Pinging Stopped - 2 possible reasons, which one??
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 880
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From: California
Pinging Stopped - 2 possible reasons, which one??
For the past few thousand miles my bike has pinged (bike now has 7500 miles). It's pinged regardless of ambient or engine temp (cold, warm, hot, didn't matter). I even tried a tank of StreetBlaze 100 octane, but it still pinged with that...
Fast forward to last night... I bought a new air filter (stock/OEM) and installed it. At the same time, I also poured in a few splashes of Lucas Octane Booster into a 1/4 tank of gas (just used a little of the booster). Back to the air filter...when I took off the old one, I could see that the gasket for the A/F was torn at all 3 bolts. So I'm wondering if those tears could of been allowing the motor to run lean and therefor ping. But in looking at the gasket and A/F assembly, I don't see how air could enter the motor throught the bold holes. The circular part of the gasket that goes around the A/F intake hole itself was in good condition though...
Well on my way to work this morning, I experienced absolutely no discernable ping at all. That's the first time in months that that's happened. So I'm wondering if it was the gasket causing all the ruckus or the octane boost...
I have my doubts about both... First, as I said, only the part of the gasket that surrounds the bolts was torn, and I don't see how air would enter the motor though the bolt holes... Secondly, I've run 100 octane before and it didnt' do anything. So I'm not sure if it was the octane boost either.
Thoughts?
Fast forward to last night... I bought a new air filter (stock/OEM) and installed it. At the same time, I also poured in a few splashes of Lucas Octane Booster into a 1/4 tank of gas (just used a little of the booster). Back to the air filter...when I took off the old one, I could see that the gasket for the A/F was torn at all 3 bolts. So I'm wondering if those tears could of been allowing the motor to run lean and therefor ping. But in looking at the gasket and A/F assembly, I don't see how air could enter the motor throught the bold holes. The circular part of the gasket that goes around the A/F intake hole itself was in good condition though...
Well on my way to work this morning, I experienced absolutely no discernable ping at all. That's the first time in months that that's happened. So I'm wondering if it was the gasket causing all the ruckus or the octane boost...
I have my doubts about both... First, as I said, only the part of the gasket that surrounds the bolts was torn, and I don't see how air would enter the motor though the bolt holes... Secondly, I've run 100 octane before and it didnt' do anything. So I'm not sure if it was the octane boost either.
Thoughts?
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 757
Likes: 1
From: Ontario, Canada
Pinging can cause major internal piston damage. I would not have ridden 7500 miles without addressing the issue. Has the dealer checked it out during that time?
Lean mixture should not cause ping. Increased compression (or too much advance in the spark timing) together with inadequate octane for that level of compression will cause ping.
I'd top up the tank with normal premium gas and ride 50 miles and see if the ping is really gone. Your bike should ride ping free with premium pump gas and no additives.
All of the above is based on the assumption that your engine is stock.
Lean mixture should not cause ping. Increased compression (or too much advance in the spark timing) together with inadequate octane for that level of compression will cause ping.
I'd top up the tank with normal premium gas and ride 50 miles and see if the ping is really gone. Your bike should ride ping free with premium pump gas and no additives.
All of the above is based on the assumption that your engine is stock.
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 880
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From: California
cmhfguy, I understand what you're saying, but one of these 2 things has absolutely affected the pinging... Just wondering if anyone has an idea which one. Also, it hasn't pinged for 7500 miles; that's how many total miles the bike has. And a lean condition absolutely can cause pinging. Lean = hotter engine temp = pre-ignition.
Banned
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,719
Likes: 1
I'd have to agree with cmhfguy on the causes of ping. Gotta add that I also agree with engine temps bein a possibility. Did you possibly use a different gas station? I know of some that have been convicted of putting low grade fuel in the premium tanks... just sayin.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 757
Likes: 1
From: Ontario, Canada
Excellent point. Quality of gas. Do you always buy gas at the same place? Always the same brand? I only buy name brand gas at stations that are fairly busy so the gas is always fresh and of good quality. Some of the lesser name brands have been known to sell some pretty poor quality stuff.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
It will be pretty easy to tell which change cleared it up. Pretty soon you'll have to fill up with gas. When you do, if it still pings, it was the gas you were running with that 1/4 tank. If it does not ping, I suppose it was the air filter. (Assuming something else hasn't changed.)
That said, I agree with the above, if you are running a stock engine with 91 octane gas it shouldn't ping in the first place.
That said, I agree with the above, if you are running a stock engine with 91 octane gas it shouldn't ping in the first place.
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