2013 pinging issues and towing

Hey guys, my 13 Taco has been pinging like crazy. I've taken it in to dealership and called Toyota for this matter, and I repeatedly get told that a software fix is in the process and should be out 2-3 months from now (6-8 months ago). This thing sounds like a a couple people shaking cans of spray paint. I'm leery of towing my 4 wheeler (total weight 1,000 lbs) on a 1.5 hour trip. Should I or should I not. Also been planning on 15 hr road trip next month. Should I not attempt it in the truck? Opinions? Thanks in advance.

 

Drive your truck. Its on Toyota if it breaks. Should ask about getting an extened warranty also.

 

I bought it when I bought the truck new. I now have 19,000 and seems to be worse.

 

Check into lemon laws for your state. Its a problem, it affects the value and reliability.Toyota is looking to fix it for 9 months but can't. Sounds like lemon law to me.

 

Can you post a video of the "pinging"? The Tacoma V6 has solid bucket valve lifters, so there's quite a bit of valve chatter.

 

I plan on making some videos tomorrow.

 

I will do that I appreciate the advice.

 

Did you try a higher octane gasoline?

 

I have, the symptoms lessened. But why should I have to put 91 octane in a brand new vehicle that is designed for 87. Just my opinion.

 

^Mine do the same...and I use 90 octane ethanol free gasoline exclusively

 

It's probably due to the winter blend, it might resolve itself in spring.

Change gas stations and bump the octane up until they come up with this software fix.

It does seem strange that it's pinging though.

 

I had a "slight" pinging issue with my 2011 pulling a steep hill every time I left the Fire Station to come home. It is a mile long hill and I could hear a slight pinging in the engine as it was pulling. I switched to 93 octane Shell V-Power and never had a issue with it again. I understand that the truck can run on just regular unleaded but after watching the fuel test done on Fifth Gear I run V-Power exclusively. Yeah... I pay about $.20 more per gallon but so what? It cost me maybe an extra $3 dollars to fill up each time with better fuel. Besides, fuel cost here right now is about $3 - $3.10 per gallon for V-Power. I personally think it is easier on the truck and it certainly can't hurt it.

I've haven't run anything but V-Power in the 13 (albeit only 2 tanks so far) and no pinging issues. If your's is pinging that bad I would definitely switch to a higher octane fuel first and see if that helps. I agree with you though... If it is rattling as bad as you say it is then that doesn't sound right.

 

If it is pinging as bad as you say you are going to destroy the top end. My guess is that you have already done serious damage to it. Tell them to give you a loaner until they get this fixed or take the truck back and replace it with a new one.
Let them know you are not waiting any longer or this will go to the lemon law process. If you are going to keep running it you need to run the highest Octane you can find.

 

If you want it to break, drive it. Toyota should fix it.

If not, try octane booster.

 

See this thread if you haven't already:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/230991-2012-v6-dcsb-engine-knocking-1500-rpm.html

Toyota has been claiming a a 'fix' is in the works for approximately a year now, possibly as far back as 18 months ago. "The check is in the mail."

A guy local to me had an email exchange with Mike Sweers, Chief Engineer for Tacoma & Tundra, recently (PM me if you want Sweers' email address). Reading between the lines, it sure sounded like the Tacoma issue isn't going to be fixed. I base that on Sweers' suggestion that the former-Tacoma owner buy a Tundra, instead.

A few people have had success with high octane fuel (I did not, it still did it with 91), an one had success with iridium spark plugs (NGK, I think). Most people, based on the survey I put up a couple of months ago, have not had any luck. One owner had the top end of the engine completely replaced by Toyota, under warranty, and the problem came back a few weeks later (not much more can be said, he's currently involved in litigation right now).

Blaming gasoline blends MAY have some basis in reality, but it wouldn't necessarily be seasonal. A big difference between winter and summer blends is the removal of butane from gasoline during summer. Butane is very volatile, and increases evaporative emissions when gasoline in the tank heats up. The upside of butane is that it has a very high octane rating. In winter, refiners put butane back in - the cooler temperatures mean less concern over the Reid vapor pressure of gasoline.

I find it interesting that people can run lower (87) octane non-ethanol fuel and eliminate the problem. This could be a chemistry issue (water in the ethanol) or it could be an issue with the logic in the PCM, advancing timing, assuming it has X octane fuel, and then as the fuel degrades, you actually have a tank of X-n octane fuel, but the computer (for some reason) ignores the knock sensors.

It could also just be software. Toyota's software has been creeping into the light due to the unintended acceleration issues (UA). It's a big mess and it's possible that a signal from 1 or both knock sensors simply goes unnoticed (an interrupt is not generated when knock is detected).

Either way, most owners are screwed. The MT V6 trucks don't seem to have the problem, probably because revs stay higher due to gearing, or because owners keep the revs higher by manually shifting. The PCM in the AT V6 tries to sip fuel and will do stupid things like keep the truck in 5th gear at 30MPH, even under load, to a point. A point sufficient to lug the engine and cause the engine to ping. Manually shifting the AT can help.

 

Well after much frustration with this stupid truck, and dealing with Toyota, I have traded my truck in for a new Jeep. This truck was sounding so bad, and often shuddering. I began to lose confidence in the reliability of this truck, concerned of breakdown towing my trailer or small road trips. Good luck everyone. I miss my truck and wish it would have worked out better

 

Blame it on our gasoline. Motors aren't made to run on water. E85? What a friggin joke being played on the US population. Run an engine on non ethanol laced fuel and you'll see how a combustion engine is really meant to run.

 

I have a 2013 v6 PreRunner that has a slight pinging sound and I've done a fair amount of heavy towing (horse, tractor) with it and I'm not concerned at all.

 

Couple things -
In speed limits of 30mph , I knock the shifter back a notch out of 5th gear auto position .
Always use 91 octane non-alky fuel .
Swapped out plugs recently to NGK iridium , big difference in throttle response and mileage . Stock plugs were worn badly and showing a lot of carbon . Throttle body/MAF was cleaned heavily late summer . I blame a lot of the issue on the plugs . Mine would only ping under very specific conditions , mostly when the trans would upshift too fast and load the snot out of it at low speeds . Never had an issue with hills if left up to the cruise since it's lazy and downshifts the trans resulting in overshooting the desired "set" speed by usually 5mph . It would ping if I laid into the throttle just shy of causing the trans to kick the convertor out , any more throttle input resulting in the convertor unlocking didn't produce ping at all . Seemed more like throttle position/timing related .

Just for reference , this is on slightly upsized LT265/75/16 Toyo ATII tire so there was a bit more torque load . I would think a simple software mod to the trans shift points /loading would surely help .
Sarge