2015 V6 Spark Knock/Pinging

LMAO !!

 

Well, before doing anything hasty like trading in your truck...try swapping in a set of colder plugs and see if that solves the problem. Shouldn't have to do it, true, but it's a relatively cheap solution.

 

The Atrac is pretty cool though, i used it on the Rocky Run OHV trail diagonal across a ditch. Could have used the locker but I was pressing all the buttons for the first time that day and wanted to try it out.

 

If you think about it, this is a lot worse than we thought. You said that you can't hear that great after shooting so much and I've been riding Fire trucks for the last 31 Yrs. I can't help but to wonder what it sounds like to a person that can hear real well ??

 

I agree Eon. I will see what the snakes say next week and at least try that when they fail. I am very attached to my truck and want to keep it if possible.

 

You are right about the plugs eon. I'm just frustrated with this crap ! Seems I'm always held accountable for the things that I do and Toyota just gets to skirt their responsibility.

 

Looking at a cooler thermostat from URD.

Off the website:

"This conversion kit fits all 1GR-FE 4.0L V6 engines including the 2010 and later FJ Cruiser and 4Runner

The URD 170 degree performance thermostat allows you to convert your stock thermostat housing to accept the new cooler thermostat.

Lowering the engine coolant temperature allows a more aggressive timing curve to be used and the incoming air is heated less by the engine so more power can be made."

I don't know about the more aggressive timing curve part, but it may help mine run better with the stock ECU's timing curve.

This and the cooler plugs may net the results I'm looking for.

 

Smart people explaining ignition timing curves in a much more articulate way than my redneck regurgitation.

http://www.megamanual.com/begintuning.htm


I may even be able to beat the beast

 

I have a TRD Sport DCSB 4.0, built in May '15, 20k on the odo. Zero knock...ever. I hauled close to a 2000 lbs of fire pit material this summer on a 95'+ temp day without issue. Shell 87 is all I've ever put in it.

And yes....I know what knock and ping are.

 

I wonder why mine and others do it so much?

What area do you live in? Altitude?

 

I'm in the lower mid-west. Wouldn't think my altitude is very high. I can't answer your question. The owner's manual says a small amount of pinging is normal under certain conditions. But mine has never done it. The last 2 summers that I've owned this rig have had several extended periods of temps in the mid to high 90s to 100' and still nothing. In fact, I've been pleasantly surprised at how quiet this engine has been overall...given it's reputation for being noisy.

 

Plan A: Truck is at the dealer now and I'm driving a loaner Camry courtesy of them. With any luck they will take care of the problem.

Plan B: Colder Spark Plugs and 170 thermostat

Plan C: I have continued my research on the MAP ECU3 tuner and believe that I can safely and successfully connect it to my truck. Nothing ventured, nothing gained right? For any of you with similar issues or with intentions of forced induction this seems to be the ticket for "control".

So, I am going to keep the truck no matter what because I like it.

Updates from what the dealer says soon.........

 

I had the knock on my 2012 starting around 30k and got progressively worse. Had the ECU flash TSB performed and I can't get it to knock now under any conditions. Running reg. octane. Very happy with the fix. That's unfortunate the TSB doesn't apply to 2015 models.

 

That's awesome!

 

As a Certified Master Toyota tech, I have an issue with the way that the dealership techs are viewed in this post. I'd like to express what it's like on our end. There is this view that we are all brain dead parts changers that we have no idea what we're doing.
1) Our first task is to verify that the customer concern is legitimate and not a normal condition of the particular vehicle. We have NUMEROUS customers that come in that concerned with something that is normal. I.E. Some wind noises, trunk won't open because it's locked, doors won't auto open because the switch is off, satellite radio has poor reception in storms, and a ton of other concerns that most people don't have any idea that they are the problem. Most drivers on the road aren't as into their vehicles or as mechanically inclined as the people on this forum. Then we need to verify that other vehicles don't do it also. Even if every other vehicle doesn't have same issue, there can be a pattern of behavior that is possible due to design of the vehicle/system and may show up in a sporadic pattern.
2) We are at the mercy of the manufacturer to determine what is normal/abnormal. If Toyota doesn't agree that an issue is actually not a characteristic of the vehicle and we attempt to repair, the dealership may get stuck with any repair bills and or all costs of an arbitration or buy back if a lemon law case is persued.
3) We have many different models where technology and basic system design can change within one model year of any model. Not just 15 v6 tacomas. There is a lot of information to keep stored. We can't keep every little piece of information right at the front of our mind. But we can almost always get you an answer with research. Just like any lawyer, Doctor, or other information based career.
4) We are almost all paid commission only. Anything that you did not directly pay for or have a ligitamte warranty repair performed for, we are working for FREE. We do not get paid for test drives,
Consultations, looking up information, calling corporate, verifying conditions with known good vehicles, checking labor times, estimates, part numbers/prices, or trying to find an issue that may not be there. We are resistant to these sometimes in that you all would be resistant to clock out or take deductions from your payroll to do work "demanded" by your customers. This isn't your fault or problem but we would appreciate some patience. There is nothing more defeating than to spend 2-3 hours working with a customer on an issue that seems wrong but turns out to be normal and not getting paid at all for it.

