Is anyone else having problems pinging on a bone stock GT with 87 octane fuel? I only gas up at either Chevron or BP.... Shell if I'm in a pinch... but with these 3 companies, I would expect that they aren't selling something different from what's on the label. Here in Florida, 87 is the lowest octane level... so it's not like they can get the tanks mixed up between 85 and 87.
I haven't put in 91 or 93 to see if it quits.... but WTF?

 

I have never noticed any pinging, but I have noticed that I get worse gas mileage with BP, and last time I used it my gas gauge went crazy, went to "E" for about 15 minutes, then went back up to 1/2 slowly over about 5 minutes.

 

I had crappy mileage with BP as well... so I quit using it. I find it funny that Ford recommends BP, and the problem you're speaking of is a high sulfer content in the fuel, throwing off the sensors. There's a TSB about that.... but the solution is to find better gas.
I primarily use Chevron.

 

I used BP in my Fords and found the gas mileage SUCKED big time.
Have you tried Sunoco 87?

 

I have found that when my engine is cold the car will ping underhard acceleration. It goes away when the engine is properly warmed up.

 

I try not to do any "hard acceleration" while the engine is warming up. Something about the thought of several hot parts moving under full load and full rpm's against other cold parts with crazy tolerances due to uneven heat expansion. Especially with all of the aluminum in this engine...I'll just wait a few minutes until EVERYTHING gets good and hot before I get on it.

 

If I run 87 I'll ping under hard acceleration as well. I'm running the diablosport predator 87 tune(now that I took my CAI out for the winter) and I usually alternate 87 & 89 octanes as a buffer and that works...

 

mine pings at all temperatures.... obviously when it's under load. I haven't tried Sunoco's gas.... but that's mostly because it's not very conveniently located for me.
I guess I was just curious to know what others were experiencing.... those that haven't monkied with the tune. (not that I would never do that.... I just haven't spent the money.)

 

My bone stock (engine wise) does the same thing. You are NOT alone. I haven't put my finger on it, but it believe it is certainly related to the gas brand I happen to put in it. I haven't made the effort to conduct a simple experiment yet to figure out which stations lead to the ping. I usually fill up w/ Walmart, HEB, or Exxon around here. I was a bit worried that the knock sensors weren't working properly.

 

The 5.4L 3V V8 uses the same spark plugs as the 4.6L 3V V8, but the gap is specified as 0.044" in the 5.4, whereas it is 0.054" in the 4.6

 

Has the pinging just started lately? Someone told me a long time ago that there are different "blends" of gas for the summer and for fall and winter. In fall and winter gasoline is blended differently so that it will vaporize better in the cold. I wonder if this could be causing pinging.

 

Mine pings sometimes with cheaper gas. Hate to say it but I don't get the pinging with BP?? Didn't notice the gas being any different either, but may have to keep a little closer eye on it. Have noticed no pinging with EXXON also.

Thanks for the info on BP...

Rusty

 

What??

 

I had previously -89 LX 5.0 and -93 LX 5.0. I noticed that cheep gas+ grandmaw driving= pinging. To fix it. Get some intake valve cleaner added to your good fuel and drive little harder to get deposits out of intakes. It used to take care of pinging.

 

I usually don't either. But once in a while ya slip!

 

Ford is really pushing the limit of 87 octane gas with the high compression engine in this car. If it takes 89 octane to stop the pinging, then I would run that until you can find another brand of 87 that won't ping.

 

We have a 5 year/60,000 mile warranty. If Ford couldn't design the stock setup to run on 87 octane then it isn't our fault. Run the cheapest 87 octane gas and let the pistons blow up due to excessive detonation and get a new engine from Ford for free.

 

That's correct. There's a difference between "summer" and "winter" gas.

 

Remember that fuel will loose 1 octane number per month that it is just sitting around. Some discount fuel stations get old fuel at a discount, so always remember "there's no fuel like an old fuel".
Ford also sets-up all of their engines to run on the verge of knocking with the base-requirement fuel. If you run premium as I do, you get a smoother-running engine. What's more, all Ford engines adapt to the increase in Octane by further advancing the timing, thereby increasing your efficiency. I prefer to pay the slight extra for the smoother running, and the extra fuel economy and additional power doesn’t hurt either.
Finally, only US refineries have to strictly regulate sulfur content in fuel that is cracked here. Sulfur is the culprit for bad fuel gauge readings. Gasoline that is imported from foreign distillers will sometimes have too much sulfur, which manifests in a rotten egg smell (the catalyst makes sulfuric acid).

 

What gas brands/stations import their gas vs. manufacture it domestically? Any ideas?