Anyone Else Ping'ing on Hard Accel?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,308
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From: Orange County California
Anyone Else Ping'ing on Hard Accel?
Ever since I got my 02 Z06, it pings when I really lay into the accelerator from a stop. Even with high octane (well, 91). Two vette shops have told me pre-ignition is normal, but it sounds lame when you haul butt and suddenly it starts pinging. Any ideas besides octane booster? The shop said it doesn't need a tune-up, and I'm not interested in going to a tuner for the HP, but might go if it means getting rid of the knock. 
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Legally Blonde
Cruise-In IV Veteran
You've got to run 93 octane. Check the owners manual because I think it requires 93. That's all I'd put in my Z06. I don't know what else to tell you about the pinging but I'm sure someone else will know more. Definately run 93 octane. Who knows, it could take care of the problem?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I could only get 91 octane in Las Vegas but I never suffered from pinging even in the height of summer.
Sounds like you need a decarb for a start. Why not run a botle of sea foam through and see what that does for you.
Sounds like you need a decarb for a start. Why not run a botle of sea foam through and see what that does for you.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Las Vegas Nevada
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
Torco
Or a good tune might be needed. Another alternative is mixing five gallons of racing fuel in with the next tank full and see if the pinging goes away.
Or a good tune might be needed. Another alternative is mixing five gallons of racing fuel in with the next tank full and see if the pinging goes away.
Last edited by PUREFUN; May 16, 2007 at 01:35 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,735
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From: Visalia CA
Yea, us poor b*****ds in California can't get anything higher than 91! And with gas at almost $4.00/gal, who wants to pay extra for Octane Booster?
However, I have no problem with pinging. Probably because I drive my car rather easy. Sounds like you're nailing it from a dead stop. Could be only a tune or high octane or a change in driving style will solve your problem.
However, I have no problem with pinging. Probably because I drive my car rather easy. Sounds like you're nailing it from a dead stop. Could be only a tune or high octane or a change in driving style will solve your problem.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: MD
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Meeker OK
You have a serious problem that needs to be addressed. The pinging is detonation, the number 1 killer of pistons. Do not run your car hard enough to ping until you fix the problem or you'll regret the results. You should not get pinging even on 87. The computer senses the ping quicker that you can hear it and instantly pulls out timing to avoid the ping. There are only two componets in the detonation circuit. The knock sensor screwed into the block and the ecm. My guess is the knock sensor is bad or unplugged. Check it out. If you are getting pinging, you ARE damaging your baby's engine.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Tech Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,924
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From: Forney Texas
You have a serious problem that needs to be addressed. The pinging is detonation, the number 1 killer of pistons. Do not run your car hard enough to ping until you fix the problem or you'll regret the results. You should not get pinging even on 87. The computer senses the ping quicker that you can hear it and instantly pulls out timing to avoid the ping. There are only two componets in the detonation circuit. The knock sensor screwed into the block and the ecm. My guess is the knock sensor is bad or unplugged. Check it out. If you are getting pinging, you ARE damaging your baby's engine.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
You need to interface your computer and see if your knock sensors are working. It is popular for the pistons to break starting at the forward markers which would be a good time to build yourself a nice forged stroker! If your knock sensors are working, drive around and see if the computer is getting some knock retard. If not, your problem maybe somewhere else. Do you have an automatic tranny? I know that the older camaros used to have problems with the flywheels cracking and they would rattle but I don't know if that kind of problem exists on the newer cars.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 446
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From: Orlando Fl
I agree with the SeaFoam suggestion. It is amazing the amount of carbon that will build up in the combustion chambers of these cars which causes an increased liklihood of detonation. This is particularly true if the car was driven by someone who did not run the car like they should be run. I also agree with the other posters about the danger of pre-ignition/detonation. It will kill your motor if not fixed.
Get the tune looked at, should run fine on 91
Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 725
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From: East Northport NY
Assuming your knock sensors are good.....go get a couple bottles of Techron (I think its the 20 oz concentrated one) and add them to your next 2 tankfulls. Then do the Seafoam thing. The procedure is all over this forum and is real easy. While you are in the parts store get a long length of vacuum hose - enough to go from the PCV outlet on your intake all the way into the car thru the passenger side window. This makes it soooo much easier to do the Seafoam thing because you can manage the engine throttle from in the car (to keep it from stalling) while sucking the Seafoam into the engine, and you can do it alone.
You should see a big improvement in throttle response, gas mileage, and the pings should go away. When ever I do this, i also disconnect the battery for a few minutes to get rid of any "memory" in the computer so I can "start from scratch". Not sure if that makes any difference, maybe its my imagination, but I do it anyway.
