Pinging!!!
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 325
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
Pinging!!!
Does anyone else have this problem with the v-10? I have a 2000 x, change the oil every 3-5000 use mobile 1 5-30 since I got it. It pings in over drive, bout 40mph or so going up hill. ICK it all I have to say. I was running 87 octain, from wal-mart. Then I switched over to stop and shop gas because it was cheaper, then I switched to shell gas with the same result. I then went to the 89 octain and for a while that curred it untill a few weekes ago. SO THEN I started running the 92? octain V-power from shell. my girlfriend swears by it, she has a 95 celica and wow it makes it move. So with the V-power gas from shell, it costs me 2.15 a gallon to fill and I get no pings as of yet.....any ideas? I would love to run the 87 octain! I work for a major truck co that has some v-10s and they ping too....
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 12,235
Likes: 753
From: Houston, Texas
Did you buy your X new or used?
If you bought it used, the previous owner may have run some higher octane fuel in an effort to get better mileage. Once the V10 gets a taste of higher octane fuel, thats all it wants; otherwise it complains. What you can probably do is fill up with regular 87 octane, and then buy 1 or 2 bottles of octane booster. It shouldn't run you more than $4-$6, depending on what you buy. I recommend the STP octane booster (orange bottle), I ran some in my Regal after filling up with 87 octane and it made a world of difference. It was just like I filled up with some of Shell's V-power. So until you find a better solution, you may want to try that. Best of luck.
If you bought it used, the previous owner may have run some higher octane fuel in an effort to get better mileage. Once the V10 gets a taste of higher octane fuel, thats all it wants; otherwise it complains. What you can probably do is fill up with regular 87 octane, and then buy 1 or 2 bottles of octane booster. It shouldn't run you more than $4-$6, depending on what you buy. I recommend the STP octane booster (orange bottle), I ran some in my Regal after filling up with 87 octane and it made a world of difference. It was just like I filled up with some of Shell's V-power. So until you find a better solution, you may want to try that. Best of luck.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 12,235
Likes: 753
From: Houston, Texas
Originally Posted by Bananarama
Haaa thats strange. I dont mind paying for the v-power because its incredible. I mean the v-10 allready gets up and goes..but it goes MORE now! Any other ideas on this are welcome..
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 782
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From: Sweet Home Alabama
My will do the same on occasion and I understand that it is because you are in OD at 40MPH. My will go into OD at about 45-50 and may ping when it comes to a hill but the ping goes away after I am out of OD. I blamed the 35" tires but sm surprised that you have it too. The Chip boys at motorhaven swear that a vehicle will not become addicted to higher octane fuel. I believe that since there are many chips/programmers out there that allow you to switch octane levels as you change gas with no ill effects. Search the Chip forum for 'High Octane dependency' where webmaster replied to this exact question. If you use premium already, get a chip and you will notice a increase again. Many swear that higher octane fuel with no other changes is just wasting money.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 1
From: SE PA
Mine too pings under light load, in OD at around 40. That's probably too low a speed for overdrive. An upshift makes it stop.
A light ping should not hurt anything...but it sure is annoying.
My understanding of different grade fuels is that buying premium for a vehicle "supposed" to run on regular will not offer any more performance..just a higher bill at the pump.
According to a tech I once spoke to about this told me that higher octane gasolines are made to resist detonation (pinging) and therefore are more "resistant" to burning.
One more note...during the winter additives are used that hurt economy, performance, etc. MAybe in teh Spring it will get better.
A light ping should not hurt anything...but it sure is annoying.
My understanding of different grade fuels is that buying premium for a vehicle "supposed" to run on regular will not offer any more performance..just a higher bill at the pump.
According to a tech I once spoke to about this told me that higher octane gasolines are made to resist detonation (pinging) and therefore are more "resistant" to burning.
One more note...during the winter additives are used that hurt economy, performance, etc. MAybe in teh Spring it will get better.
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: West Chester, PA
Mine does the same. I asked the dealer to check the knocking and he said the computer did not show anything abnormal. It seems like the tranny wants to upshift too soon for "real world" driving habits, like tooling around in the 25-45mph range. I'd consider getting a programmer to change the shift points, but the Ex is the family shuttle most of the time, not my daily driver. It's my towing mule when I go fishing, but then I have OD off anyway. It sounds like hell, but it's yet to be seen if there are any ill effects.
IMHO, if you're using full synthetic, you're good for closer to 5000-7000 mi. changes. You're not getting the life expectancy of synthetic if you switch it out at 3000 miles. Who recommended 3000 mile changes for dino-oil? The oil companies! Unless you drive hard, even regular oil should be fine for 5000 miles. Just my two cents...FWIW...YMMV
IMHO, if you're using full synthetic, you're good for closer to 5000-7000 mi. changes. You're not getting the life expectancy of synthetic if you switch it out at 3000 miles. Who recommended 3000 mile changes for dino-oil? The oil companies! Unless you drive hard, even regular oil should be fine for 5000 miles. Just my two cents...FWIW...YMMV
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Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 325
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
Yeah thats how mine pings. It also pings in the summer, at this one on-ramp that I use when I am pulling the boat, the OD will switch in at 40 and thus the ping. But the ping goes away if it down shifts. THis happens even with out the boat. The higher octane fuel, I swear makes a big difference in the pep of my truck. I first noticed it in my girls toyota celica, its a 95 with 170,000 on it. It needs plugs and stuff and one day the station she stopped at was out of regular so she said screw it and bought the farm. I took the car that night and asked her if she had it tuned up. I then tried the v power in my x. There was a noticable difference. The truck left the line a bit easier, not that I am on it like that. it also gets better milage and does not ping anymore. I have not tried it with the boat, it cant float on ice. But I normally drive on the high way towing it at about 70-75mph with the overdrive on with no problem. The problem only came into effect when I slowed to 40 ish or going up that one on-ramp...
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 1
From: SE PA
bananarama...I may just have to try some higher octane...I wound't mind paying more for gas if the mileage and pep were better. (mind ya..I'm not bitchin' about the way mine runs...but my other daily car is a '03 Cobra...a bit of a performance difference.)
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Elm City,N.C.
You got it Monsta. Engines cant get "hooked" on premium fuel. Unless it 'needs' the super juice because of performance mods it is just putting money in the refiners pocket. The reason the engine loses its detonation ping is because the high octane burns slower.A light ping at low speed when lugging the engine wont hurt anything but if it is constant at higher rpms then there is most likely a timing issue be it mechancal or computer.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 12,235
Likes: 753
From: Houston, Texas
Originally Posted by Monsta
I'm sorry but that is an old wives tale. 
Well, thats news to me!
I know I read it somewhere, but I just can't put my finger on it.
Don't get me wrong, but could you enlighten me a little on this?
