Engine Ping! - 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor

[RJK619]

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 would try a fuel with a higher rating , I've experienced a somewhat similar issue with no codes or check engine light and that was when it was brand new (19 Ranger Lariat) changed instantly with 91 octane but I usually go for 93 , I have 0 mods on this truck and now have 28k .the ecoboost engine is a little noisy inherently especially when in colder weather till it warms up .

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[RepMontreal]

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.

There's no cover over the OBDII plug and I actually just got back from a trip to NC. So unless the gas in FL, GA, SC, and NC is all bad, it's not just a local gas problem. For my next fuel up I'm going to try higher octane and post my results.

 

[Rp930]

There's no cover over the OBDII plug and I actually just got back from a trip to NC. So unless the gas in FL, GA, SC, and NC is all bad, it's not just a local gas problem. For my next fuel up I'm going to try higher octane and post my results.

I would have tried higher octane fuel 3 states ago. ?

 

[Dgc333]

FWIW, I put the FP tune on my 21 Ranger when it had less that 1000 miles on it and ran 93 octane exclusively for about 10k miles. When 93 octane went over $4/gal I switched back to the stock tune and ran 87. I was very unhappy with the tranny shifting characteristics stock that I went back to Unleashed (used him for my 15 Ecoboost Mustang)and had Torrie do a custom tranny calibration with an 87 octane performance tune. I am now at 30k miles running the 87 octane tune on 87 octane. I am perfectly satisfied with the performance and have no intentions of using 93 octane on a daily basis ever again. I just don't push the engine into the upper rpm range where the higher octane makes a difference in performance.

The engine has run great on 87 without a hint of detonation. I have a 3200lb empty travel trailer I tow about once per month. On short trips where I do not need to purchase gas I tow with 87 octane. I have not had any hints of detonation. When I do need gas when I am towing I will put in 93 octane but have never noticed a difference when using it.

My Ranger is a 21 Lariat Tremor with a 1" level. I get 21-23 mpg around town and 23-25 mpg on the hiway. When I am towing my trailer I will get 12-15 mpg however on last months trip I got 18 mpg not sure why.

I never noticed any difference in mileage between octane or tunes. The 1" level had no impact on mileage either. When the Grabber ATx tires need replacing I plan on going to a more street focused AT tire in a P-metric rating in hopes of a little better mileage.

 

[pbethel]

I am probably just too old but I thought putting higher octane fuel in your tank was the first and immediate thing you did for preignition. Regardless of the cause. To minimize any damage until you could fix the cause.

 

[Jason B]

This is the kind of damaged caused by pre-ignition or 'pinging'. Still think 93 octane isn't worth the price?

 

[Dgc333]

This is the kind of damaged caused by pre-ignition or 'pinging'. Still think 93 octane isn't worth the price?

Nope I don't. The severity of the detonation that caused that damage wouldn't have been prevented by using 93 octane.

The bottom picture looks like the damage that would have been caused by Low Speed Pre Ignition (LSPI). It is a phenomenon that can happen in direct injected turbo engines when you have high boost at low rpms. It is so severe that it will rattle your eye balls and scare the crap out of you if it happens. It can be exasperated by using motor oil with a high calcium content, that is why it is very important to use only SN+ or SP rated motor oil in a DI turbo motor. They have been formulated to minimize the chances of LSPI.

 

[got3fords]

This is the kind of damaged caused by pre-ignition or 'pinging'. Still think 93 octane isn't worth the price?

Should have seen this piston I pulled from my '72 Honda motorcycle in high school. Started pinging badly, then blew a hole in the top of the piston.

 

[RepMontreal]

This is the kind of damaged caused by pre-ignition or 'pinging'. Still think 93 octane isn't worth the price?

I never said it wasn't worth it. I said Ford shouldn't rate the engine for 87 if that ^^^ is going to happen.

 

[RepMontreal]

Alright so I have an update. Spark plugs have been replaced and I've topped the truck off with half a tank of 93 octane. My gas mileage has improved from 16.4 to 18.9 in the 50 miles I've driven it; however, the pinging has not gone away by any stretch of the imagination. Doing the math, even with the increased fuel mileage, I'm spending 2 cents per mile more running premium over 87 octane with no improvement with the pinging issue. I'm about to go out and buy a stock filter. Will update again when I run it another 50 miles. Thanks everyone
-RepMontreal

 

[Rp930]

Alright so I have an update. Spark plugs have been replaced and I've topped the truck off with half a tank of 93 octane. My gas mileage has improved from 16.4 to 18.9 in the 50 miles I've driven it; however, the pinging has not gone away by any stretch of the imagination. Doing the math, even with the increased fuel mileage, I'm spending 2 cents per mile more running premium over 87 octane with no improvement with the pinging issue. I'm about to go out and buy a stock filter. Will update again when I run it another 50 miles. Thanks everyone
-RepMontreal

But you still haven’t checked if there is a tune in the truck? Since the mileage went up so drastically with a “half” tank my hunch is an aggressive tune.

Can’t we get a video of this “pinging”?

 

[Wytchdctr]

I wonder if it's possible you are hearing the hpfp like on mine when it cools down some. Not the truck but the ambient temp. Once it's 50 to 60s I hear what I thought was ping but it's the noisy fuel system. I'm about to order an engine cover to see if that helps cut down on the noise.

 

[RepMontreal]

But you still haven’t checked if there is a tune in the truck? Since the mileage went up so drastically with a “half” tank my hunch is an aggressive tune.

Can’t we get a video of this “pinging”?

Here's a video I just took after putting in a WIX paper air filter (nobody had a Motorcraft version). This is with new plugs, half a tank of 93 with half a tank of 87, and the new filter. It actually sounds worse after the new air filter. The pinging starts at the 16 second mark.

 

[Rp930]

Sounds like noisy direct injection to me. Or I can’t hear the pinging over the other noises. I really don’t think that is pinging you're hearing.

 

[RepMontreal]

Sounds like noisy direct injection to me. Or I can’t hear the pinging over the other noises. I really don’t think that is pinging you're hearing.

It defiantly sounds like pinging to me. My old ram 5.9L did the same thing, only much worse. It's hard to hear over the other engine noises, but putting my phone on top of the engine was the best way to record it. At 16-21 seconds you can hear the rattling

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