I totally agree with these guys - pinging is serious business. With the crappy gas we are getting lately we'll never be ping-free, but yours sounds quite excessive.
You should see a big improvement in throttle response, gas mileage, and the pings should go away. When ever I do this, i also disconnect the battery for a few minutes to get rid of any "memory" in the computer so I can "start from scratch". Not sure if that makes any difference, maybe its my imagination, but I do it anyway.
I totally agree with these guys - pinging is serious business. With the crappy gas we are getting lately we'll never be ping-free, but yours sounds quite excessive.
Last edited by jrizzuto; May 16, 2007 at 11:49 AM. Reason: forgot something
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,308
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From: Orange County California
Great responses, thanks. Driving style: I was recently compaining on here about getting beat by crappier cars off the line, and everyone hammered me for not flooring it. I typically do go easy on the engine, because you can look like a jackass on a normal street if you floor it.....so I don't cause the pinging too much until I really do lay into the throttle. But, yeah, I know that's not good so I back off.
I'll check into the SeaFoam...never heard about it until now but will search the posts.
I use Mobil 91.
I'll check into the SeaFoam...never heard about it until now but will search the posts.
I use Mobil 91.
Temporary Hold
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,711
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From: www.modular-concept.com www.flatoutimaging.com
Had the same problem with mine two weeks ago, sea foamed it and the knock retard went away, and infact it was actually able to hold quite an aggresive tune when all was said and done! Its a totaly different car now!
SEA FOAM
Good Luck,
Andy Wheeler
SEA FOAM
Good Luck,
Andy Wheeler
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,135
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From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Run two cans of SEA FOAM through two full tanks of gas, trust me the car will be different in GOOD ways.
BTW, honestly I would skip the TECHRON and just go to SEA FOAM, no offensive I have tried them both and got better results out of the SEA FOAM.
Last edited by mph1972; May 17, 2007 at 07:05 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Bergen county NJ
Make sure your spark plug wires are double clicked on the coils.(that gave me detonation and once double checked the double click detonation is gone)
Make sure the aiir tube is not too close to the number 7 spark plug wire...(this also was an issue that when I made sure I had a 1/2 inch of space between the wire and the air tube detonation went away. I don't know why but it did)
Techron from autozone etc...in every few tanks helps too!
Try the GM top end cleaner procedure or follow the seafoam procedure here on site..
If that doesn't solve your issue then I'd move towards the replacement of the knock sensors under the manifold. (about an hour labor if I remember correctly and 100 dollars or so in parts)
Have a qualified tech do the work on the replacement of the knock sensors unless you feel comfortable doing the work yourself.
Good luck
Make sure the aiir tube is not too close to the number 7 spark plug wire...(this also was an issue that when I made sure I had a 1/2 inch of space between the wire and the air tube detonation went away. I don't know why but it did)
Techron from autozone etc...in every few tanks helps too!
Try the GM top end cleaner procedure or follow the seafoam procedure here on site..
If that doesn't solve your issue then I'd move towards the replacement of the knock sensors under the manifold. (about an hour labor if I remember correctly and 100 dollars or so in parts)
Have a qualified tech do the work on the replacement of the knock sensors unless you feel comfortable doing the work yourself.
Good luck
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,308
Likes: 104
From: Orange County California
Y'know, I talked to the dealer that first told me that the pinging was "normal." He just said, "you really don't need any additives." So I called him yesterday and said there's a lot of people that think Sea Foam or the GM top engine cleaner did wonders...he said, "we think you're wasting your money." So....is there any issue with "overcleaning" that could affect seals or gaskets....or voiding a warranty?
Temporary Hold
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,711
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From: www.modular-concept.com www.flatoutimaging.com
IAIA:
You can listen to him if you want, but I highly doubt he puts these cars on the dyno, or runs HP Tuners on the car during hard accel.
I can tell you it made a huge difference in the tunability of my car. My car went through two of the best tuners here in the Baltimore area, and they both suggested doing a top end cleaning.
I am glad I listened to them because I get NO ping at all now, and anyone that says a detonating motor is NORMAL is out of his mind in my book. My second tuner even basically put it into limp mode and told me not to run it wide open until we resolved the problem.
Anyways good luck with whatever you choose.
Andy
You can listen to him if you want, but I highly doubt he puts these cars on the dyno, or runs HP Tuners on the car during hard accel.
I can tell you it made a huge difference in the tunability of my car. My car went through two of the best tuners here in the Baltimore area, and they both suggested doing a top end cleaning.
I am glad I listened to them because I get NO ping at all now, and anyone that says a detonating motor is NORMAL is out of his mind in my book. My second tuner even basically put it into limp mode and told me not to run it wide open until we resolved the problem.
Anyways good luck with whatever you choose.
Andy