Engine Ping! - 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor

[got3fords]

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.

Aha! Could be your local gas just plain sucks.
Also, is there any kind of cover over the OBDII connector? That could be an indicator of a tune.

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[FunInTheSun]

Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum. I'm having an engine ping/spark knock issue with my 2021 Ford Ranger. From what I can tell, besides a K&N air filter, the truck is completely stock. I've kept up with the oil changes and changed out the rear pads, but other than that I haven't done much to it. I started noticing the issue when a check engine light came on for P0402 exhaust gas recirculation excessive. The code would come on intermittently and usually clear after a few key cycles. During a trip up to NC hauling two bikes in the bed, the code came on 12 times and I started to notice the engine ping. I'm not sure if it began during the trip or if it was always there, as I only noticed it because my radio was off (I usually keep it on). Long story short, I took it to the dealership and they replaced the DPFE sensor. The engine light hasn't come back on yet, but the engine ping is still there. I've rescheduled to bring the truck back. My question is - What could cause this issue? The truck has 37k miles on it and I use it mostly to commute. The ping occurs under normal to moderate acceleration once the transmission shifts into 5th gear and will continue to ping all the way into 8th. It's intermittent, as it doesn't occur every time, but it does happen. I've only noticed it at normal op temperature, and it sounds like someone dropped some glass ball bearings in the cylinders. I live in Florida, and the hot weather seems to make it worse. I understand that higher octane fuel should fight this issue, but it kind of defeats the purpose of buying a smaller truck if I have to use premium. This truck is rated for 87 octane, and that's what I use. From what I understand, ping may occur due to excessive compression and/or hot air. I doubt the K&N air filter would cause it to run that lean, but I may be mistaken. I'm wondering if I have excessive carbon buildup on the pistons from the EGR issue causing higher compression. All this emmissions crap they put on these newer engines is a real pain (And, of course, it's only covered under a 2 year warranty). Thoughts?

Much appreciated, RepMontreal

I could be mistaken, but 87 octane has always been marginal in these engines. Even Ford says to run 91 for towing, unless I am misrembering (which is a distinct possibility)

 

[Motorpsychology]

Here is what the owner's manual says. This is from 2021, but All 5G rangers have the same engine. I highlighted some key areas concerning running ethanol higher than E-15 and octane boosters:

 

[EAC83]

I also have a ‘21 tremor . Engine completely stock . Brand new the truck averaged 19-20 mpg . Since then I’ve lifted the front 2” and the rear 1”. I threw on some stock size nitto trail grapplers and immediately my mpgs dropped to an average of 16.5. Drove with them till I had around half tread left and took them off and sold them and went back to my stock tires and I’m back at 19-20 avg mpgs again. So I would say the low mpg would be the tires in combination with the front bumper . The nitto tires I ran were over 70 lbs each and the stock tires I believe are just over 40. So tire weight makes a considerable difference even if they are stock size . Referring to your pinging issue , my ranger has done this since I bought it . Does it more so when I tow and say I stop and start back on a hill and the have my radio off it’s very noticeable (while towing) My wife has heard it and my dealer has heard it and I got the ole we have another ranger here that does the same thing so it’s normal line . They even let me drive two other rangers both non tremors but both made the same exact noise . Mine sounds like someone lightly shakes a can of spray paint. Normal driving and not towing I rarely hear it but when the engine is under strain at low rpm from a start it’s there . I’ve ran 93 octane since I got my my truck new so I’m curious to know what you find out on the pinging issue myself.

 

[puckdodger]

mileage seems a little low, mine was leveled and tuned, stock filter. I will jump on the stock air filter bandwagon as well. K&N is not worth it IMO.

and if there are big, big problems with the engine, Ford can tell that the truck was tuned, how many times, when, likely even tell what the tech was wearing when they installed it. no secrets with computers nowadays.

 

[Racket]

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.

BOV is just a noisemaker - it won't induce pre-ignition ping or reduce gas mileage.

Changing the volume/flow of intake air in relation to exhaust including a freer flowing setup could upset the reporting system especially if tuned, making it even more touchy.

It may also take time for the CEL or codes to clear.

 

[RepMontreal]

I also have a ‘21 tremor . Engine completely stock . Brand new the truck averaged 19-20 mpg . Since then I’ve lifted the front 2” and the rear 1”. I threw on some stock size nitto trail grapplers and immediately my mpgs dropped to an average of 16.5. Drove with them till I had around half tread left and took them off and sold them and went back to my stock tires and I’m back at 19-20 avg mpgs again. So I would say the low mpg would be the tires in combination with the front bumper . The nitto tires I ran were over 70 lbs each and the stock tires I believe are just over 40. So tire weight makes a considerable difference even if they are stock size . Referring to your pinging issue , my ranger has done this since I bought it . Does it more so when I tow and say I stop and start back on a hill and the have my radio off it’s very noticeable (while towing) My wife has heard it and my dealer has heard it and I got the ole we have another ranger here that does the same thing so it’s normal line . They even let me drive two other rangers both non tremors but both made the same exact noise . Mine sounds like someone lightly shakes a can of spray paint. Normal driving and not towing I rarely hear it but when the engine is under strain at low rpm from a start it’s there . I’ve ran 93 octane since I got my my truck new so I’m curious to know what you find out on the pinging issue myself.

The stock tires are the general grabbers I think. That's what my spare is. Good to know the mpg could just be from the aftermarket tires. There's gotta be someone higher than a dealer you can contact about this issue. Ping is no small thing and for it to happen with multiple trucks sounds like a recall worthy thing to me. You said you run 93 and it still does it?

