engine pinging

[JP02XLT]

I have used a 25% E85, 75% gasoline solution even in non flex fuel vehicles for several years as an injector / cylinder cleaner with great results, dont raise the the e85 ratio over 25% or you can have a lean condition, Like Frogman stated it is the best fuel injector cleaner on the planet.

JP02XLT

 

[keithsranger]

Okay guys I started off by unplugging the egr valve and just as expected the CEL light came on. Checked the codes, PO401 came up ( EGR insuffiecient flow) and P1151 ( manufacture control fuel air metering). Should I now replace the DPFE sensor as Earl43P stated, first? Or what? I just want this pinging noise gone!!

 

[keithsranger]

And thanks for the feedback!

 

[stmitch]

Replacing the DPFE may help. It's fairly quick and easy to replace.

I'd also suggest running a decarbonizer like Seafoam through an intake vacuum line. The 3.0 likes to build up carbon in the combustion chambers, which results in pinging. The flex fuel trucks had a slightly higher compression ratio, which only makes the pinging worse. The only way to get the pinging out is to run some cleaner through it, or as a couple others have already suggested, e85.

 

[keithsranger]

Thanks I'll try that. What exactly is e85?

 

[RonD]

E85 = Ethanol 85%/15% gasoline, although it is usually 60-70% ethanol, lol

That's the Flex in "Flex Fuel"
Flex fuel vehicles have a fuel sensor($650-$750) that can "see" the type of fuel being sent to injectors, it tells the computer the ethanol content and computer opens injectors accordingly, i.e. longer for higher ethanol content.

Ethanol has less energy per gallon than gasoline but has a higher Octane so less pinging.
Because it has less energy the injectors need to send in more "fuel" for the same power, this lowers MPG but the ethanol should be less money per gallon.

 

[stmitch]

As RonD said, e85 is a blend of gasoline, and ethanol. Ethanol is a type of alcohol, so it raises the octane, which reduces pinging, but it also cleans everything that the fuel touches such as lines, injectors, valves and combustion chambers.

It is very important to begin using e85 in smaller amounts if you've never used it before. Over time, gunk builds up inside your fuel system, and the e85 will begin to break that varnish up. If you put an entire tank of e85 in at once, it can break up the 'gunk' too quickly and the particles can clog injectors.

If you choose to use e85, just start with half a tank of regular, and half a tank of e85. Once that tank is empty, you should be able to run a full tank of e85.