My 6 cyl is pinging.

I just bought a 1 owner lease return 2007 DC Taco. Got a good deal, 36,000 miles and change, and I have owned it for 1 month. The truck has been running great with no issues, until today.

I had the A/C turned on, hit the on ramp and through 2 and 3 gear (auto) the truck started pinging. I could not get it to do it again, all day. I dont really want to run a higher octane gas, and I do have a warranty. Just wondering if anybody else has experienced this with their Taco.

 

could have been some bad gas, i wouldnt worry unless it was constant

 

Try SeaFoam used as combustion chamber cleaner. If the pinging is being caused by carbon deposits in the combustion chamber, the SeaFoam will help clean it out.

 

Thanks guys, I will try higher octane gas. If that doesnt work I will run some sea foam through it. I have only used that stuff on my Peterbilt, never thought of running it through my Yota.

 

I have run it through my previous vehicle's engine about ever 50,000 miles. Smokes out the neighborhood, but it does run better!

 

So many things can cause noise like you were hearing. You have had good suggestions so far. I will add a couple things to think about.

Did you check the oil level? This would be a drastic cause of noise on hard acceleration, but oil aeration could cause lifters to start to collapse. Just be sure.

Are you running a stock air filter or a high flow type? Not that this is the only cause but when I am checking out a vehicle, I look for clues. These vehicles are Mass Air Flow systems as opposed to Speed Density systems. That means that the MAF is the major load calculator for the engine along with some modifiers. It not only give input for fuel, it also is important for calculating TIMING. If the MAF reading is inaccurate the timing could be too advanced for the actual driving conditions. That can result in a ping as well. I will not go into detail on how to check a MAF sensor for operation at this point, but just keep it in mind. Will your warranty cover checkout of a concern, or are you expected to pay for that and they cover the repair? ( If applicable )

 

It still has the factory air intake with a new filter in it.

 

Sounds like bad gas. Run some injector cleaner through it too.

 

I've never had mine ping in over 5 years running the minimum octane gas. Some do, some don't. Likely the gas. BUT, if you just bought it and it has 36K miles on it, do you know if the spark plugs were ever changed? They're supposed to be changed every 30K miles. Maybe that's just part of the problem combined with the gas???

Also, if you're switching octanes, I think others have mentioned that it takes a couple of tank fulls for the computer to recognize the new octane level. Someone can probably chime in on that one.

 

^That. And yeah, good higher octane gas does make a difference in my experience with this vehicle.

 

PING! i think plugs. i didnt realize it, by my pinging is gone! since i changed my plugs. summer is coming, so i will be sure then..but i think it pinged in cooler weather last year too.

plugs. good luck..keep us posted. this is good info.