Engine has been pinging for quite a while. I've cleaning the throttle body and the EGR valve, done a Seafoam treatment, and have had to retard the timing (again) to get it to stop. Is this just one of those things I'm going to have to live with? It just seems weird that it wasn't like this when new, but nothing can be done/replaced/fixed to solve it besides retarding the timing. It does it when the engine is fully warmed up....heat issue??

I've read through quite a few post and have read about some luck with the Seafoam and the EGR cleaning. No luck.

Anything else? Summer is coming and the heat plus having the A/C on doesn't help it.

 

I know it sounds funny, but try switching to factory NGK spark plugs. We saw this work at the dealership more often than not. People put in an aftermarket plug and it would ping hard under acceleration. I'd be very suspect of your ignition system. I ran my v6 advanced as hell and never had any pinging!If you're technical, get a DMM and check the resistance of all your wires. Inspect the distributor cap for heavy pitting. etc etc etc. Pinging is directly related to the ignition system and something is not pulling it's weight... Keep us posted

 

are you burning ethanol gas? my truck hates it. if i run regular 87 octane, she's fine. Just a thought.

 

you might check your cat to make sure it isn't getting clogged & not letting exhaust gasses out of the cyl.

 

No ethanol...always run 87.

I'll check the other maintenance issues.

Thank you.

 

Just for fun,,, Did you try running a tank of 93 octane hi-test fuel through it?

Mike in AR

 

A few years ago My truck was pinging and it turned out I had a crack in the dizzy cap. I put on another cap and rotor and the pinging went away

 

I think NGKs were used...they were done at the dealer (but that doesn't mean they were used, I guess).

I'm going to order a new set of plugs and dist cap. Should I get a new rotor, too?

I was just at NAPA getting some anti-seize and they carry NGK plugs. When the guy pulled up the screen, I think I noticed that the gap said .032 and I read somewhere here that the gap should be .031. Which one is it?

 

Not a lot of difference between those two figures. For the record and straight from the 1993 FSM -- correct gap is .031

Go ahead and pop for the new rotor button. Not very expensive .

Mike in AR

 

check the timing with a light and go from there...again

 

I just got the plugs, cap, and rotor yesterday, so now all I need is to get a timing light.

Forgot to mention that it pings pretty good under heavy acceleration, too.

 

Fix the stereo? and turn it UP!?

 

check your pullys...one of mine use to skwheel and make a ping sonund...but then i toke it off and checked it out...turns out it needed some cleaning and good old WD 40...

 

Well, so far I've changed the cap, rotor, and plug wires with no luck on the pinging issue. I have the plugs, but was waiting to see if the other things might solve the problem. Nope. I'll change those out sometime soon.

 

I can garuntee you that you cannot gap a plug accurate to 0.001"...in practical terms do you have any idea how small that is? Most micrometer's accuracy is +/- 0.001" And I can garuntee your truck wont notice that...

However Im in the same boat as you. I have to run 93 octane and only run 10* BTDC...even then it pings some times...usually 5000rpm and up WOT in the top of 2nd...

 

maybe the water pump???

 

Changed out the plugs and still have pinging .

Here are some pics of the plugs:







Notice 1-3-5 compared to 2-4-6.

 

I just ordered a set of Thorley headers thinking that it maybe preignition from heat being reatined in the heads from the poor design of the crossover pipe causing my pinging. When I lighten up on the throttle when mine pings it gets worse.