Engine Pinging & Disappointed with Toyota

I was assuming an auto. If that is a manual and you are running those RPMs in 5th then no wonder you are pinging.

 

I should have read the latest posts. I was correct in my assumption. I wonder if they can raise the shift points? I miss the good ole days when you could just drop in a shift kit. Of course I only want the good and not the bad, like the MPGs.

 

Lugging the engine will do it everytime.

 

From what I have read it higher octane gas should stop the pinging. It's just aggravating to have to spend additional money on higher octane fuel when I'm running the recommended octane & ethanol rating. Granted I'm sure the truck would run better on non ethanol gas but it's still within Toyota's parameters & about half the stations that I fill up at are serving top tier gas. However, on a different note,the gas mileage has been better than I have expected so far. Last tank I averaged around 21.4 mpg, driving mainly back roads.

 

Thank your gov't for ethanol.
Poor quality gas on a consistent basis.
Low RPMs, especially under load, i.e., load in bed &/or going up even the slightest grade.
I think it is a combination of ethonol & your driving style. The 2nd gen trucks are geared higher than previous models. As a result you need to keep the RPMs up a little higher ( u will get used to it), & shift more frequently to keep them up. Also try a couple of high-test tanks. This will help reduce the chance of denotation (ping), & possibly allow you to reduce your RPMs.
If it were me, i would run regular gas, & shift just a little later in the powerband.

 

Like this story?

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money...gasoline-low-octane-too-much-ethanol/2369579/

 

I believe that he indicated that is an auto not manual tranny.

 

doesnt the manual say to use premium fuel? i havent had my 2nd gen in a while i dont quite remember

 

Shots!

 

I had this problem as well. My truck would ping despite running higher grade, or higher octane, gas.

When I changed my spark plugs to Iridiums it went away completely. My truck has not pinged for more than 40k miles, while it used to do it constantly.

I would have never guessed changing spark plugs would cure my pinging, but it did.

 

No. 87 or higher nothing lower.

 

Don't think the plugs need to be changed as the truck only has 7800 miles on it.

 

I don't know what you guys are doing to make your trucks ping I can mat mine in 6th at 40 and it won't ping and I burn 87 with booze from any station USA. If any thing ethanol will reduce pinging not increase it so will water injection. If the gas you buy gas is rated as low as 85 it does not surprise me if it pings, but ethanol is not what makes it ping. By the way my wife's Scion gets 35 MPG with 87 and10% ethanol so you guys in the mid west are getting screwed on your octane rating.

 

Believe he is referring to the fact there are 2 different types of plugs in the Tacomas. They come this way from the factory.

 

pinging is NOT a problem unless it blows your motor up. in which case you get a new one. run minimum recommended fuel grade.

the lower ends in the 1gr are quite strong. think about it, they'll warranty it with a supercharger. the 1gr has not changed at all, and there are plenty of us that can show you high mileage in our old trucks and consistently run 87.

truck has knock sensors, if pinging is too severe, computer makes a choice: downshift, retard timing, or with our e-throttles maybe reduce throttle opening. it will fix itself if it realizes there is a problem. if it cant, error code comes up and truck goes into limp mode. failsafe

 

Yeah I caught the part of him only having 7800 miles....

I had the pinging when my truck was fairly new too. I know his plugs are probably good, and that pinging isn't usually caused or fixed with spark plugs.

I just wanted to share my experience. Iridiums solved my pinging problems.

 

I second that, My truck use to ping also even on premium fuel. But when I changed to the Denso long life iridium plugs, the pinging stopped I can even run regular now with out it pinging.

 

Well, if the ping/knock does not go away with higher octane gas that may be my next step.

 

It might just be my imagination but places like Racetrac and Kroger always just seem to have a different smell about them. Sort of an oily or sulphur smell. It could be just the high volume with a lot of spillage going on. But it makes me wonder if there is some variation in gas grades between the different retailers.

For that reason I try to stick with the Shell, Exxon etc unless there is a big price difference. Around here the cheaper places seem to hover only a nickel lower than the old-guard name brands. Again, could just be my imagination.

Speaking of smells, I found one place that sells non-ethanol gas. It is 50 cents higher but I only use it for the lawn mower and such. When filling the can I noticed the smell was remarkable different. A very fresh robust gasoline odor. It took me back to the days when I worked pumping gas as a teenager in the 70s.

 

Around here on Fridays you get High Test for Mid-Grade price. Saves a little $$$. I'm going to try and find a pure gas station around here and pay an extra .15/gallon. I think it's totally worth it... especially for the boat and lawn mowers... and in the trucks I always got more MPG with pure gas too.