it seems i typo-d...we only have 91 octane here in the SF area....that is 2.19 AFTER dropping?? sheesh

 

That's at an AM/PM even, cheapest $$ around. Last week when it was $2.299 (I keep forgeting that extra $.009), I spent $82 for a fill. Only spent $75 to fill it today

 

it seems we should change our name to Ben Dover.....heh heh

 

OK, a properly trained dealer technician, with the NGS, and the service card, and the flash cable can turn on the retard function of the PCM. These leave the factory with off as a default, and if someone is experiencing spark knock, this retard feature is switched on.

 

I've been through this ping issue. Had the dealer do the diagnostics ($97.00) and they said everything was fine and that light ping under load was normal. Since I didn't agree, I replace the air cleaner, cleaned the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor with a electronics circut cleaner spray (no residue) - carefull these are hair thin wires- and a new fuel filter. This helped some. I then went to the parts store and asked the people what they recommended for a fuel treatment. They recommended Lucas Oil fuel treatment. It's an oil, looks like mineral oil, that goes in the fuel tank. A 6 ounce bottle cost about $3.00. I tried it in a couple of tanks of gas and the ping seems to have gone away for now. I found the Lucas Oil fuel treatment on the web at Interstate Turbo for $15.00 a gal, which makes it far cheaper than the little bottles. Anyway... seems to work for me. I know the weather and so on affects the pinging, but the fuel treatment seems to work. I have also wondered about the anti-knock sensor and have considered replacing it but was tols I have to remove the intake manifold which is a serious job. One note, the dealer said they could manually retard the timing up to 3 degrees to see if that would resolve the pinging. For noe I'll try the Lucas Oil.