2004 Mustang V6 - Pinging at Acceleration.

[superfast]

U7146 2004 Mustang V6 Automatic, K&N CAI, True Dual Spintech Exhaust w/ x-pipe

I recently purchased the Diablosport above and after installing the 87 Octane tuning, I've noticed a slight improvement in performance but would like to get a little more for the money I spent on the programmer. I then loaded the 93 Octane tuning program but the engine started to ping a lot during acceleration. I've tried to retard the timing by .5 deg increment in both 2-4K & 4-7K but it still pinging even when I retarded the timing on both ranges as much as 1.5 deg. I don't think retarding the timing would stop the pinging unless I go with the 93 Octane but I live in California so 87 & 91 are the only two gasoline available in the state. Does this programmer has a 91 Octane performance tune as I only see the 87 and 93 Octane tunes in the programmer? Do you have any suggestion I should do? Please let me know. Thank you for your help in advance.

[mikel]

You need to pull a few degrees out of the 93 tune to run it with 91 octane fuel.

[superfast]

The distributor where I bought the programmer from told me retarding the timing won't fix the pinging using the 93 octane tune w/ 91 octane gas but I don't believe that. At what point of retarding the timing (how many degree) where I should just use the 87 octane tune? Thanks.

[superfast]

I've also noticed that not all gasoline are the same, one could cause pinging and other don't. Not sure if it has to do w/ the additives they put into their gasoline or just the quality of the gasoline. I currently use 76 Gasoline and it's one of the top tiers. Btw, later on when I need to take the car in for a smog check, once I re-install the stock tune, do I need to drive the car for so many miles before I take it in? I've heard it needs to be done to clear the flags. Please let me know. Thank you for all your help.

[mikel]

Quality of fuel is the single biggest issue with KR for sure....

[superfast]

Thanks Mikel. Are you the same person that I talked to when I called in this morning? Anyway, another question: Since I have the K&N CAI (w/ stock mass air sensor & throttle body though) and x-pipe true dual Spintech mufflers exhaust. With more cold air intake and better exhaust flow, is my car already running lean at the beginning? Do I need to increase the fuel by a notch or two for a better fuel/air mixture into the combustion chamber? What do you think?

[superfast]

Hi Mikel, I'd like to fine tune my car so can you help address all the questions I have above? Here they are again:

1) With the K&N CAI and x-pipe dual Spintech mufflers exhaust, is my car already running lean with the factory tune? Do I need to inject more gas for a better fuel/air mixture prior to installing the 87 or 93 tune?
2) If I load the 93 tune then modify the program by retarding the timing until the engine stops pinging since 91 is only available in California, at what point (how many degrees) is considered too much where I should just use the 87 tune instead?
3) Do you guys ever test and have a program for the 91 tune? I do not see it in the U7146 Programmer I bought recently.
4) Can the car passes smog with these tuning programs or do I have to re-install the original/factory tune back in? If so, do I need to drive the vehicle for some distances before I take it in for a smog check? I've heard others say that you have to drive the car for a few hundred miles to clear all the flags in the ECU, is this true?

Thank you very much for your help.

[mikel]

1. That is not an easy question to answer, only a wideband can tell for sure.

2. 2-3* max.

3. No, we do not get 91 octane tune here.

4. Yes, no problem with smog.

[superfast]

Hi Mikel,

Please clarify question #4, so if I tuned the car w/ the 87 or 93 tune, the car can pass smog check without re-installing the factory tune, correct? Thank you so much for your help.

[superfast]

Mikel,

I loaded the 93 tune and retarded the timing w/ a .5 deg increment to -3 deg but the engine still knock during acceleration so I gave up and re-loaded the 87 tune. Do you have any other suggestion or I have to stick w/ the 87 tune? Let me know. Can you also clarify question #4 as well. Thanks.

[superfast]

Mikel et al, Do you have any more ideas/suggestions? Should I take mine in for a dyno tune?

[superfast]

I was wondering why you guys don't have a 91 tune? California is not the only state with 91 only. Will that be an option in the near future?

[superfast]

Mikel et al, can you guys help me out? It has been 3 days and I'm still anxiously waiting for your suggestion/answer. I've already re-loaded the 87 octane tune with 87 octane gas but not too happy about the mediocre performance for the money that I spent for the programmer. If I continue to use the 87 tune, should I increase the timing or go back to the 93 octane tune and keep retarding the timing beyond -3 deg until the engine stops pinging? Initially you said no more than -3 deg max and I'm there but the enginee still knock likes crazy. What else is there w/ the 93 octane tune beside retarding the timing? Any suggestion is appreciated. Thank you.

[Talerno]

Superfast, I have an '04 mach 1. I've always kept my diablo tune in while doing the smog check. Never had a problem. I was just tested in Jan with about 90,000 miles on the car. I would try to retard it a little more to see if it clears the ping up.