Alright so I'm having some issues... Lets get some background out of the way first...

2000 3.slow 5 speed.
K&N Intake, Gibson dual exhaust, ONE, as in single, Magnaflow dual in single out cat. New plugs and wires 12k ago. There is some small exhaust leaks at the donuts on the manifolds that are tossing a Catalytic Converter Inefficiency code. Not sure if that would cause it, but maaaaybe... I do clean the MAF with the correct cleaner every oil change, And seafoam it every other oil change. I do a service every 5k miles.

So now to the problems... When the truck is cold (not weather, engine temps) in the first 10 to 15 mins of driving I have power. LOTS and LOTS of power. I'm talking smoke shows, second gear burn, third gear chirp. Its silly. It makes me grin and laugh. But it goes away slowly as the truck comes up to temp.

Now when it is up to temp and warmed up, it pings. All the time. Low rpm, high rpm, low throttle inputs, heavy throttle inputs. Its much worse with the A/C on however.

So, experts, school me. I would love to not have a 3.slow when the trucks warmed up, and that pinging is very embarrassing.


Thanks.

 

Might be pre detonation (not good, usually equals motor go boom boom). If your using lower octane gas, try bumping it up a notch. If your already using the higher octane, dump a bottle of octane booster in a full tank and see if it helps.

 

octane boost.....like he said

thats what i would try first

 

replace spark plugs

 

Sounds like you might have carbon buildup in your cylinder that's raised your compression ratio. How many miles do you have on that thing?

 

Any codes present?

A 180* thermostat seems to help reduce pinging,
especially on the aluminum plenum equipped
Rangers......

 

I have 120k on it.

I use seafoam every other oil change. I would hope that would be enough to help cut down on carbon.

Spark plugs have 12k on them. They are cheapies tho, autolights(read it on here to use them...), it had Bosch plugs before, but it had a miss at idle that shook the truck. Now it just shakes still but without the audible snap of a miss.

I dont believe in octane boosters to be honest..

I get 80% of my gas free from work so I'm not sure of the octane rating, 87 probably.

I have one code present, Catalytic Converter Inefficiency.

I'll try the thermo stat, I'm doing a service Saturday and a coolant flush.


I'm hoping something will fix it. It pings heavily with the a/c on at ALL rpm's and throttle input.

 

Does your thermostat read that you are running hot? Is your radiator clean?

Pull your spark plugs and see if there is any sign that you are getting a lean/hot burn in your cylinders. Also, did you have the correct spark plug temperature rating? If the plug is getting too hot it could be igniting the mixture too early and causing the pinging.

I'd check on that code and change out your fuel filter if you haven't done that already.

That code can come up when one of the O2 sensors is bad, which might be putting the ECU into Open Loop mode. Couple that with a clogged fuel filter, and the ECU can't correctly control fuel delivery and could run lean. Running lean can cause fuel knock or "pinging". It's a stretch. How's your gas mileage?

Somebody tell me if this would work: Would a compression test help you to know if your compression ratio has increased due to carbon buildup?

Get it fixed regardless. Pinging will destroy your piston rings.

 

x2

Pinging is predetonation...right above the piston rings...like a jackhammer.

 

If that was the case the truck would have its power when cold all the time. When the ECU is in open loop mode it defaults to a rich fuel setting just so this sort of thing doesn't happen. Thats why unplugging your O2 sensors keeps a self learning ecu from overriding any piggyback controllers inputs, Or will help a factory lean car/truck make more power. It also keeps a stock car consistent at the strip for bracket racing.


Temp gauge says its normal, however the coolant is pretty ugly, and only is good till 25 degrees. I thoroughly blew out the radiator before a 800 mile road trip in 100+ degree weather a few months ago.

Fuel filter is one item I will be changing this Saturday as well. I'm leaning more to it being a dirty filter. I don't know the history of the truck to well, but I do know thats one thing people will overlook.

I am getting a steady 19 mpg in the city, and have pulled a 25 mpg during a freeway stint to cali doing 75 the entire time. Is that average for the 3.slow?

 

I know it runs rich in open loop mode, but if the fuel filter is really plugged up and decreasing the fuel pressure so much that it is going lean, the ECU would never know. In closed mode it could at least try to compensate by leaving the injectors open longer. I doubt this is the problem though.

Let us know how it turns out.

 

I would imagine it wouldn't have the power it does when cold if the filter is that plugged. I dunno tho, I do think it is at least past its due date.

I'm trying to do one thing at a time to solve the problem so I will know exactly what it is.

 

Could this possibly be a clogged cat converter?

" But it (power) goes away slowly as the truck comes up to temp."
That is a classic symptom.......

 

Hmm...

 

It better not be. I thought that at first, but that sucker is brand spanking new...

Exhaust still has a heathly flow and is still quite loud. I'll have to run a pressure gauge in a 02 hole and see what I get.

 

Intake air temp sensor. It's what happened on my 3.0 when using a oiled type filter. KandN, etc etc etc. Oil will get past the filter and get on the iats causing bad readings. It can also be a bad iats. Also make sure it's clocked correctly.

 

Side-gapping and indexing your plugs will also help with the burn process. Will also get yo to pick up some hp.

 

Its that sensitive? Clocked? As in keeping the IAT pointed where the plastic wont interfere with the airflow? I'll try cleaning it and see if that helps.

 

sorry to awaken an older thread...i'm looking for a mpg thread for the 3.0 2wd...

but any updates?