I seem to be pinging a bit since installing a blackwing air filter? I thought the ecu would relearn and adjust but it does not appear to be happening, do I need a tune or a different filter? Mine in an 04 C5

thanks

Pete

 

My '04 began to ping after the addition of the Blackwing. Obviously the computer is not able to compensate for the added airflow. I richened up the A/F mixture with a Predator tuner and it helped "some".

What I eventually had to do was set the timing back about 4 degrees. Kind of defeats the whole purpose of the air filter, in my opinion.

Maybe it would be different in your particular situation. Let us know what you find out what it takes to correct it.

 

I have a friend that just installed the vararam intake, drove it around a bit to let the computer readjust and when he started testing it out at WOT, he said he noticed a pinging as well.

He thinks he need to have the timing adjusted.

Anybody else have the pinging nose after cold air intakes installed??

 

My '04 coupe pings a bit, ...and has since new. I currently have only a GHL exhaust and a Z06 airbox cover (with stock paper filter). I didn't notice much difference in the tendency to ping with those changes, although the engine seems to run a bit richer with the pipe and airbox cover (based on noticeable exhaust tip deposits).

The engine will ping both at lower rpm's under heavy load and at higher rpms under wot or near wot. It was worse during the warmer Summer months and only occurs slightly now with temps in the 40's. A few gallons of unleaded race gasoline, to up the octane to about 93 to 94, stopped the pinging during warmer weather. I've read casual comment either on this forum or others that maybe the '04s are a bit more susceptible to pinging than previous years -- maybe someone can verify that.

When we get warm enough weather so that there is no dispute over whether or not the engine is pinging enough to be a problem, I'll have my local dealer check it out. If that doesn't produce a fix, I'll probably buy a Predator and retard the timing a few degrees myself. I'll post any appropriate findings then.

If you find a solution to the issue, please post it.
Thanks, Ernie

 

I was planning on having the car tuned after I install headers, any ideas on that fixing the pinging? btw we have 91 octane here

thanks

pete

 

Try different gas.

I have the Halltech Stinger R, otherwise stock tune. Here in SoCal, I had mild pinging on Shell, which is supposed to be good gas. I tried Chevron, which was OK, then Union76, on which I get no pinging.

I know others have more modified setups than I do, so gas may not be the answer. If you have the time, try different/better gas. I stay away from Costco, ARCO, Shell, Texaco and Mobil. I've heard that some of this gas we get comes from the same source. If so, I'm confused. But I still stand by Union76 as the only gas I use. Chevron is my #2 pick, $5 in emergencies until I can find a Union station.

Good luck...Bill

 

I have a 2001 6-Speed with Borla Stingers, Vararam, High Flow Power Duct and a Diablo Predator Performance Tune. I have had some pinging at WOT in 1st, 2nd & 3rd so we modified the Tune and now have the Maximum Fuel Adjustment and the Minimium Spark adjustment installed which improved the pinging. The next thing we plan to try is installing a 160 Degree Thermostat to see if this completely eliminates the problem.

Please let me know if anyone out there has a solution.

Thanks.

 

I realize that most if not all fuel additives are snake oil but has anyone found one that works? I found one made by Lucas Oil that comes in a small container that would be easy to carry in the car, any info on this?

thanks

Pete

 

Man....where have y'all been? I posted something similar in the scan & tune section, and have only a few replies!

 

I had the same problem with my BW install on my 2001. I took it to a local tuner in Denver and on the dyno it showed 3 degrees of retard due to lean air fuel. A quick adjustment, richen the mixture with gas to 13.7/1, fixed the problem and added about 30 RWHP and 40RWTQ.

If you are getting pinging then I recommend you do not use more pedal than necessary to move you where you want to go. Hard acceleration with severe pinging can toast your engine. Get the headers installed and then the dyno tune and LS1 edit.

 

To specifically answer your question:
If nothing out of the ordinary is causing your engine to ping (such as a bad or loosely installed plug), your tuner should be able to set A/F and timing to prevent the pinging. If something such as a bad plug requires that the timing be retarded from stock settings by an excessive amount to eliminate the pinging, your tuner will recognize that and troubleshoot the pre-existing problem.
Ernie

 

Techron cured my pinging. I am a believer. After running two bottles of that through I buy Chevron gas exclusively - now- I can't make it ping if I wanted to.

 

That's how it seems.



It was running fine before I installed the BW. And it didn't ping either.



Hmmm, logical deduction maybe? Engine no ping. Add Aftermarket airfilter which allows more air into the intake for a given amount of fuel. Engine pings.

Not much, but there was a noticeable reduction in the pinging.

Incredible as it might seem to you, a 4 degree reduction in timing, along with the increased A/F mixture, stopped the pinging.

And I use 92 octane BP fuel.

When summer comes with it's 90 deg heat, I intend to have the engine professionally tuned.

 

pdykinga -

Did you undo the battery and do an idle relearn after filter install?

Cooler thermostat, water injection (expensive - $380), cleaning carbon out of combustion chamber, fuel injector cleaning (BG Products, Inc. - BG 44K) - all will help with detonation.

Look for vacuum leaks downstream from the MAF (between the sensor and the throttle body). I would think the computer could easily compensate for the flow, especially at WOT when it runs really rich anyway. WOT is the only time "more air" gets into the engine. The other times, air inlet volume is controlled by the throttle plate, but is relative to throttle position - more air enters the engine in relation to throttle position with a better filter.

Reset the computer by unhooking the battery overnight, if you haven't already, and do an idle relearn. If you've done that already and still have the pinging, look for an air leak that will create a lean condition.

 

I had a pinging problem after installing my Blackwing and the plastic MAF ends. The only way I could get the pinging to stop was to put the stock metal MAF ends back in. Not sure why, but it cured the problem. Just to be sure, I put the nylon ends back in and the pinging returned.

Possible that my car is just sensitive? Maybe the MAF needed the screen affecting the airflow past the sensor?? I don't know the reason, but I do know the cure for my pinging problem. Of course I'm sure a good tune (even on my basically stock) car would help a lot.

 

When I first installed my blackwing in my 02, the same thing happened. The problem was really bad on hot, humid days and/or if I had the AC on. A few months later, I had a set of kooks longtube headers installed and at the same time, my tuner dynotuned her using ls1-edit. When he did my base, she came in at a horrific 192 rwhp!!! She was running so lean with the blackwing and the new headers, she was pinging like crazy during the dyno run. My tuner stopped the run at 102 mph. After changing the timing and A/F ratio, she dynoed at 322 rwhp and 328 rwtq on my A4. Thats 402 hp in SAE ratings. Best of all, there's no sign of any pinging, she runs better than she ever did. The PCM is very sensitive, even though I did the relearn procedure, she still ran too lean with the blackwing. I'd have a tuner take a look at your vette or better yet, get a few more mods and have a full LS1-edit dynotune done.

 

Dumb question but how do you know if your car is "pinging"? I take it that you hear a "pinging" sound or is it something else?

 

You'll definitely know if you have it. Whenever you accelerate, you'll hear a "pebbles in a can sound". It gets stronger and faster the more you accelerate. You won't hear it if you don't hit the accelerator.

 

I developed a ping after I had my car dyno tuned. It only does it under heavy load in 4th, A4 (any additional throttle would cause a down shift). No pings any other time. Any one else experience this? I have a Vararam and LGM headers. My AFR looks fine throughout the RPM range on the dyno.

 

Thanks!