 

[EAC83]

93 octane since new. Ive ran a few tanks of mid grade when 93 wasn’t available but not many . I can say the noise has always been there basically and hasn’t gotten any worse or better. I’m at 40k miles. I honestly thought all rangers made this noise after hearing it in the two the dealer let me drive and in my brother n laws ranger XLT sport. One a 2019, one a 2020, and two 2021 models . I did get a factory extended warranty with mine and I intend to trade it off for something new before it runs out .

 

[Dr3wDrop]

Sorry, but this was funny to me...

 

[Dgc333]

Changing the volume/flow of intake air in relation to exhaust including a freer flowing setup could upset the reporting system especially if tuned, making it even more touchy.

Changes in the air intake have zero negative impact on the tune with the manifold absolute pressure (MAP) system used in the Ranger. Even in a MAF system as long as you haven't changed the cross sectional area of the intake at the MAF location there will be no impact. The engine will only ingest the air it needs. At any throttle opening less than WOT the intake has way more capacity to flow air than the engine needs. If the air filter was presenting a restriction and the K&N reduced that you would possibly see more HP but it won't cause the engine to ping.

 

[JTDay]

Wasn't there a TSB on these to replace the EGR valve? It could be getting stuck open for some reason. I had this happen in a similar engine as the 2.3 and cleaning it fixed the issue. Luckily the problem never came back.

It's worth the effort to put 93 in and see if the pinging goes away. This wouldn't necessarily indicate that the ECU is tuned though. As far as I know, the tunes for these don't mess with anything in closed loop so unless you have some backyard boogie tune, the pinging isn't tune related. If you're getting on it and going into open loop in the ECU, lower octane than required of the tune 'could' cause an issue. I'd see if the dealership can look into that anyways as it's good to know if the ecus been messed with. If you really feel like it you can get an app and an OBD2 Bluetooth dongle to monitor stuff like knock and fuel trims or AFR in closed loop and open loop.

The air filter type plays no role in fueling on these engines as mentioned above. Replace the KN with a OEM paper filter anyways.

 

[FunInTheSun]

Here is what the owner's manual says. This is from 2021, but All 5G rangers have the same engine. I highlighted some key areas concerning running ethanol higher than E-15 and octane boosters:

Thanks for posting the Ford manual excerpt. I tried to locate mine, but I failed.
I noted this paragraph (not highlighted):
For best overall vehicle and engine
performance, premium fuel with an octane
rating of 91 or higher is recommended. The
performance gained by using premium fuel
is most noticeable in hot weather as well
as other conditions, for example when
towing a trailer.

I read this as "you can run 87 octane, but if you pay attention, you will note that she's not super thrilled to do it. Especially if it's hot, or if you're towing."
And they chose not to throw shade at lower quality gas stations that just put 87 on the pump for the cheap stuff, but it's really something less.

For OP:

Anything direct injected is going to have a bit of a different sound to it. That HPFP is quite noisy, and if you don't have an engine cover, you will hear that cam and solenoid rattling sometimes. The sound you are reacting to may not be spark knock.

Try a higher quality gas station, and a higher octane rating, and see if it makes a difference.

 

[Jackpot Tremor]

Here is what the owner's manual says. This is from 2021, but All 5G rangers have the same engine. I highlighted some key areas concerning running ethanol higher than E-15 and octane boosters:

good info.......and it also says this:

For best overall vehicle and engine performance, premium fuel with an octane rating of 91 or higher is recommended. The performance gained by using premium fuel is most noticeable in hot weather as well as other conditions, for example when towing a trailer


my 2021 Tremor Lariat has been tuned with the Ford Performance Tune since around 500 miles give or take.....I always run 91 octane (93 not available in CA) and never had any pinging......I swapped out the K&N air filter for a AEM 28-30086 Dryflow Air Filter cuz I didn't like the oil filled type and heard potential issues.

for what it's worth......I'm running Falken Wildpeaks A/T3W (P 265 /70 R17) and a 1" front spacer lift and I drive like a bat outta hell and mostly stop and go in So CA and I average 15 mpg......but it is what it is.....love this fricking truck!......your mpg are in the "normal" range IMO....but pinging is no good.......probably need to upgrade to 91 octane and see what happens.......

 

[airline tech]

Sorry, I just noted your pics of the drop in K & N, I was thinking it was open air without the box.

And I just thought of something, that the dealer might not have done, and with this ping happening for an unknown period of time, the PCM may have adjusted the base LTFT to compensate for it.

Depending on how much you have driven the truck since the DPFE was replaced.
The PCM may just need time to learn the (new) adaptive fuel trims.
STFT's do not maintain in the memory tables but the LTFT's do.
The PCM holds a memory table of LTFT and uses that as a reference point of fuel delivery in all ranges of load and RPM.
I am thinking the ping happens under the same load conditions as before the DPFE was replaced.
Just not throwing a code.
You may try resetting the KAM and force a new learn of base LTFT
It will or should do this on its own after some drives and around 100 miles or so.

Just a thought

 

[Scott_Anderson_]

I wonder if you could try registering with Ford Performance to see if your VIN has already been tied to another email account? That would be another indication, in addition to K&N drop-in, that you’ve got the FP tune.

You would also want that info, since your stock tune is potentially uploaded and backed up with Ford and you’re wanting to flash it back to stock.

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