Pinging when accelerating, help please!

Interesting reading, I read it as Toyota recommends the use of Ethanol since it is
a cleaner burning additive not above 10% though. Also important to note that it
says not to use Fuel containing MMT. I've read in the past that Ethanol is cleaner
burning and better for the environment at the expense of pre-detonation.

I'll try the higher octane for a couple of tanks if dealer cannot resolve the issue.
Thanks for your help.

 

From what little I know Ethanol burns faster and hotter, in fact Shell is reported to have less Ethanol as the Octane rating goes up. Which would lead me to believe it does not delay detonation since there is less in it. Octane booster as I know it
actually slows the ignition of fuel thus boosting the Octane to a higher number
and slowing the ignition of fuel. The video below should help explain it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5Gx6vg7qgQ

 

Ive seen other threads on here that say it could be a loose heat shield rattling underneath. I have a 2012 and mine has always done it as well. Now i just tune it out, it doesnt seem to effect the performance of the vehicle but yeah, for a long time i felt the same way, annoyed that my new car was doing this!

It would be great to get to the bottom of this problem. My fear is that the dealer will just say (like i have read before from others with this problem) that its normal and its fine.

 

FWIW, I've been running sunoco 87 with no problems. I started before it got cold and noticed the difference. It has gotten colder since and still no pinging. Truck sounds like it should. I've noticed pinging in the 1500-1800rpm range with sheetz, citgo, and exxon. I'll need gas tomorrow so I'm going to fill up with sheetz or citgo and see what happens.

 

Is the so-called pinging actually harmful to the engine?

 

Here's some excellent info on the subject.
Definitely worth reading.

http://www.bristoldyno.com/tech/ignitiontiming.htm

 

I dunno, but I'd like to see that pic
un cropped.

 

My 2011 had a slight pinging while going up a mile long steep hill on the way home from work. It wasn't bad but it was noticeable. After watching the Octane review done on the show "Fifth Gear" I switched to non-ethanol 93 octane Shell V Power and have run it exclusively since. I have run nothing but the Shell V Power in the 2013 from day one with no issues what so ever. Yes I know they say these trucks can run on 87 octane but 93 won't hurt it and for the $.20 more per gallon I personally think it is worth it.
On a side note... My 13 has printed on the fuel cap "Do not use anything beyond E10" Which means do no use E15 or higher. The Shell I use has no ethanol at all.

 

Mine says the same thing. FYI, I called Shell Oil Co. and spoke to a fuel rep, he said most Shell stations now are independently owned and the owners determine
what goes into what. Hopefully within the legal guidelines. But it's a safe bet they add the 10% Ethanol so they can save some cost. I'm sure they follow suit with everybody else since it's not likely to have a tanker make a special trip for us special needs group.

 

Yeah... I think change is coming. The Shell that I go to has a sign on the pump that reads no ethanol added. Not sure if it is true or not but we'll see. I did make the mistake a couple years ago while in S.D. putting 15% ethanol in the truck. It was mid grade fuel and it cost less so I assumed (incorrectly) that it would be better. Far from it. Since our trucks are not designed to run on it my mileage dropped severely and performance was lacking. Never made that mistake again.

 

Very good question and I know you'll get a lot of answers very few of them correct. You are on the right track.

 

I went to the dealer this morning, luckily, with the holidays coming it was slow and only a few cars there. I explained the problem etc. and the tech said he couldn't hear anything,
not surprising even though I heard it on the way there.

He asked me to go on a test drive, ok now were getting somewhere! He drove, I drove, we switched back and forth for 40 minutes and neither one of us could hear anything. He also hooked it up to the computer and no codes. Figures right?

He said he drives these all day long and there is nothing wrong with it, and if there was you
would get a trouble code. There's a trouble code for everything, yes even timing. Of course I left head lowered, confused and frustrated. If I remember correctly my 2012 Tundra did the same thing(V8). I'm going to get the highest octane from Shell and run it for a couple of tanks and see how it goes. But I have a suspicion that the lighter 5W-30 oil plays a part in it but it's what they recommend.

 

Gas quality may be the issue. I now have slight pinging @ idle on sheetz 87 gas. I've used almost half a tank and didn't notice any difference until this morning. The only other difference is the temperature, today low 40s, yesterday didn't get over 30.

 

I initially noticed the pinging on my '13 right after the first oil change. Dealer changed the oil with conventional 5W-30. I wonder if a synthetic 5W-30 would make a difference? Your theory is interesting...

 

Interesting, the tech said he only uses 93 octane
in anything he puts gas in (Period).

 

Really, I just had it changed last week by the dealer and thats when I noticed it. I don't recall it doing that before. Having said that I changed my oil when I reached 1700 miles myself and I used the same oil they sell for the vehicle. Of course it could have been their and I just didn't notice it when I changed the oil.

Wondering if the break in oil is heavier, anybody know?
Update< I guess theres no such thing.

 

Maybe I missed reading this somewhere, but is this just a pinging noise you are hearing or is it something you can feel as well?

 

Can't say I feel it, if I did I would definitely be concerned.

 

Do you have a Scangauge or Ultragauge? If so, you can monitor timing advance continuously. I have a different engine, but mine usually stays in the 20-30 degrees before TDC range, depending on engine load as well as environmental conditions. If your timing is being pulled into a very low range it might help to determine whether or not its a fuel problem.

 

It's gas related and the fact that these trucks don't compensate very well. They supposedly have a knock sensor but doesn't seem to help. I think it's bad ECU code just like the AC lurch is another example of bad code. Toyota certainly is not perfect. There are plenty of examples of their mistakes like unintended full throttle. They successfully swept that one under the rug.

I solved most of my knocking by switching to mid grade gas from regular. I could probably eliminate it by going to premium. I heard the knock can also be helped by replacing the spark plugs with iridiums.