving with my FX4 and it runs quieter with 91 E0 over 87 E10.

Yeah I don't doubt that might help/alleviate my issues, but the problem is that this engine is rated from the manufacturer for 87 octane..if you have to run midgrade or premium in it just to avoid pinging and possible engine damage, then it shouldn't be rated for 87. There's no good reason that an automobile manufacturer as prestigious as Ford Motorcompany should rate an engine for a sub-optimal fuel if its not going to run properly with that fuel. Especially with the current gasoline prices being the way they are. I spent 46k out of pocket on this truck during the height of the pandemic when you couldn't find a full-sized truck for under 50k. I'd be pretty disappointed with this truck and Ford in general if the solution to my potentially catastrophic engine issue is to run the vehicle completely stock with a more expensive fuel than it's rated for. These are mid-sized trucks with a 4-cylinder engine in them that has a decent reputation for being reliable, they shouldn't have this kind of problem. As owners of these trucks, I'd hope you all would be as upset as I am with having to run premium fuel in a truck that is supposed to be designed to run on regular gasoline. It's not a Shelby F-150 after all - it's a small truck that many people in this country use as a daily driver. Sorry for the rant, but I bought this truck to be a reliable vehicle for me for the next 10+ years..and it's been giving me a lot of problems lately. I'm listening to everyone's input here and I appreciate it.

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[RepMontreal]

Wouldn't ping thow codes? I accidentally put 87 in my tuned truck and although I put octane booster in it with less than 50 miles on the 87, I never noticed any ping.
Also, I can't image an over-oiled, higher flow performance filter suffocating the engine enough to cause ping, unless it was oiled with the wrong oil. And again, codes?

The only code it has thrown since I've owned it us P0402 exhaust gas recirculation flow excessive. I took it to the dealer, they replaced the DPFE sensor, and they gave it back to me with the same pinging issues I brought it in with. the engine light hasn't come back on, but I've only had it back for a few days and it has been an intermittent issue. So at this point theres no telling if the EGR issue is actually fixed. I'm supposed to bring it back at the beginning of the week.

 

[bRaptor]

I'd have to see a stock exhaust to compare, but it looks and sounds pretty stock to me. I'll admit it's possible someone tuned it, but its not obviously apparent to me. I get 16.4 mpg, but I attributed that to an aftermarket warn bumper, the 4wd components, and slightly larger tires (definitely not my right foot ). I took some pictures of the plugs and inspected the air filter. It needs to be cleaned, but its not clogged by any standards.

Dude I have the same truck, no bumper, but I get 20 mpg no problem. Those look like stock tires to me.

 

[RepMontreal]

Dude I have the same truck, no bumper, but I get 20 mpg no problem. Those look like stock tires to me.

That's what I thought, but they are slightly larger than the stock tires. Still don't explain the engine issues tho :/

 

[bRaptor]

Well I'll pay attention to mine I'm pretty close to that mileage

 

[RepMontreal]

Well I'll pay attention to mine I'm pretty close to that mileage

I hope you don't have any problems with yours. My last truck was a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 V8 5.9l Magnum. It had engine ping issues too that would go away when the weather was cold. I see snow in your account picture...maybe just stay up there whereever you are and you wont have any problems ?

 

[RepMontreal]

Or added the K & N without a tune and the Air / Fuel delivery is off - The MAPT sensor is leaning out the fuel mixture, you need to look at STFT and see what it is doing.
It is possible the EGR system is still at fault. Scan the system for codes.

Sorry, I overlooked your post from before. What is STFT?

 

[RepMontreal]

I saw that picture and my first thought was tail of the dragon. LOL

Alachua is some nice country. Just not mountain enough for me. LOL

It's not enough for me either, I'll be moving to NC or north GA whenever I graduate lol. More motorcycle activities up there anyways.

 

[JasonTremor]

I would guess it is tuned like others have suggested. The Ford Performance calibration kit comes with a K&N type drop in filter. Simple test is to throw some 91-93 octane in it to see if pinging goes away. If you bought it certified used from a ford dealer, they should put it back to stock calibration if it was tuned. Otherwise, service center will just charge you shop time for programming.

 

[Racket]

I don't know if a Mom and Pop is going to have the ability to flash the ECU to factory stock - pretty sure they'd need Ford specific software and access to files referencing your VIN.

The fact it's an upscale Ranger and they spent coin on the bumpers strongly suggests - with the K&N - it's tuned.

Ford may have built the Ranger to run on regular gas but IIRC midgrade is recommended. After all it's got a turbo. Don't fool with octane boosters, just top off with premium if you're below half a tank and go with midgrade after that and see if your experience changes.

I have a custom tune I requested for mid grade and regular gas has never gone into my truck. I also got a 3 inch exhaust but kept the stock downpipe. Factory air filter although I've upgraded the intercooler charge pipes - hopefully soon a free flowing intercooler too.

Our Ecoboost is only 'approved' for up to 15% ethanol (typically the pump with the 88 sticker) but when I lived in West Palm Beach I found 94 octane E30 and really felt it ran well - lots of power, no pinging.

With only 16K mikes, little evidence of mechanical engine mods except the filter it just keeps pointing to some type of tune. If the previous owner paid the dealer to install the Ford Performance Package you should be okay as long as you run higher octane gas. My understanding is the factory computer retards timing to prevent pre-ignition.

As far as gas mileage I drive in a 'spirited' manor and my 4x2 gets almost 20 MPG mixed but mid 20's on straight highway driving if I keep to speed limits ?

 

[Jacob]

I’ve been drinking my B-Vitamins and bread tonight but shot in the dark, did y’all Check the blow off valve? I threw a turbo smart on mine. Didn’t have the problem you’ve mentioned but it’s worth a shot. It’s an easy replacement to test.

 

[airline tech]

Sorry, I overlooked your post from before. What is STFT?

STFT = Short Term Fuel Trim's
LTFT = Long Term Fuel Trim's

Basically, the fuel trims are used in engine performance diagnostic's they are the reference for data to view fuel delivery and injector pulse, spark advance, timing etc.
Various inputs from the sensors effect these readings and adjusts Fuel Delivery, this is where the K & N filter will come into play, higher than stock air induction than the PCM is programmed for.
Unless (Tuned) for it, now running a higher octane fuel the PCM will adjust fuel delivery to account for it as well.
If PCM see's higher air intake, then it adjusts the fuel delivery by leaning out the fuel mixture.

Lean Fuel Mixture = Ping

 

[Dr3wDrop]

I’ve been drinking my B-Vitamins and bread tonight but shot in the dark, did y’all Check the blow off valve? I threw a turbo smart on mine. Didn’t have the problem you’ve mentioned but it’s worth a shot. It’s an easy replacement to test.

Factory BOV

 

[Techcargt]

I remember reading a while back where that some Fords were have a rattling noise coming from the turbo waste gate arm at certain RPM's and could be confused with spark knock . Ford's fix was to put an external spring on it . But I think that was on the F150's and some other models .But the easy and fast check is to put 91-93 octane fuel in it to make sure first .

 

[Canadian Ranger]

Start with the basics first before you dive in deep. Put a bottle of good quality fuel system cleaner/fuel injector cleaner and a bottle of upper cylinder lube in the tank, and put a normal air filter in it.
I bought a 2007 Ranger in 2011 that had a K&N in it, I tossed it out the day I bought the truck.

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