Engine Pinging & Disappointed with Toyota

Mine is the auto trans and i don’t have the ping, even towing 3k maybe 3,300 pounds up 4% maybe 5% grade. I do keep it in 4 instead of D though when towing. also I hardly ever use Ethanol free gas, have only used like 3 tanks. (i do run high test some and about every 3 months or so i try and run some fule treatment in it. also I’m not running synthetic oil.

I don’t know maybe me and you are just lucky.

 

i switched to irridium plugs, run M1 full synthetic oil, and 93 octane in every tank, no pinging or knocking. but the truck hasnt done it at all for me since ive owned it either. i did drive a 2011 that knocked like a motherfucker...

 

My 2009 with 31k miles pings all the time in 5th gear at lower rpms before the tranny downshifts. It's been in the lower 90s here with a lot of humidity not sure if that matters. I live in an area with a lot of hills also so mine does this everytime I am going up hill while cruising.

Wondering if iridium plugs will help. I always use 87 octane. Next time I fill up ill us 93 to see if it helps

I used to have a 07 that never had a problem with pinging

 

Try the iridiums and then report back. It is time to replace your plugs anyway

 

Why would iridium make a difference? I thought they were supposed to be as hot as copper for Force induction and last like platinums. Wouldn't going to a step colder plug make a bigger difference?

 

Well today I ran my tank down to almost empty (light was on) and decided to fill it up with premium gas 93 oct. man what a difference I haven't had a chance to drive much but the pinging and chattering sound that used to come from the engine hasn't happened yet and I notice better throttle response. I purchased new denso iridium plugs today but haven't had a chance took install yet

 

I think it's more of a fuel quality problem than anything.

 

This just came to mind and could be something to consider. Vehicles today have knock sensors. If the sensor is not working properly you can get knock. I would suggest that you ask your dealer about this possibility even if there is no code showing for a bad sensor.

 

well i might have found out what was causing my engine pinging & lack of power uphill today

I replaced my spark plugs denso iridium and replaced my air filter with a K&N, but in the process of getting to my spark plugs I take off the intake tub to find it blocked up with an old rodents nest!!!!

it was so compacted in the tube my old air filter was clean as a whistle.

must have been like this from the previous owner, i have 31k miles on the truck now and bought it earlier this year with 25k miles

I couldnt believe it wasnt running worse than it was. this is what was in there some shreaded cotton like stuff from like inside a pillow and a couple dryer sheets

 

Sure hope you told your dealer about this, Im sure they will love for it...

 

needless to say i am sure that wasn't helping anything, but an intake restriction of any kind will not cause pinging.

 

in Tennessee the weights and measures dept. only checks for a gallon for a gallon not octane. check with Georgia, theirs may be the same. think your buying 93 and getting 87, more profit for owners of the service stations. most around here are owned by middle easterners.

 

Yeah it was a cpo vehicle too, so much for their inspection, needless to say after using 93 octane, new plugs and filter, my truck is running great, more power, no pinging or knocking, my next fill up I will go back to 87 to see what happens

 

OP, we would all be interested to know if ping is completely gone with just nest removed. Glad u found it.
Also, u bought the filter & plugs already, might as well do them, & then report back with those results.

 

Yes the pinging is completely gone now
After removing the nest, replacing the plugs and air filter, however not sure what was causing the problem since I did them all the same time

 

Pinging? Prolly a loose nut behind the wheel.

 

That's good to hear. Now put the rat's nest back in and notice how the pinging doesn't come back


We need someone else with pinging to test my Iridium plug theory, but this time only change the plugs and nothing else!

 

If u have pinging it only costs $50 for the iridiums and it only takes a half hour to change the plugs real simple to do on these trucks, it's worth a shot

 

Sorry for the long delay in updating everyone to the status of my pinging motor. Well, it seems as though my Taco likes premium gas. I've ran 2 full tanks of premium gas & haven't heard one ping or knock at any rpm, regardless if I'm lugging the engine or not. Also as a side note the engine would occasionally ping @ WOT. The gas milage seems to have immediately improve as well. My best tank so far with premium gas was 22.1 mpg & that was with almost no highway miles. I might try to see if I can get away running 89 octane gas, but I may be pushing my luck with that.

All in all, I'm a little disappointed that I have to run 93 octane gas because of the added expense, but it seems to run much better with the higher octane fuel.

 

HI, I was just reading your post about your 13 tacoma pinging. I have a 13 as well and the 4.0 makes the exact same pinging noise. I got the tsb ecu flash performed and it helped get rid of some of the pinging, but it still has a light ping. Its so weird that toyota says this is normal considering everyother piece of information on the web states that pinging is not normal and can ultimately be disastrous for an engine....and also strange how people say these engines can go 300 to 500k if they are well taken care of, but how could they do that if they ping? Did things ever get better for your truck? or does it still ping?