Yo all. Not sure where to post this, so..... Why would a car start pinging? I have made no changes and it ran fine in Salem and Englishtown. Could it be the cooler air? Does the extra air in the cylinders have some effect on flame front or speed of burn? Are gas stations using oxygenated gas this time of year? Is all the different brands of gas just lesser quality all of a sudden? I'm sure it is nothing mechanical with the car; it still goes crazy sideways from a stomp. But it does ping a little now. I'll back my timing off a degree or two, but I'm just curious why it ran without pinging in the heat of summer, but in the cooler fall air it pings? o No: Thanks
Could be spark plugs.In my case I had made no changes to the car either and the dreaded death rattle started when it was not previously apparent.I changed over to NGK plugs and the problems went away.Not saying it is your problem but something worth considering if you have some miles/time on your existing sparkers.Rod
When? At idle? At WOT? Going up a hill at low speed? Always? Could be fuel, but is your distributor locked-down tight? Did any electrodes fall off of the spark plugs? Did you fill up with crap gas? I avoid Joe's Corner Gas and Bail Bonds because too many times, I have gotten 87 octane when I paid for 93. That's why I only go to Exxon, Sunoco, Shell, Mobil, who have quality-control programs (and don't just buy from whichever distributor is cheapest that day). -Bob C.
Jeff, What plugs are you running? Projected nose plugs require less timing. Is your advance stop bushing still in place? Make sure the vacuum advance limit cam didn't come loose.
Hopefully you didn't just suddenly break a piston ring :eek2: That would cause an engine ping. Best thing to do is remove the plugs and have a look at their condition.
Yardley, Gas has gotten crappy latley too, I'd do just what you said... Back off the timing some. Maybe try a few different stations. Personally, I've noticed that the wifes car and my car have gone from 300 miles per tank to 210-220.... that's with two stations down here that I can identify, as filling up at a mobile got me 300 with extra to spare two weeks ago, then back somewhere else and I'm at 214 fearing having to walk to the station.
Thanks all. Alan, it pinged before the pump swap. All Sunoco or Gulf gas, and it has been several fills. I'm thinking the quality of the gas is in question. I'll see how it runs with race gas at Atco. I will check the plugs and distributor, but i believe thay are all OK. We'll have a look-see. I was just wondering if oxygenation of gas has begun for the year and if the cold air can affect it too. And it only pings under WOT.
One thing to consider is what the barometer is. A high barometer will increase cylinder pressure and can cause pinging/detonation. Also check for a vacuum leak. I wouldn't put it past the oil companies to give worse gas (lower octane) when the coller aire comes in....they figure we don't need it. Also, this time of year the oxygenated crap shows up and we run lean AND suck mure fuel! Seems weird but true. My truck (prommed for high test) got a load of what must have been 87 octane when I paid for 93 and the computer retarded the timing based on knock and it was a dog towing..... See where BP posted record 4th qtr profits (like 9 million). They are really screwing us for all they can!!! :af: :blast: Bruce
Possibly a bit of carbon build up. Pick up some Techron by Chevron. easy enough to throw in the fuel tank. If it doesn't take care of it, no big loss. All you did was clean everything in the path of the fuel, not a bad thing.
Hi, I was having some pinging at WOT as well. I can no longer get Sunoco 94 octane only 93. They also stopped selling the 100 Octane at that I would mix with it. I have read that octane, plug heat range, cylinder temp., lean fuel mixture, carbon in the cylinders, and timing to far advanced will cause this. You could try the NOS brand octane booster that raises the octane .7 points, the label says 7 points. I have been able to almost eliminate the annoying pinging. Best of luck! Mark
Welcome to the world of crap gas........I keep my timing backed off a few degrees and just run the cheep stuff.......'cuz I'm cheep. :bglasses: The gas mileage with premium is not any better (certainly not worth the higher cost) but I only race mine on rare occassions anyway. Considering the expense of damaged pistons, for added security I'd rather sacrifice a little HP and back the timing off a little........besides, Buicks have power to spare. :laugh:
Hmmm..... with the onset of cooler air my Riv runs so cold that I have to block the front of the radiator and condensor with cardboard to generate any engine temp. 4 row radiator is killer! :TU: With my 160* thermostat I can barely get over 160* when totally warmed up. Hmmmmm... looks lke I'll be throwing a 180* thermostat in there today and see if that helps!
That's a good thought, Jeff.........perhaps since the coolant is barely circulating trying to get the block heated up, the heads are retaining too much heat. You would think the cooler weather in combination with cooler, denser air would tend to lessen detonation. I noticed the same problem you are having happen in the cooler weather over the years, and I am also running a 160 thermostat. Thinking back, the problem was worse when I used to run my 4 row radiator (I switched back to a 3 row a couple years ago b/c it fits better) :bglasses:
Hi, Gas has already been changed for winter. At least that's what I read in my local newspaper,Chicago Sun Times. JOE
Yardley...You are over-advancing....the little bushing on the post that limits your centrifical advance weights fell off. That is if you are running a stock distributor. Peace WildBill
Thanks all. It is a Dave's conversion distributor. I put $2.30 a gallon Sunoco Ultra 94 in it and backed it off 2*. Runs perfect now. No pinging!
