6.0 pinging alot

Offroadr · June 11, 2003

My 6.0 pings alot even under minor load. I have tried different brands of gas and 87 and 89 octane and it doesn't help.

How common is this?

1BADHD · June 11, 2003

Do you have any kind of programming on it? Like a Hypertech or Diablo?

remberto · June 11, 2003

mine pinged alot in wot when i installed the 93 octane setting on the HPPIII. i've since installed the Hypertech 160 deg thermo and reset to 87 octane, added the 160 deg powerstat setting (still ran 93 octane - will test 87 octane for pinging soon). gained alot of power and no pinging (also did the throttle body bypass mod).

Offroadr · June 11, 2003

Do you have any kind of programming on it? Like a Hypertech or Diablo?

I have the HPIII on the 87 octane setting but it pinged the same stock

Shaners · June 11, 2003

Do you happen to live in a larger metroploitan area that uses oxygenated fuel? I've been forced to run that crap in my vehicles before, and they (the vehicles) didn't care for it very much...

Offroadr · June 12, 2003

Shaners,

not really ,the town I buy my gas in is 15,000 people!

Mortgage Paul · June 12, 2003

get a 160 t-stat. lots on here with 8.1s have put them in, no more pings, more power/acceleration and just overall better.

I put lower t-stats in everything right from the git go. The 8.1s run around 185 with a 160 t-stat btw.

Blue Ghost · June 12, 2003

How many miles are on the vehicle?

Have you considered a top engine cleaning?

The new engines like to build up carbon from the crappy gas that is sold and the amount of oil that enters through the pvc system.

The problems with running a 160 thermostat are: fuel consumption and heavy carbon buildup over time, can also cause oil sludge build up.

BDBWTE · June 13, 2003

Yeah motors do make noise when they run. I don't care mostly untill you here a crack, pop or clunk followed by expensive sounds...

Offroadr · June 13, 2003

its got 28k on it

It probably needs the top end cleaned knowing the history of the Vortec's knock/ping issues

bcfitzsimons · June 13, 2003

My 8.1L was pinging under ANY load with 89, and all the time with 87, but only after the engine was hot-which, unless it was a computer problem, signalled carbon to me. Have you tried Seafoaming your engine? I did it twice (do it right-allow the manifold vacuum to suck it out of the bottle), and then added a bottle of Chevron's super-duper fuel system cleaner that's $8 from the local autoparts store. Get the stuff that's supposed to be added only to 10 gallons of fuel-NOT the "routine fuel system maintenance" stuff. After you do this, take it out on the highway, and run the sh*t out of it until your "low fuel" light comes on. Really force the engine to work, too-stomp on the gas at 70-75mph and make the engine work without the benefit of a tranny downshift.

I also replaced my t-stat with a 160 degree version-much better to keep the old iron-headed 8.1L cooler.

Now, no more pings. At all. But, just to be safe, I still use 89 gas.

Fitz.

duffy · June 20, 2003

http://plato-vci.ecomm.gm.com/vci/

try this site. I put in my vin# and it gave a list of recall or recalibration options. One of them gave me this.

Calibration History for :ENGINE CALIBRATION Part Number CVN Bulletin # Description

16263790 0000203F N/A engine calibration

09358662 00006B4B N/A new cal for roughness, hesitation and spark knock. should be used for complaint only as some loss of performance and fuel economy may occur

not sure what to think about loss of performance and fuel economy.

akdiesel · June 22, 2003

It sounds like a carbon build up like some of the others have mentioned.

There are a few things you can do.

Take a bottle of water. Remove your air intake to expose your carbs intake. Rev your engine up to 2000 rpms. Place your thumb over the tip of the bottle and slowly place some drops into your intake. Not to much or you could crack you heads if it gets to hot or you could also stall your engine. Just a few small drops. This is basicly hot pressure washing your lifters. You will see some white smoke out of your exhuast.

You could also use Chevron Techron fuel system cleaner every other tank or maybe every third tank.

remberto · June 23, 2003

Do you happen to live in a larger metroploitan area that uses oxygenated fuel? I've been forced to run that crap in my vehicles before, and they (the vehicles) didn't care for it very much...

Hi Shaners,

Yes, this fits my condition since I moved out from a very large metropolitan. What did you do in this situation?