 

Hi master tech....we all our guilty of Monday morning QB. When I tell the dealership my engine is pinging and they don't believe me I get a little pissed (well not the techs rather corporate). Or when they say it is nothing or normal I get a little pissed. I respect the profession and like most people who paid $40k+ for a vehicle, dealer service should take complaints seriously.

And I like the techs. They are the ones I trust and always like to chat about stuff.

We understand financial things are out of the techs control.

And we aren't getting paid either as most of us take the day off to have dealer trouble shoot our concerns. so when you are in the car with us know we aren't being paid eiher and are missing time with our family.

 

Welcome to Tacomaworld! Always nice to see techs on the forum

I've had nothing but great experiences with the certified Master techs at Toyota, it's usually the service advisors I have issues with (not all, but some). I had a P0171 code for weeks that wouldn't go away and none of their regular techs could figure out, even had the service advisor give up on me and tell me to take it to another dealership or consider trading it in. After going to a few dealerships one finally called in a master tech and he solved it right away, uncapped port hidden on the back of my supercharger. They had to call him in though, they should have one or two of you guys on staff full-time!

 

Anyone has a right to their own opinion right? So I'm guilty of some bitching and moaning, so what? I have also stated that this dealer eventually stepped up and documented the noise. A lesser of a man wouldn't have persisted to get it documented (they totally tried to send me on my way). I also said they gave me a courtesy loaner. At no time did I expect for this to be easy. It's kind of like how you have to pay before you pump gas everywhere now because of all the assholes that drove off..........The loons have made it more difficult for legitimate problems to be acknowledged.

Try paying $33 thousand for a truck and then it knocking like a mofo. Of Course there are loons out there who complain about every little noise, but I'm not one of them (I don't think so anyways). I have my own set of experience and credentials that guide my opinion and sometimes I do jump to conclusions too soon. However, I know exactly what this noise is and that it is a detrimental abnormality.

I did not include the name of the dealer out of respect for them. I like them for the most part and would be happy to deal with them again. Sometimes a man needs to push past all the pre programmed, taught responses, meant to ward off all the loons and get some service for his new truck (relatively speaking).

"Mr. Moore we were unable to duplicate the noise" verbatim from service manager at my dealer

(It knocked on the way over to the dealer, during my ride with the tech, and on the way home)

"All them noises have been deemed to be normal" verbatim from another dealer's service manager in the region.

Maybe I'm an asshole sometimes after not being taken seriously? I'm wrong to vent about it in an unprofessional way though, your'e right about that. Polite persistence will serve me better I'm sure.

 

I'm sorry that you haven't been taken seriously in the past but I assure you that you are not the average customer. A lot of people we see are the type of people who can have 150k+ miles on their 04 Corolla and are wondering why they can't pair their Bluetooth phone to the radio with no Bluetooth and why Toyota won't stand behind their product by upgrading their radio free of charge. It's rare to talk to someone who knows where the hood latch release is.

More specifically to your case. Some spark knock is normal as the "timing curves" are a rough estimate and the ECM is always trying to advance the timing as much as possible until the knock sensors pick up detonation. Then the timing will retard until the knocking stops. Then it will do it again in a never ending loop that is happening constantly as your driving. Ideally it will happen before the knock is audible to you but the systems are not perfect and the variables are forever changing. Not that your noise is normal, I haven't heard it. It is more noticeable on some cars. If it's ever abnormal past the threshold, it will set a DTC and turn on the MIL. It is a very closely monitored system. Most "abnormal detonation/spark knock" is due to carbon on the Pistons. Usually not warranted anyway.

 

Do you think that running colder plugs (iridium) would help him by possibly eliminating the spark knock, or at least helping with it?