3.4 low rpm uphill engine ping

And if its an automatic, there is probably something wrong with the transmission since it is not downshifting correctly.

 

he has an auto.

 

he never stated kickdown trouble.

 

But shouldn't the transmission shift before it lugs?

 

I have change the fuel filter and cleaned my injectors but I have been looking into a new set but There quite expensive also a fuel pressure regulator. I’m also at the point of being willing to throw some new sensors at it and even start buying and replacing the custom shaped vacuum lines. Just gotta think and decide if I wanna start with fuel components or sensors. Man this is gonna be expensive...

 

Well I’m usually cruising around 2k-2.3k so around 2k give it take.
Iv also noticed at that speed and gear there is a low RPM spread unless I’m screaming and hauling ass, I usually only see 2000-2800 RPM in 5th to even go above that I need to smash on the pedal because the truck feels so gutless, so if I go above that it’ll down shift and start screaming above 3500k

 

Well I run 91 so that’s probably not the issue. Also I would think it’s EGR or emissions related than if it’s alot of California people

 

No not right away, unless you add throttle which he did and it then downshifted. He was describing exactly when the pinging happened and he never said it lugged.

 

Motorwest Performance 7851 Alabama Ave Suite 16, Canoga Park, CA 91304 Owner: Martin Diaz (747) 888-9768 https://motorwestperformance.com/

This place sells rebuilt injectors for a decent price if you decide to replace them.

 

Yes it does down shift but there is a “dead space” per-say in the pedal where I can push the pedal from 1/4-3/4 where not much RPM is gained and the pinging happens before it will downshift.

But I’ll be quite honest if it downshifted sooner that wouldn’t be too good either i feel like that would be too low of a gear to be in at the speeds I’m having the issue at.

Also I feel like this is where all Tacoma’s die at. I have never seen a single resolution to any online forum thread about this particular problem. My truck as struggled with this since I bought it and I have owned 2 other 1st gen Tacoma’s that we’re fine and didn’t do this. And since I’ve been researching this issue I’m finding a lot of people have this problem.

there has got to be at least 1 person who understands this engines system and how it all works to be able get this fixed. But where they at lol

Can’t even take it a mechanic because all they do is toss parts at stuff. No one really trouble shoots anymore.

 

You're mixing octane and ron. 91 ron is 87 octane.

2010 owners manual "
Your vehicle must use only unleaded gasoline.
Select octane rating 87 (Research Octane Number 91) or higher. Use
of unleaded gasoline with an octane rating lower than 87 may result
in engine knocking. Persistent knocking can lead to engine damage. "

At minimum, the gasoline you use should meet the specifications
of ASTM D4814 in the U.S.A. and CGSB3.5-M93 in Canada."

Unless your engine has severe carbon build up, knocking won't happen with recommended octane.

 

I had no idea the other guy was referring to you. I was referring to the OP.

 

Thanks for the info I should've gotten like you did instead of getting it from my stepson. His manual's 118 miles away and I should've got it online.
I still think the OP should start with 91 octane from 87 like I suggested. And go from there. BTW where IS the OP in this?

 

Also, to reiterate, since I bought this Taco in May 2001, I have only used Chevron, 76, and in the last year, Costco (happy to find Costco 91 is very good gas)-and only 91 octane. Never once used 87 or 89. And have never heard one single ping out of this engine, not on long hills, steep hills, before downshift, whatever. All kinds of folks in here over the years, and I've been here since '08, complain about pinging. I've never had even a random mild ping. I prefer 91 because I don't want to have the sensors retard the timing not even a tiny bit.
Some guys gave some good advice to the seemingly missing OP about cleaning carbon out of the engine-I think he should do that, then only fill up with top-tier fuel from there.

 

He hasn't been on this site since Jan 2019

 

Yes if your foot is on the floor, but not always. I often find just the right grade to make the auto "hunt": shifts from 4th to 3rd and back. Dealer said no way to adjust sensitivity. But my ASE mechanic friend said to just take it out of overdrive to prevent the hunting on hills, and you get better mileage using your engine in a (higher) more efficient rpm range. I've not noticed pinging in mine.

 

A tranny almost has to lug before it knows to downshift. Especially older models. If we go waaaaaay back tranny's had a manual lever connected to the carb to trigger the 'kickdown'. But you had to open the throttle quite a ways to make that happen. In my 2020 there's still a noticeable delay especially if I'm in a higher gear before it drops, so a lot of 'dead' space that the car should be accelerating. So there's still a sensor that says throttle is x% but rpm is y%, time to downshift. Even my bmw worked the same way. It's quicker to manually downshift (paddle shifters) than it is to wait for the car to do it itself. Even with a column shift it's easy enough to drop it out of OD or even downshift manually. And of course 'pinging' and detonation are very specific things, that often get confused with simpler things like lugging (whatever the tech term would be).

 

Have you guys even tried your ECT? My truck, that little feature seems to pretty much eliminate the downshift lag described by you guys especially at freeway speeds.