Engine pinging in hot weather

I'm not sure if this problem is preignition or detonation. However, if you consider that higher octane fuel helps that would lead me to lean towards preignition. It took some time after I first bought my truck but after the cold air intake, rear cat removal/dual exhaust, insulating all fuel lines under the hood (even the fuel rail), switching to colder spark plugs, and using 93 octane and booster my truck no longer pings at all. Even with a/c on in 5th gear (automatic) 90 degree heat, and going up a hill while lugging the engine mine no longer pings whatsoever. Sometimes just one thing won't fix a problem. As stated by Taco 09, they're doing more to meet emission standards and running lean leads to higher cylinder temps and increases risk for preignition.

 

My engine was pinging badly on Monday, when our NJ temperatures got into the lower 80s. The pinging/ticking actually had been bad over the weekend as well, when I had been hauling several 10 x 40 pound bags in the back. On Monday after work (after the same commute), I checked the engine oil level using the method described in the manual, which is to wait at least 5 or more minutes after the engine had been warmed up then shut off, prior to checking the level. The oil level was pretty solid at the lower dimple marking, and had that 'fleeting' sideways oil trace appearance from the lower dimple to well above the upper dimple...which I interpret as an acceptable level of oil. I went ahead and added 0.25 quart more, and the level didn't really change at all. Overfilling is worse than not enough oil, right?

Same day, I filled up from 1/4 tank with 93 octane from Quik Check (= to Sheetz or Wawa quality, not = Shell or Exxon). Following day during my commute, I didn't notice nearly the same level of pinging/ticking noise, but its not entirely gone either. It sounds like a muffled pinging/ticking instead.

Its probably a software engine calibration issue since its only affecting certain engines. Different batches of engines (which have the same parts potentially from different vendors, assembled in different plants), will run slightly different from one another and thus will require different engine timing settings. I have the last Toyota ECU firmware disc from 2009 before they went strictly with online TIS for firmware, and there must have been 20-30 different engine related ECU files for the 2nd Gen at the time.

We should start a new thread just for basic data recording..if you have the ping noise, then list the state the vehicle resides in, the date of observation, ambient temperature of the day you had the ping, reported engine temperature if you have a scan gauge/tool/ or TIS, the weight of load you were carrying (if any), the octane of fuel, oil brand/type, the model year, mileage, the vehicle manufacture date (from the door sticker), the manufacturing location (from the door sticker), Supercharged (y/n), other engine related mods and the finally the VIN number. From this, we'd have a legitimate count of everyone having the problem and the basic conditions that exist when the problem occurs. All this data can be dropped into an excel spreadsheet and eventually made into a formal complaint to Toyota, rather than this speckling of low level reporting that probably never makes it beyond the dealership. Thoughts?

 

Excellent idea! This is a serious design flaw and a scientific approach (data collection ) is the best way to move towards resolution. I no longer have the problem but then again I had to go through a lot to make the damn thing run like it should.

 

I was having the same problem with pinging when it was hot. I tried 4 other gas stations and it was still doing it. I did try Med. and Prem . gas, Then I bought 2 cans of Chevron Plus additive in 5 gallons of fuel in the tank , dove around till the light went on. It worked so far no pinging. Even when it was 90 degrees this week.

 

I've now switched completely to Non-Ethanol Rec-90octane and it helped tremendously with the pinging (pre-ignition) and Im now getting 25 mpg average with my 2012 4.0L vs 22-23mpg with 93 octane/10% ethanol. Unfortunately not everyone has it available to them.

 

Noticed my 14 doing this the other day. 87 in the tank. Gonna try 89 next.

 

There's a thread started 2 years ago about the same thing.

Check here:

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

 

I had problems with my 2012 with pinging. I think it started when the summer blend came out. Thinking I had my truck at the dealers 4 times , it never pinged for them. So I get a call from the dealer that they got new software for updating your computer. I got it done today. Its call flashing your computer. Hoping it worked.

 

Not really unusual to be honest. Higher temps mean less dense air being ingested into the engine. Less dense air when compressed with fuel mixture has an higher percentage chance of pre-ignition. It should still be able to be controlled by the ECU ignition timing control though. However it can only retard the timing a certain amount to reduce ping, so if it reaches that threshold and it still pings, the computer won't retard timing any more or severe loss of power will occur. When the engine is under a load this retarding will have an even stronger effect on engine power.

 

Thanks for the heads up. My '14 was manufactured in March of this year. I'm hoping they had the fix available by then.

 

Well so far Flashing the computer for the engine worked. Was done thursday, its now sunday no pinging noise

 

Did you notice any decrease in engine power with the reflash?

 

I wish the re flash was issued for 2010 up. Mist complaint I think come from 2010 + plus.

I wish this works fit you guys. My truck has not pinged for a while since temps are not over 85F.

 

I've been running Lucas oil additive to clean valves and pistons just in case carbon was a problem but as of yesterday's 90 degree in socal the truck was pinging lightly under light throttle and light load, under the same circumstances most tacomas here ping 1500 rpm and around 45 mph.

I wonder what is wrong with toyota, recently I've heard a few rav4s and camrys driving by and pinging on light city driving.

 

I see you're in CA. I don't know if pure gas is an option where you are. If so, give it a shot. It worked good for me.

 

The best we get is 91 gas here, which is what Ive use for the entire truck's life.

 

Any news on this issue? I did the re flash and I still have the ping. Mobil 1 synthetic quoted it down some but it's still there.

 

if so many of these tacoms are pinging, then why do they get the reputation for being "bullet proof" and "super reliable"

 

Because its Toyota - the US engineering team really is well intended, but I think they end up trading off certain factors like whether occasional engine pings are acceptable in the case of the 4.0 L V6 used between 2005-2011. The customer just hears an occasional ping noise in a small rpm range as a result of having the higher compression ration when the specified 87 octane fuel is used. Its not like the engine is going explode and die before 200k or even 300k miles...so its an acceptable issue.

The composite bed is another good example. Whether it was actually written on the whiteboard or not...Toyota traded off physical durability and rear traction (especially on snow) for minimal gains in weight savings, fuel economy and only their own cost savings (which isn't passed to the customer). I have never driven a vehicle before which needed so much 'extra' finesse and attention to pedal inputs when driving on untreated roads during the winter, or in heavy rain...even when the tires still have 5 to 6 32nds with only 2-2.5 years of UV exposure. The customer shouldn't have to be buying a new set of Michelins every 3 years just to be safe in the winter...but that's what the composite bed feature ends up requiring of the customer. The extra 200 to 250 pounds of a steel bed probably would make the Tacoma feel like a regular truck in the winter, and let us safely get more tire life.