Has anyone experienced pinging noises? I'm hearing obvious pinging (pre-det) in 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th \when accelerating fairly hard from around from around 2,500 RPMs.

I always use 91 octane (highest in CA) / top tier gas.

Completely stock, except for an Airraid filter. Could the extra airflow be messing up the A/F ratio?

Also I had major oil in the airbox recently due to the dealer over filling the oil (Z51 dry sump).

Thanks for any ideas.

 

Are you comfortable that they cleaned out the oil (all the way through) as if it never happened? Could be the cause if you're burning 91 octane.

 

It sounds like a trip to the dealer is needed. A defective knock sensor could be causing the problem or a computer fault if it is truly pinging

 

This. Oil in the intake won't cause pinging.

Are you sure it's really pinging from detonation? I wouldn't expect that with 91 octane gas in CA unless you're at high altitude or you're always lugging the engine.

 

Hi Steve: I'm at low altitude and don't do much highway driving. The first time I noticed it was a few days ago on the highway when I decided to try out 6th gear to save a bit of gas, then accelerated without downshifting - so yes, the engine was lugging a bit.

Never had the same issue with my LS3 though in similar circumstances.

I'll get it checked out a the dealer anyway to to rule out the knock sensor.

Thanks for the replies all.

 

No. Will check anyway.

 

I read where a tuner said that the stock programming has too much timing in several places. To the point of being dangerous.

 

I think if the stock C7 timing map was "dangerous" we'd have heard about problems by now with over 30,000 on the road. I think that tuner was overstating things just a tad.

 

Changed back to stock filter and the difference was immediate. Obviously the engineers knew what they were doing.

 

Airaid filter here, 3000 miles, no problems....

 

I have been having the exact same problem... I also have the green airaid filter never thought it could have been that. I will have to swap back to stock filter and see if pinging stops under load in higher gears

 

 

My C6 pinged like crazy, even using top tier 91 octane gas. I used a bottle of Lucas Octane Boost every 3rd tank and it fixed the problem. My Non Z51 A6 C7 is bone stock, no after market air filter, and I'm starting to hear a slight pinging on the highway when it's in 5th and 6th gear. I may add some octane boost, despite the fact that some forum members say it's not effective.

 

The active ingredient in most octane boosters including that one is MMT, a manganese compound developed as lead was being phased out. While that material is clearly less hazardous than lead, there is debate over just how hazardous it is, both to humans and to the catalytic converters and oxygen sensors on cars. But in deciding whether to use it, you might keep two things in mind. The first data point is that Canada allows MMT, and most of the cheaper Canadian gas has it. But car warranties are shorter there, and MMT is why. The second thing is that in the US, use of MMT will void your warranty on oxygen sensors and catalytic converters, and it is easy as pie to tell whether those components have been exposed to MMT. There is a third thing too, though I’ve been called a weenie for mentioning such things. The concentration of MMT that you get from adding one bottle to a tank of gas is well over MMT’s legal limit for street use in the US. Incidentally, if you are in Canada and want to avoid MMT, that is yet another reason to use top tier gas. Top tier won’t certify gas with MMT.

 

Keep in mind that you have good quality 93 octane gas in Florida, compared to the crappy 91 in Cali.