Engine Pinging & Disappointed with Toyota

the engine is not designed for 87 octane from everyone I have spoken to..... when the FJ had the same engine it said it had to run mid grade.

My assumption is Toyota only downgraded the octane to keep the yearly fuel cost data down for the Tacoma which is a gas hog.

 

you might get away with 87octane when its under 50*F though. I find temperature plays a part too!

 

Pretty much the same thing, yes.

Yes and no. Ethanol increases octane rating of gasoline when it is blended in. Because of this many gasoline refineries will use an even LOWER octane fuel before blending to save money. Basically instead of making 87 octane fuel, then blend say 10% ethanol with 85 octane fuel to get a final blend mix of 87. If this blending is not perfect, or if they try to cut corners, then the end result is fuel that is more susceptible to pre-ignition, or pinging.

Not very sound advice or vehicle ownership method. Take care of your vehicle and it will last longer. Pinging can EASILY damage an engine permanently, and I like the idea personally of taking CARE of the car/truck that I have, not run it into the ground if a problem develops and then replace the engine, or expect warranty to do it. What ever happened to taking pride in one's car or truck?

 

This /\
Pinging has less to do with truck, more with fuel + environment.
When temperature rises, and you don't want to ride high rpms than only solution is to go to premium.
In winter you can run 87 no problems but above 50 F you should be running premium.

 

pinging induces severe stress on wrist pin and connecting rod bearings

these bearing parts are designed to work from a 'push' from the piston, not a hammer blow

not as severe as a backfire (enough backfires can really loosen up bearings)
but pinging is never good. knock sensors should be able to eliminate it
but if pinging continues a remedy must be found. either downshift and rev
higher (reduce engine load), or gas octane, plugs...whatever.

constant pings = engine death eventually

*backfires. I once did a series of tests with a new Yamaha 660 motor (think Raptor ATV)
and induced 60 backfires by messing with fuel and ignition on a bench. after 250 hours,
with 2 backfires in sequence per 8 hour cycle, the connecting rod bearing shat the bed
this was to prove out a warranty issue with MZ Motorrad-und Zweiradwerk GmbH..they had
a little defect on a line of Del'Orto carbs, and some backfires could not be prevented and people
were getting engine damage

 

Yep, and it can also play hell on piston faces as well.

 

don't forget about busting ring lands

this isnt a good way to knock off carbon build up?? haha

 

Ill be running premium in my new engine.

 

no ping for me, and all I have ever ran was 87.

 

I don't want to get into a pissing match with you, because your automotive knowledge is much more vast and respectable than mine, but you struck a nerve with that pride in ownership stuff.

my point was moreso not to run it into the ground, but to follow Toyota's advice. if they say its good to run 87, run it. im ASSUMING the op's truck doesn't sound like a marble in a tin-can constantly, so what is the fix? replace brand new knock sensors? the brand new wiring? the brand new ecm? I don't see how there could possibly be a problem with this.

so, aside from those trying to convince the op to spend more money than necessary, im trying to give him some relief: if Toyota says its good as is, run it. unless he's one of those guys that's waiting for someone else to compliment him on the fuel grade he runs

 

I see how my comment could be perceived as a jab. I apologize for that. The point I was making was just because a manufacturer says you CAN do something, does not in itself mean you SHOULD do that. Some manufacturers say that transmission fluid NEVER needs servicing. Personally I would NEVER run a vehicle for it's lifetime without servicing the transmission.

Now if he IS experiencing a large amount of pinging, then perhaps it would be a good idea to have a dealer look at it. It is not uncommon for a brand new vehicle to have problems. Over the years I have seen hundreds of cars/trucks with less than 1000 miles on them have failed sensors and computers. It is part of the "mass production" problems. Perhaps he has a knock sensor that is not responding well. Who knows?

 

1gr engine was designed to run 91 octain. It can run on 87 because the motor can compensate. Toyota reduced the stated requirement to increase inventory movement(I assume). Alot of people wont buy a vehicle the requires high octain.

Just spend the extra 4 bucks and do whats right for your truck.

 

points taken, this thread might even make me a convert lol. . . ima at least try it

 

I find it interesting though, that a couple owners have had this issue, & corrected it by installing iridium spark plugs. If thats all it takes, install them.

 

How about the tens of thousands of owners that have engines that don't ping?

 

If your engine is going to ping it is going to do it when you stall the torque converter at a stand still can you make it do it then?

 

in the metro phoenix area most of the gas comes from the same pipeline. The major difference is the detergents/additives each company puts in the fuel. 87 octane is 87 octane, by law. Mid grade is a Mixture of premium and regular.

tanks can accumulate water in them but that just drops to the bottom.

now when people say cheap gas I am not sure what they are talking about. Or old gas. Most retail places get gas at least once a week.

with saying that I go Costco or sams club.

 

They don't whine.

 

87 all the time, never pings.

2011
V6
Auto trans
Factory plugs
13k miles