Ticking/Pinging Under Load

fhadso · Post by **fhadso** » Sat Sep 14, 2013 1:55 pm

Somewhat randomly, I hear a ticking/pinging coming from my engine. It only happens when I'm in gear, (although it has done it once out of gear), and only when I place a load on the engine. It is especially pronounced when I run the A/C.

I'm changed the plugs, wires, and the oil, and it's still doing it. I've read about stuck lifters, a bad rod, and the oil pump. Just wondering if anyone would have the slightest idea.

It's almost the same sound as when you don't give it enough gas and the RPMs drop below 500RPM. It's not all the time, it's just under load, so I don't think it's a bad rod bearing or anything.

NickKo · Post by **NickKo** » Sat Sep 14, 2013 3:24 pm

1 ). What octane do you run ? I bet it's 87.
Try bumping up to 89 or 90-91, and see if it goes away.

2 ). It sounds like your engine can benefit from a Seafoam treatment, applied through the intake.

There should be several older threads about Seafoam and how to use it - Good stuff !!

- Nick

fhadso · Post by **fhadso** » Sat Sep 14, 2013 5:32 pm

I use 87, and I just recently seafoamed it. It's also throwing a misfire on cylinder 1. I cleared the code and its still missing really bad. It also backfired when I took it to the car wash.

NickKo · Post by **NickKo** » Sat Sep 14, 2013 5:55 pm

fhadso wrote:It's also throwing a misfire on cylinder 1. I cleared the code and its still missing really bad. It also backfired when I took it to the car wash.

If it's misfiring.... It's like having a dead cylinder, or half a cylinder, which will cause the others to work harder.
That could explain the knocking.

Did you change your sparkplugs after doing the seafoam treatment ??
If not, go ahead and change them. The crud and carbon loosened up after using Seafoam in the intake, could foul up the plugs - and they will not 'self-clean'.

I bet a fresh change of spark plugs might solve your problem.

- Nick

fhadso · Post by **fhadso** » Sat Sep 14, 2013 11:00 pm

This is the order of the stuff I did.

Seafoam
Spark plugs
Oil change
Wires

Could it be a lifter?

Post by **occasional demons** » Sun Sep 15, 2013 9:14 am

Check to see if the knock sensor is still connected. It is in the front of the engine, under the IM, about in the middle.

If you bought parts store brand wires, that may also be your issue. Being it got worse with a little moisture from the car wash, I'd bet it is a plug wire issue.

fhadso · Post by **fhadso** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 1:33 pm

Another forum suggested the #1 fuel injector, so I replaced it. At first it didn't do any good, but over a few hours of driving it got a little better, but it's still missing according to the ECU, and it's still knocking/pinging every once in a while.