New X3 Lidio Tune, Engine ping/knock

[vtwoodsman]

Just installed a new Lidio Tune (93 octane) and I'm impressed with the updated shift patterns, which is a significant improvement over stock.

However I'm hearing a mild ping/knock during moderate acceleration.
I'm wondering if the Lidio tune was initially setup with 93 octane, non-ethanol fuel....and maybe the 93 octane ethanol fuel requires an updated tune ????

[Zack]

Sounds like your engine is carboned up.
Lidio's tunes are plenty safe

....or the tank of gas you have is not good

[vtwoodsman]

Zack, thanks for the input. I've had this car for a year with the stock tune and never experienced any ping/knock. I installed the Lidio tune just before driving to and from the Carlisle car show in PA, used several tanks of gas from various brands, in different states, and the ping/knock occurs at mild acceleration regardless. That's why I'm wondering if Ethanol gas is the culprit versus non ethanol gas. As for carbon build up....not sure how that can occur with unleaded gas and stock tune ? My ignorance is in play here.
Lidio has a great tune reputation and that's why I picked his tune 93 & 91 octane.
Once this tank of fuel is done I'm switching to 93 gas without ethanol and see what happens. I may just switch to the 91 octane tune as an experiment as well.

[MrBluGruv]

I'm totally clueless here, so forgive me if this sounds stupid but I'd like to try to understand better:

Wouldn't the E85 make it more resistant to ping?

[Zack]

I'm totally clueless here, so forgive me if this sounds stupid but I'd like to try to understand better:

Wouldn't the E85 make it more resistant to ping?

No because Ethanol burns at a different Stoichiometric ratio (9.0:1) vs. Gas (14.7:1)

Id suspect the pistons are carboned up.....
Lemme guess? It pings in 4th with a locked converter, right?

[MrBluGruv]

No because Ethanol burns at a different Stoichiometric ratio (9.0:1) vs. Gas (14.7:1)


Looks like I've got me some reading to do...

Oh well, better for me to actually learn it. :)

[FordNut]

Id suspect the pistons are carboned up.....

Probably a good estimate. Wifey's car developed a light pinging after putting around 60k miles on it using 87 octane (cheapest stations we could find). It would lightly ping just coming off idle. Had it de-carboned at Team Ford, they used BG products. Cleared it up, we switched to 93 octane and haven't had any more problems after another 80k or so.

[J-MAN]

Might be a good idea to give Lidio a call and get his opinion.;)

[Glenn]

NOT gonna - no not! http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/image.php?u=10524&type=sigpic&dateline=1271116131



Glenn

[vtwoodsman]

Yeah I'll call Lidio and see what he thinks.

Zach, I usually hear the slight ping/knock with light to moderate throttle acceleration in 2-3 or 3-4 shifts. I can't hear it with hard acceleration, but that may be due to the CAI intake and engine noise.
GM makes a good top end cleaner as well for carbon.
Thanks for everyone's ideas.

[vtwoodsman]

As for the 10 percent ethanol mixture in the gasoline.....I see it as a means of diluting the unleaded fuel and still charging mega bucks per gallon.

[4play]

I find with that ethanol mixture gas, even tho I get 90 octane for the price of regular gas the car seems to burn it alot faster and I get close to 50 miles less per tank. atleast.

[fordfrk347]

Switch to the 91 tune and see what happens. I run zack's tune currently for 93 but only run 91 and I get no pinging. Thats with 10% ethanol and without.

[Ktorres1]

I run lidio's 93 oct tune with 1+ global spark and I have no such issues.

[03mmmonroe]

Sounds like your engine is carboned up.
Lidio's tunes are plenty safe

....or the tank of gas you have is not good


I would also say it is carbon. My car acted the same way after a new tune and inspection found carbon. Cleaned and now no sounds and running great.

[Ktorres1]

Seafoam time perhaps?! I've never tried this myself but will look into it as my car just turned 70,000 but seems to be running smooth and strong!