Hi, I have a 07 focus 1.8 duratec he with 50,000 on the clock and it seems to be pinking under load especially when going up hills. Is this a common thing with the 1.8s and is there any fix for this. Thanks.

Anyone else suffered from pinking?

I have fitted new NGK ITR6F13 spark plugs which are gapped at 1.3mm and didnt help. I also tried some Bosch super plus spark plugs which are gapped at 1.1mm and these made it worse.

I have no vacuum leaks and both o2 sensors are brand new.

I've tried some V-power in the tank and no difference. An old mate of mine works for Ford and he is going to do some software updates and see if that makes a difference.

Martin

I am getting pinking on my 1.6 zetec when pulling on a hill and some times going up the gears if I change up then accelerate hard I get a short dely then a punk noise from engine.

I recently serviced about 2000 miles ago with all genuine ford parts. I noticed if I accelerate slowly I don't get it.

I have to look into it further when I get time but do let us know how you get on.

Does anyone know what make and spark gap the genuine Ford spark plugs are? Im thinking of buying a set of genuine spark plugs and seeing if that makes a difference as I only really noticed it after changing the spark plugs.

I also seem fine to be getting strange short term fuel readings via the torque app. When at full throttle it goes up to +15 which means it's pretty lean. Driving normally the short ternm readings are within -5 and +5 so that's ok.

I think they are possible NGK but not sure on that. I think each year Tue avtyual manufacture may change and all is rebranded burn that's just my opinion.

When I serviced my car I used genuine spark plugs from ford and that's when I think I started getting the pinking. I have to try to gap settings to see what they are gapped at but I think they were preset and the same gap as the ones I took out.

I took ngk ones from mine and fitted the same plugs and it started pinking. Got to wait to see oif these updates fix it.

Keep us posted to see how you get on.

What fuel are you both using? I'd suggest getting a fill of BP Ultimate, and see if the pinking disappears.

I've tried shell v power and it's still the same.

bosch coil and plugs i believe proper gap is 1.0mm thats what ford recommend even on pregapped plugs its sounds like its running lean have you had the fuel filter done that can cause it to run leaner

The fuel filter is part of the pump and not changeable. I've tried Bosch plugs which where gapped to 1.1mm and it made it worse. The 1.3mm gapped ngk's made it better.

So it seemed the smaller gap seemed to make it worse.

it is on the 1.6 mk2 the filters part of the pump unit but the 1.8 is the same engine as the 1999 ford focus 1.8 which uses an external filter next to the fuel tank i know i used ngk plugs gapped by ford at 1.0mm never had any pinking issues with the car are there any fault codes

The 1.8 engine isnt the same as in the mk1 focus. Mine is a 1.8 duratec he, its completely different to the one in the mk1. No fault codes, drives fine but pinks a little bit when using quite a bit of throttle, its not excessive but its still there.

my oops its a mazda engine ive heard the maf sensor being a fix it was a mate he had new plugs diagnostics pcm update and it was suggested undo the two torq screws that hold it in place spray with carb cleaner and refit it didnt work so he paid £30 bought a new one and no pinking he was told its common on mondeo and cmax with the 1800 engine

Have you considered having your car terracleaned. This is an engine decarboniser process done by a machine and connects direct into the fuel rail.

The cost is anywhere between £80 and £100 depending on location and garage.

That solved alot of my driving issues as my car is only 4 years old and i had similar issues to you but with a 1.6 petrol. I too changed the coil pack, £30 off ebay for a genuine bosch one, new ford ht leads around £55 and i put in some ngk iridium spark plugs £10 per plug.

This improved my issues, but i found the terraclean service made the car alot smoother and for me reduced all pinking from the engine. My be worth a try if your struggling to find a solution to this.

Also i am still a bit confused by the spark plug gaps that ford reccomends. originally 1.3mm then 1.00mm but some say the car runs worse with a 1.00mm gap and that 1.3mm can damage the coil pack. i think my ngk's were 1.1mm but have reduced that to 1.00mm. Who knows.

Anyway hopefully you can sort this out and let us know your outcome.

The 1.8 doesn't have a maf but it has a map sensor which I have cleaned. Might have to give it another clean. I'm still thinking if I should get genuine Ford plugs and see what happens but at something like £40 they aren't cheap.

My mate can't do the pcm update for two weeks so might wait till then and see I'd that cures it. I might reduce the other Bosch plugs I have to 1mm and try them.

I have thought about a terraclean as I've heard good things from it.

I'll let you guys know if I get any improvements.

Who is your mate that is doing your pcm update, i wanted my focus potentially checked, but I'm unwilling to pay a ford garage over 100 quid to check and it might not even need doing.

He is an old mate I use to work with, he now works for Ford in a main dealer.

Gaps are 1.0mm they were 1.3mm this was found to be causing the coil pack failures ford as a fix found reducing the gap solved the issue and solved idling and running issues the gap is still 1.0mm despite plugs saying they are pregapped ford plugs are either bosch or ngk if the coil pack is bosch so are the plugs if the leads have two intersecting circles on them they are also bosch ngk plugs are fine also

Sorry meant map sensor a pcm update or map sensor replacement seem the most commom fixes

Would you all say BP is the best fuel to use?

I stal away from supermarket fuels and use Texaco as its a local garage but mimmusy try Bp at my next fill up.

Also would rededex or any of that stuff help?

I ordered 4 new ford plugs last night, they arrived today and cost me

The 1.8 doesn't have a maf but it has a map sensor which I have cleaned. Might have to give it another clean. I'm still thinking if I should get genuine Ford plugs and see what happens but at something like £40 they aren't cheap.
My mate can't do the pcm update for two weeks so might wait till then and see I'd that cures it. I might reduce the other Bosch plugs I have to 1mm and try them.
I have thought about a terraclean as I've heard good things from it.

I'll let you guys know if I get any improvements.

I ordered 4 ford spark plugs last night and cost me less then a tenner for the lot. i purchased them off the tc harrison website, i think in store they charge £6 per plug as my invoice had discounts on it. Worth a punt for a tenner

I had a look on that website and couldn't find the right ones for my car. I gapped my spare Bosch plugs to 1mm and just made it worse. Maybe the plugs I took out originally had a bigger gap than 1.3mm as the old ones might have opened abit in use. Anyway I've ordered a new map sensor so will try that when it comes.

http://www.tchfordparts.co.uk/product/Spark_Plug_F1493001

I think those are the ones you are looking for... they say it fits the 1.8, and a whole host of different engines. Please check before you purchase though.

Hope that helps diddles.

Thanks but it says for zetec engines. Mine isn't a zetec it's a duratec he which is a Mazda engine. I don't know if the 1.0mm gap even applies to the duratec engine, maybe it applies for the zetec engine.

All engines mate mazda and ford duratec and zetec they all use the bosch coil pack in them