engine ping- need suggestions

[NAREJEPP]

i'm relatively new to the forum thing and this is my first post on here so sorry for the lack of SOP

anyway, i've got a 2000 extended cab silverado with a 5.3 and about 190k on the clock. I've kept up with all maintenance over the past 6 years that I have been driving it. about a year or so ago, i started noticing that the engine would ping/knock at higher rpms and when under a heavy load (towing our boat) it doesn't throw codes or anything, so i started filling up with premium gas and the problem went away. fast forward til about a month ago, it starts doing it again, in spite of the premium fill-ups.

the only code i have is an occasional bank 2 running lean code.(i dont know the number off the top of my head) by occasional, i mean that if i clear it i can sometimes drive a solid week or two without it cropping back up.

within the last 6-8 months or so i've replaced the fuel filter, done injector flush, plugs and wires, and new knock sensors. most of which was just in the course of normal maintenance, but all of which have seemed unable to cure my issue. i also tried seafoam, to no avail.

oh btw, no vacuum leaks that i can find and fuel pressure is good.

the only other place i know to go is the upstream o2 sensors, but am not sure that it will fix my problem.

any suggestions are welcome and appreciated. thanks

ps, mods are: true dual exhaust through flowmaster 40's (stock manifolds) and K&N CAI

[pl4yboy]

Is it lifter tick?

[NAREJEPP]

Is it lifter tick?

not sure, i don't think so though. i never thought about that because i am under the impression that lifter tick is more constant, something that i could hear all the time.

is there an easy way to tell the difference?

[country_3030]

Mine had some part throttle ping under heavy load from the factory. Logged it in hp tuners and pulled 2° of timing where it was knocking. No more problems.

[pl4yboy]

not sure, i don't think so though. i never thought about that because i am under the impression that lifter tick is more constant, something that i could hear all the time.

is there an easy way to tell the difference?

Tick is more constant, but it also has to do with how your oil is acting. I would get HPT hooked up to it asap.

[RUFFNECK]

If you haven't already, change them intake gaskets out. This can cause a lean code. I have had to do it 3 times on my 2001. They will leak after so many miles.

[NAREJEPP]

thanks for the replies guys.

as far as HPT, aside from buying it, the only way i know to get my truck hooked up to it is to get it tuned right? i've been thinking about this, but with 190k miles, i wouldn't want to push it too hard as far as performance tuning goes, and can't really see myself spending 3-400 for small timing adjustments. i may be wrong though, what do ya'll think?

as far as the intake gaskets, i replaced those when i did the knock sensors. worth double checking them for leaks though.

is there any validity in suspecting the o2 sensors at this point? they one of the few things on the truck that i have never replaced.

thanks again everyone

[NAREJEPP]

good news...problem solved

spent last night in the shop again and decided to smoke the intake...again. this time i found the slightest little leak coming from 2 of the bank 2 injector seals. you could just barely see the smoke, i actually feel fortunate that i didn't overlook it again.

anyway, spent the afternoon replacing all injector seals and the intake gasket for good measure...and TADA!
everything is running good.

thanks for the help and suggestions

[RUFFNECK]

Good deal man! Im kinda in the same boat so I may do the smoke test.

[NAREJEPP]

Good deal man! Im kinda in the same boat so I may do the smoke test.

yea, it ended up working out. a week later and still no issues. it has a real slight ticking still, but it's basically only under WOT, and that's been there for a while now.

hopefully a new 5.3 build and a 80E are in the future.