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Thunderbird Powerstroke ;)

A

amdforever2

Golden Member
So my Thunderbird sounds like a diesel every now and then.......usually on hills, and it only lasts maybe a minute or so before it's quite again. Mechanic says switch from 87 to 89 as it is "pinging", but I doubt that's the problem. Anyone heard of something like this?
 
Your engine is not long for this world if you let it ping for even short period of time. Low octane gas can cause it.
 
Is the sound it is making pinging? What exactly does pinging sound like?

The engine was recently rebuilt because of a headgasket thing.
 
Just switch to Premium for a tank and see if it goes away. 🙂

I don't think the problem is pinging either. It may just be normal.

Pinging doesen't sound like the chug of a diesel, I can hear the sound you're talking about perfectly. Pinging sounds just like that.. pinging. Like someone is holding a tuning fork so it doesen't vibrate much, yet tapping it rapidly on a hard surface.
 
This is preignition or "Pinging" as it is sometimes called, if this has not occurred before the headgasket replacement, the most likely cause is either the head was milled thus raising the compression ratio or the incorrect head gasket was installed.
(A slight overhang of the fire ring on the gasket into the combustion chamber will glow red and cause preignition)

Another possibility is overadvanced ignition timing.
(Only on distributor equipped vehicles)

Fill the tank with premium as was already stated and see if it still pings.
 
Originally posted by: Roger
This is preignition or "Pinging" as it is sometimes called, if this has not occurred before the headgasket replacement, the most likely cause is either the head was milled thus raising the compression ratio or the incorrect head gasket was installed.
(A slight overhang of the fire ring on the gasket into the combustion chamber will glow red and cause preignition)

Another possibility is overadvanced ignition timing.
(Only on distributor equipped vehicles)

Fill the tank with premium as was already stated and see if it still pings.
Click to expand...
I agree. Pinging sounds like very loud, deep ticking or like gravel in a coffee can.

Raise the bloody octane level and see if it goes away.

Sometimes an exhaust leak sounds similar, so why not just get it looked at and trust his judgement?
 
Originally posted by: amdforever2
Is the sound it is making pinging? What exactly does pinging sound like?

The engine was recently rebuilt because of a headgasket thing.
Click to expand...
Pinging sounds very much like a diesel engine. "Pinging" is detonation of fuel by compression alone. This is very bad for a gasoline engine, but it is the main operating principle of a diesel engine.

ZV
 
Heh, the 4.1 buick engine in my caddilac (1981 was a weird year for caddilac, the jammed a V6 in a fleetwood...) diesels... You turn off the car and it will chug and rattle as the engine turns over a few times after it's off. Anybody have a clue how to fix that? Would higher grade gas do fix it? It should prevent ignition but is there a mechanical thing I should get checked?
 
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