Engine Ping - mechanic recommended SeaFoam

Even if premium helps, its an indication of carbon buildup that only a good fuel system service can quickly help resolve.

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Not to be expected at all. An engine designed for regular derives NO benefit from a higher octane.....IF it is working properly.

In this case, the higher octane fuel has a definite purpose in trying to diagnose a "pre-ignition" detonation.

BUT......for that test to be helpful, you NEED TO USE THE HIGHEST OCTANE PREMIUM GAS that you can get.
That has been suggested several times but somehow you have translated that into "mid-grade" and that won't cut it.

Read that again.

I think you should TAKE the advice offered.....specifically.

If it ends up appearing that carbon buildup IS the problem, changing the plugs is the first thing to do.
Then giving it a healthy dose of something like MMO (Marvel Mystery Oil) in the gas and running it a bit hard might actually "fix" the problem.

Might not too. The mechanic was just making an educated guess. Without looking INSIDE the cylinders or doing a partial dis-assembly, you can't know for sure.

 

Is it ethanol free by any chance? If so it'd be interesting to see how mpg fares.

We filled up (with regular) in a small town up the coast, ended up with just about the best mpg on that tank, without trying hard. Filled up again back in town, regular again, same brand, and mpg dropping back to usual. About a 10% variation.

Grasping at straws, I'm thinking ethanol.

 

Up here I've noticed at chevron the highest octane (94) pump says ethanol free. All the others have a sticker saying "may" contain up to 10% ethanol.

What keeps rattling around in my head: it'd be a little nuts, if 10% ethanol dropped mpg by 10%.

 

There is NO logic in that statement. Why do you say that ???

And I don't remember you responding to the question: Have you put new plugs in it lately........and LOOKED at the old ones that came out ??

It does sound like you have a pre-ignition problem that might be caused by carbon deposits.
Probably the safest treatment is MMO (Marvel Mystery Oil) in the gas.

When the "pinging" gets bad enough that you can clearly hear it, there may be some long term damage happening.
Just ignoring it is probably NOT a good decision.

 

If it's carbon build-up, raising compression ratio, I don't think new injectors will help. Some sort of soak that that will dissolve carbon?

 

Get a fuel injection service done similar to BG done where they clean the injectors, throttle body, as well as put some in the tank. If there's carbon, you'll see smoke coming from the exhaust as it's burning it off. Had it done many times.

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Something similar to this:

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Here's a DIY Seafoam spray demo showing pistons before/after using a video cam to compare. You can also put a Prius in Maintenence Mode to keep the engine running when using it:

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And wasted TONS of money in the process.
Most of the smoke you see coming out the pipe is the PRODUCT burning, not the carbon.
Snake oil makes a lot of smoke when it burns.

 

Chris Fixx proved it with before/after video clips of the pistons. You don't like evidence very much apparently.

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So genuis, what's the solution?

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By the way, ignore Spade. He claims something that works well and is proven by video shots of pistons is "snake oil" yet he promotes "Marvel Mystery". Lol



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So.....now your "mechanic" has told you TWO things that don't stand up to scrutiny.
I think you need a new mechanic.

Do a google search for something like "pre-ignition ping"

Summary: A mixture of air and fuel will ignite if the temperature and pressure is high enough. That is how a diesel engine runs; there is no spark involved. Higher octane resists this compression ignition allowing the engines to be built with higher compression on purpose.
Heat is the other factor and a glowing carbon deposit can make the fuel ignite BEFORE it is supposed to, as the compression stroke progresses but before the spark hits.

I fail to see how an injector can fail in a manner that makes the fuel mixture ignite too soon.
I think your "mechanic" is a grease monkey........at best.

 

Lol. Give it up "Mystery Marvel" dude.

At least there is video evidence Seafoam works, you're just too lazy to watch it.

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What's the solution for WHAT exactly ??

A little carbon in the combustion chamber is perfectly normal and hurts nothing.
Doing ANYTHING to try and "treat" a problem that doesn't exist is foolish.

And just to be clear, I don't advocate putting ANYTHING in your fuel or oil routinely.......except for a dose of carb/injector cleaner a couple of times a year.

 

More proof.

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And you are purposely trying to start a fight and I'm not taking the bait.

I suppose that you think "magic" is real too.