engine pinging: anyone else have this

No. I'm interested in what the noise sounds like.

 

I'm not hearing any pinging. I'll assume your oil level remains full (constant). Is it possible that the noise you hear is hot engine metal contracting? I'm just grasping for an idea.

 

I'd say you were exceptionally unlucky as nobody else has had this problem. Even your dealer can't find a problem. Perhaps there could be some contamination in your fuel?

 

Maybe run the tank down to almost empty, and try something like shell premium gas and see what happens. Our cars don't require it but hell who knows.

Could you videotape the noise? And i would make a couple trips to the dealers that way if it gets worse and it's out of warranty you have a paper trail showing you tried to get it fixed under warranty so they should still fix it for free.

 

You might try an fuel additive to see if that makes any difference. If not, it probably is not pre-ignition problem

 

You know what...I'm at nearly 8000 miles and have recently heard what I thought was a pinging at very low speed (say, 20mph) with windows open. So rest assured that you're not alone...it's not consistent and I haven't noticed it since first discovering. I'll have to keep an ear on the situation as the mercury rises.

 

There is no advance "mechanism". It's all in the computer.

There's also a knock sensor which will tell the computer adjust the timing if the beginnings of true ping are detected (if you have bad gas). You won't hear it.

Look for something else that sounds like old-fashioned knock/ping, but don't waste your time with gas grades or additives.

There is an issue with rattly brake calipers.

 

I have pinging as well and am at 65000 miles. I just tried 89 octane (87 is what I usually use) and the pinging is gone. Not sure what to do next. I'm sure the timing is not adjustable on these, right?

Any thoughts?

 

Have you pulled any codes?

Tom

 

If your arching easiest cheapest fix is the spark plugs. Change all or the problematic ones.

 

I don't think there is any way to adjust the timing like we did on older vehicles. Timing and fuel mixture are adjusted by software and should prevent pre-ignition. You can check the timing with a ScanGauge by selecting IGN as one of the displayed items. If you decide to do that let us know and we can check the timing on our cars and give you a range. As I recall it runs a few degrees ATDC when cold and first started and goes to 30 degrees or so BTDC when warm and under full throttle.

I usually use 85 octane fuel at higher altitudes (3500 feet and up) when I can get it. On occasion I have still been running 85 octane when I returned to 1000 feet or less and have never heard pinging or noticed any difference in performance.

I tend to think you are hearing something else that sounds like pinging, but I can't think of what it might be. You may just have to ignore it and see if it gets worse.

 

Sounds like carbon, since it is an infernal combustion engine. Especially if you try higher octane and it goes away. Or the knock sensor is not working right, but I bet it is carbon. I know that sounds too simple.

 

I've had pinging on other cars I've owned due to carbon build up in the combustion chambers. I've used Seafoam to clean out the carbon. Here's a link

How To Seafoam Your Car - LS1TECH\

Just a word of warning, when you do this you will definitely FOG up the entire neighborhood. I only did part 3, the top end cleaning to fix my pinging problem in the past.

Also, do this at your own risk. I was always worried about getting a hydraulic lock and ruining my engine, but that never happened. GM also has a top end cleaner and I'm guessing Toyota may also. I've also used the GM product and poured it right down the spark plug holes (with the plugs out of course), let it soak, then cranked over the engine with the plugs still out and a towell over the engine to catch the crap. Then put the plugs back in and fire it up.

And googling Toyota top end cleaner, I found this:
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=349844

And one more thing, I always changed my engine oil after a top end clean.

 

I've noticed that this car is fairly sensitive to carbon deposits.

After about 5k, I noticed that I was no longer getting the mileage that I did when it was new. After adding a full bottle of Gumout Regane HM, for about 2k after, I was getting a few % more than what I was getting when new. The engine also felt less laborious and more responsive. At this moment, I am running my second bottle of Regane HM through because it has been 3500 miles since the last treatment and I had noticed a slight decline again in fuel economy. Sure enough, I'm 1/2 way through my current tank of fuel/Regane mix, and my MPG is back up to normal and the engine is running far smoother.

 

Like glennhl, i've used Seafoam in the past when I felt carbon buildup was excessive. He is not kidding about smoking up the neighborhood. I suggest doing this late at night so less people see your Prius acting like an insect fogger!

 

Any chance of injecting it while being closely followed by a diesel pickup truck?

Tom

 

I'd love to find the home of one of those guys and hook my tailpipe to a tube that spews my smoky exhaust into their bedroom while they sleep. Then when they wake up i'll tell them that scientists and doctors are full of shit. Exhaust smoke can't hurt you!

 

I use 98 octane which I know is not the same as the US octane ratings. It has cleaners which keep the engine genuinely clean of deposits. I also ran it on my '91 camry. After 100,000kms I removed the after market Iridium plugs and they almost looked new. I don't know if you have similar fuels in US but I would use them if there are.