Engine Pinging.......tune, gas, plugs???

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10-12-2006, 05:12 AM
duplantisjj

OK...it started pinging a week after installing the whipple. In Alaska, we only get 90 octane fuel..yeah I know it sucks...but that's life...Anyway, I talked to Allen and told him of my pinging problem....symptoms:

Under light/med throttle, Aftershifting to 2nd...it lightly pings...almost sounds like a tick tick tick. If I take off from 1st hard..I get no ping.......If I'm cruising around 40-50 in 3rd or 4th and hit the throttle a little...it pings...If I nail it ...no ping....

No octane booster and it pings worse. With Octane booster it pings less. I even tried $23/btl TORCO....still pings but not as bad.

Just got my tune back from Allen...and the ping is much less but still there around 2k rpms.

I just thought about something else...spark plugs...I followed Whipples' instructions and got AC/Delco Platinum tip 41-932 plugs..$50 for a set!!........Could the plugs be creating a problem...everyone says use NGK TR6....should I switch??

I also just got the wideband from Allen and will install this week. I think I'm running a little lean around 2K RPMS....but the crappy NB autometer I have is not dependable (but it does show lean in that range and it shows in the stoich region when it's pinging).....

Any other ideas??
10-12-2006, 06:02 AM
Bowtie70SS

Yes a colder plug will help some, but if you're lean then that is what your main problem. You being in Alaska you may want to consider tuning software. I don't know about EFI live but with HPtuners it is upgradable to other future vehicles. With the WB it will probably be the best bang for your buck. It does suck haveing to keep swapping out pcms. Did you stick with the whipple electronics/injectors or did you upgrade your injectors along with the pcm tune? A lot of people do away with that piggyback deal.

Dave
10-12-2006, 08:24 AM
SCIV

I thought that platinum tipped were a no-no with boost? Maybe just a myth.

I run the NGK TR6 gapped at .039. No issues with knock. I will be changing them this week to a .035 or .030 to run more boost.
10-12-2006, 01:38 PM
duplantisjj

I'm considering HPtuners at the moment, just becuase I can log and send that to Allen and he can email me an update. Not sure what version of HPtuners I need..the Pro ver is $150 more.

Yeah,,,,I didn't even mess with the Whipple craptronics from the begining. I installed the Whipple with 43lb injectors and an Allen tuned PCM.

I didn't know platinum tips were a no no in FI.......I just got the same part number from the Whipple manual on the plug they recommended...frickin AC/Delco Platinum tips, one range colder. I may just swap them out with some NGK TR6 plugs.
10-12-2006, 08:16 PM
farmtruc

The plugs will cost you about $10, so try that.

Does it ping when the truck is in all other gears at 2K?

keep me updated, I'll be here to help out.
allen
10-13-2006, 01:36 AM
duplantisjj

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(farmtruc @ Oct 12 2006, 05:16 PM) [snapback]69145[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

The plugs will cost you about $10, so try that.

Does it ping when the truck is in all other gears at 2K?

keep me updated, I'll be here to help out.
allen
[/b]

Yeah it's pretty much in the 2K range with a light load in most gears....unless I hit it hard from the start... then it hits hard and there's no ping......but take off easy and let off a bit after 2nd or 3rd..then just little pedal to around 2K and she's ticking.......first I was thinking exhaust cuz that's what it sounds like but an exhaust leak would be constant not random. And my exhaust system is really tight.

Going to install AEM WB this weekend and swap platinum plugs for NGK TR6.......The WB will definitely tell whether I'm lean in that area..... I'm still thinking about getting HPTuners just for the convienence of logging and sending you useful data to dial me in....
10-17-2006, 12:06 AM
duplantisjj

I just got my wideband connected up today.....it's staying around 14.5 - 15.2 during idle and during the ping at 2,000-3,000 rpms.......the A/F seems to drop to around 12-13 at 3/4 to full throttle.......not sure if that's lean or rich. Not sure if I'm supposed to calibrate the AEM.....it seems to float back and forth really fast between 14 and 15.

I been trying to drive it like a baby for a few weeks now so as not to mess something up. It really sucks when crap cars pull next to you and they act tough....and you have to let them go..... :cry:
10-17-2006, 08:10 AM
farmtruc

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AlaskanZ71 @ Oct 16 2006, 11:06 PM) [snapback]69863[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I just got my wideband connected up today.....it's staying around 14.5 - 15.2 during idle and during the ping at 2,000-3,000 rpms.......the A/F seems to drop to around 12-13 at 3/4 to full throttle.......not sure if that's lean or rich. Not sure if I'm supposed to calibrate the AEM.....it seems to float back and forth really fast between 14 and 15.

I been trying to drive it like a baby for a few weeks now so as not to mess something up. It really sucks when crap cars pull next to you and they act tough....and you have to let them go..... :cry:
[/b]

Thanks for the feedback, it's definitely not running lean during normal driving and mid throttle, but you said 12-13 at wot, that is a bit on the edge.
I'll send another pcm out that will drop the a/f ratio in the high 11's under wot.

ya, just be easy on it and soon you'll be able to run it hard.

thanks,
allen
10-17-2006, 08:37 AM
SCIV

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AlaskanZ71 @ Oct 17 2006, 12:06 AM) [snapback]69863[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

AEM.....it seems to float back and forth really fast between 14 and 15.
[/b]

That is normal. I freaked when I got mine & it did that. I even posted up about it because I was worried.

Allen will take care of you on the tune.