I tend to agree with you on the MAF thing. I've never felt any difference after cleaning my MAF. There's some talk about it getting dirty when using oiled filters such as K&N but I use a K&N filter and haven't seen my MAF dirty. I just tried it because so many people suggested it.
I have had K+N filters in at least 4 vehicles and they each had well over 100,000 miles on them. My current ride (2000 GT with 120,000 miles) has had a K+N and Mean Green oiled filters without issue. I have oiled the filters by the directions though.
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"Ignore that whistle, it's just a vacuum leak."
2000 Mustang GT:
Saleen Series IV Twin Screw, Chicane I/C, AFCO Extreme H/E, 2.8" pulley, FMS 42# injectors, Dual Catted 2 1/2" UPR X Pipe, UPR LCAs/UCAs, 2 1/2" Flowmaster American Thunder kit, 90mm LMAF, 112" Goodyear Gatorback, Kenne Bell BAP, Mosaleen idler, T-56, Detroit TrueTrac w/ 373s, Demolet 100mm CAI, SCT XCal2 with JDM Engineering 93 Octane "Race" tune.
Some people over oil the filters and then it blows oil onto the maf and jacks up the tune. If you are really having spark knock (detonation, pinging, pinking, etc) the you need to find the problem before the engine is toast! This link will explain all of the causes of detonation. Detonation Explained
Hey. I have a 1996 Mustang GT (manual transmission) with a little over 80,000 miles. I have recently noticed a knocking or rattling noise. If i take off slow and easy, you cant hear it. I can take off slow and wind the engine out to 4 or 5 grand and still not hear it. It only happens when accelerating hard, or its under a load. It's pretty noticable through 1st 2nd and 3rd gear but starts to mellow out in 4th and 5th. Any ideas?
(my 2cents) I have a 96 GT 5-spd and had some of these symptoms - turns out my passenger side engine mount had given up, I could see the motor rotated over and pulling the driver side mid pipe up onto the under body of the car.
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96 GT - 70 mm tb, PP plenum, CAI w/ 9" K&N element, O/R h-pipe, Series 40 Flowmasters
Short Throw Shifter, 245-45-17's over 2001 cobra rims at all four corners
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"...To protect the sheep, you got to catch the wolf; and it takes a wolf to catch a wolf!...yeah, you listening but you don't hear me!"
Personally I think the gasoline they sell these days is pure crap regardless of the brand, 10% ethanol? More octane, less? Who knows?, try a bottle of Lucas Octane booster and see if it goes away in a tank of 93, if so you have a good idea of your problem. A good tuner may be able to help
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"Goose, Hollywood's fine, I want Viper"
1995 Mustang GT Cnv 347(427 stroker being built!) almost done!
1996 Cobra with Kenne Bell 2.1 Supercharger and every other conceivable part you can bolt on it...650hp upgrade in the works
2003 Infiniti M45 V8 340 hp...a methadone treatment for reformed Mustang drivers
Sounds like detonation. Even though your mileage isn't high, it could still be a result of the age of the car. Especially if some grandma drove it before you and never brought the revs up. I'd run 93 octane and do a tune-up as the others have suggested. If it still knocks, you may have carbon build-up on top of your valves or elsewhere, leaning out your A/F mix.
