Engine Ping on 91 Octane

FricFrac

I know on my car if I don't get into the throttle enough starting off from a light sounds like a diesel engine but it seems normal from the people I've talked to and I think its a function of the VVEL system. Sounds more like the valve train than pinging.....

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ChrisSlicks

I wonder if the engine is actually tuned for 93 octane and it is having to retard the timing slightly for 91 octane? Would explain the noise, but I would expect to be hearing more complaints from the West Coast.

JSBZ

I will get pinging at moderate load if the engine oil is running high >210.
91 octane is the highest available here in CO without going to race gas.

Jamesb1

I jut got my 2013 370z about 3 months ago. I've had the same pinging problem since day one. It does it after the car gets really hot and mostly on first gear. If I ease up on the gas pedal just a tiny bit it will stop doing it then I can accelerate without the ping. Once I'm in second gear it stops. The highest octane available in Las Vegas is 91. I've been using NOS octane booster for a while but It doesn't make any difference. When the car gets hot, the engine pings. I'm going to stop using NOS because I've read mixed reports about it. I'm going to take the car to the dealer in the next week or so. I will post my findings as soon as I get the car back from the shop. Other than that, THIS CAR ROCKS!

SS_Firehawk

There was a 93 station off Charleston and I-15. It was the only one I found. I would check to see if they still sell it there. It's the same side as Carls Jr.

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Jamesb1

Thanks for the info SS. I've been looking everywhere for better gas. I wish I had read this a few hours ago. I just came from The Strip and Charleston. Next time I'm down there I will check it out.

Nailzs

There's a service bulletin for the 2013 Z. I was getting a code from Torque Pro so when I took my Z in to the dealer for an oil change the service guy checked it out and reprogrammed the ECU. I don't know if that would have anything to do with a ping problem but the reprogram is free.

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L33T Z34

FireHawk and JamesB
Do the 76 gas stations/Rebel oil still sell 100 octane unleaded @ the pump @ certain stations?
Rebel Oil -search for "Racing" fuel.
I miss being able to drive to a gas station and put the good stuff in!

1slow370

back when i lived in WI i knew several stations that sold turbo blue 110

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SS_Firehawk

not entirely sure. Haven't been home in almost a year. Most don't though. There tend to be more options the closer you get to the raceway.

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bvl

Modern ECU's are quite smart: a lot of computational power is in all of them. There are a few different systems in place to detect knock and any events should be logged and stored so that you have a trail when pulling info off of the ECU.

If the techs pull this info and find little to know knock events in the counters, or if clear them and run the car (could attach to OBD and see any events in real time), this would likely show that no pre-ignition events are occurring. That's a good thing.

Knock can be pretty hard to hear at RPM: lots and lots of noise going on. This is why you must rely on sensor output to see how things are going under the proverbial hood.

I spent a lot of time looking at log outputs with my old car and its very primitive aftermarket ECU, and knock curves stood out like a sore thumb. I ran a winter map to compensate (thank you crappy blends on the east coast). I should not complain I suppose since West Coast gets cat piss for fuel. Their 91 octane...ick. AZ/CA/CO all those states are fuel challenged for high performance.

- b

Jamesb1

No more pinging. To make a long story short, the nissan dealer changed the oil and also did an update to my ECU. Don't know what the update to the car computer was but it does run better and I hardly ever hear the ping anymore. Right now it's hotter than hell in Vegas and the car runs nice even on the hottest day. Also, I've searched all over town and every gas station here only has 91 octane.

Jamesb1

One Update, I was having oil temp problems. I had a Stillen 19 row street oil cooler installed by the Nissan dealer. The car runs like a completely different car. Full power all the time. Doesn't go into limp mode anymore. The exhaust note sounds great when fully hot but not in limp mode. I recommend every 350-370 owner get at least the 19 row street oil cooler. It won't void your warranty if the dealer installs it and your engine will love you for it. No need for the 24 row racing model if you're not racing.

Jamesb1

I finally figured out that some Rebel gas stations (not all of them) in Las Vegas DO sell 100 octane race fuel. As of 10/01/14 the price is 7.99 a gallon but it's worth it. The car runs really nice... I MEAN REALLY NICE!. I've been using straight 100 octane for about a month and I love it.

Bartholomue

From my experience i got the same problem. I used shell 91 octane and my z started to ping in very low rpm usually while taking speed bumps in second gear close to 700-600 rpms and a loud ping went starting the car in the morning. I change to Puma 93 octane the only gasoline available with 93 octane and the ping was gone. No ping in speed bumps or cold start ups. I thing the z is tune for 93. I prefer shell better than puma here in Puerto Rico but shells doesn't have 93 oct.