Question:
My 87 Ford Ranger makes some pinging noises when accelerating. Especially if its been running for a while. Today I filled it up with Shell V-Power high octane gas., Not only does it ping less, it has more power. Should I be worried I have hurt my engine by running it with crappy gas
Answers:
The ping noise is caused by pre-ignition in your cylinders, and in the long run it can cause engine/piston damage.
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You must have a high compression engine in your vehicle or had engine work done. (ie did you have the heads replaced, a head gasket replaced, head machined?). That or your engine timing is off and you need to give your engine a tune up. If timing is off, it means your probably igniting the fuel mixture at a compression that is too high. Reduce the ignition a few degrees more before TDC.
If you enjoy the added power, you can leave the timing close to where it's at and use the higher octane gasoline. The high octane gasoline is more resistant to pre-ignition so it allows your engine to ignite the air/fuel mixture at a higher compression.
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My recommendations are
1. Get a tune up, make sure your engine is properly timed.
2. If it still pings after a tune up, then stick with the higher octane gasoline to prevent engine damage caused the the shock waves that can generate due to pre-ignition.
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Since you have now stated that your engine was rebuilt, it is highly likely that the heads were machined for smoothness.
You can reduce the ping of pre-ignition as I stated by turning your distributor so the spark plug fires slightly earlier (a few degrees more before TDC, and what John s is calling retarding ignition, if you want to use the cheap gas)
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Or enjoy the added power that you are getting with the higher octane fuel and just use the higher octane fuel in your vehicle. As you said it will give you more power since your compression ratio has changed and it will minimize ping.
No just give it some of the good stuff now and then...
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It fouls the plugs.Keep cheap gas out of it.I have a '89 Ranger.Sounds like an American car from the 80's. You might have your mechanical adjust your timing a bit. Newer cars wont really knock or ping because they have knock sensors that can compensate ignition timing for lower octane fuel.
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When you do, make sure you have a tank full of the cheap stuff when he adjusts it.
check timing it may be advanced to much.if it loses power after running awhile maybe running to warm. timing can cause this also
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Just a spark knock from the cheap gas, high milage vehicle. Have your timing adjusted slightly, and or change your timing belt / chain. No it's not dangerous. It's typical.
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YES! The pinging can result in holes burning through your pistons! The premium gas is good, but should`nt be necessary if the eng. is in good tune.Why dose my 03 cavalier "clonk" in front suspension?
I agree with heueh0 10 for the most part. But he failed to mention you can try retarding your timing a little to eliminate the pre ignition rattle or I didn't catch it.Car repair- 92 Buick Ignition module and Crank sensor- second repair since August...?
You can also try adding octance boost to you gas to increase the octane as well.
Also keep in mind that what is now called high octane 93 octane rating used to be cheap regular gas. You high octane was around 100 octane rating. With Plus being around 94-96 octane rating.
If you've had the heads milled (shaved) to increase the compression ratio or if the engine has been overhauled and the heads milled your compression ratio can very easily be too high to run today's regular gas.
If you have changed the timing belt(four cylinder) recently you might have gotten the timing advanced. Might have to pull the belt cover and check the timing.
Then check the ignition timing as see if it is advanced too far. Do this with the vacuum hose removed from the distirbutor. then put the vacuum hose back on a check the ignition timing to see how much it has advanced.
Problem still presists try retarding the timing a little.
Personally used to run casing head (drip gas) straight out of the separators when in high school had to retard timing and add quart of non degenate oitl to stop valve rattle so I wouldn't be stopped and tank checked.
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