Motor pinging

I have a 1992 rodeo 4x4 with a 3.1 and I cant get it to stop pinging. I have adjusted the timing with no help :confused: In nutural it idles fine and will rev up to 5000 rpm fine but when im going 25-30 mph and step on it it pings like crazy :disappoin I have racked my brain :eek7: and I cant figure it out. I put some lucas in the gas and it didn't help :uhoh: I have tried higher octane with no change in pinging :disappoin If anyone could give a hand it would be great. Thanks jkweekes

Sounds like its running too lean. Advanced timing is only one thing that can cause predetination. Carbon build-up in the combustion chamber can also cause predetination.

Ok how do I clean off the carbon in the combution chamber. Do I have to tak the heads off :confused:

Ok how do I clean off the carbon in the combustion chamber. Do I have to take the heads off :confused:

Ok how do I clean off the carbon in the combustion chamber. Do I have to take the heads off :confused:


No, but I'm a bit hesitant to tell you how since it is tricky and can cause major damage if not done right. I'm not sure if its even safe to do with newer cars but one of the best ways to get rid of carbon deposits is to spray plain water into the carb or throttle body with the engine running at a high idle. This creates a steam cleaning effect that will leave the combustion chamber squeaky clean. There may be products on the market that are specifically designed as an additive for cleaning combustion chambers, but I'm not sure. I wouldn't try it if your unsure because spraying too much water can cause a piston to hydraulic and break valves or the piston.

Anyone else out there actually done this?

I have a 1992 rodeo 4x4 with a 3.1 and I cant get it to stop pinging. I have adjusted the timing with no help :confused: In nutural it idles fine and will rev up to 5000 rpm fine but when im going 25-30 mph and step on it it pings like crazy :disappoin I have racked my brain :eek7: and I cant figure it out. I put some lucas in the gas and it didn't help :uhoh: I have tried higher octane with no change in pinging :disappoin If anyone could give a hand it would be great. Thanks jkweekes

Probably carbon deposits but.....

Do you have the right spark plugs in there?

Another thing that can cause pinging is if the EGR system isn't functioning right. If it isn't, its not getting rid of NOX and not lowering the combustion temp. and you run increased risk of detonation.

Although I haven't really heard of them being a problem on these cars, a ba knock sensor could also be the culprit.

Just throwing out some ideas. Good luck.

Try Deep Creep a product made by Sea Foam. It's O2 and cat safe.

I just talked to an Isuzu mechanic, he said there's a computer flash the can do, but all it does is retard the timing and the ping will eventually return. He said when I fuel up I should only fill to half tank and dump 2 bottles of injector cleaner into the tank and continue to do this until the pingin stops, thoughts on this?

Do NOT have them flash the timing! I had this done on a 97 Isuzu, did absolutely nothing.

Not 100% positive, but the health/type of spark plugs may have something to do with the pinging.

Try changing gas stations as well.

Can't change the plug type, the 2000 requires the type that's in it (forget the brand, Denso maybe?)
Tried different fuel, no luck.

I use chevron techron concentrate every 3k and it has kept my ping away.

try a couple tanks with techron to see if it will help you out.

Ok how do I clean off the carbon in the combustion chamber. Do I have to take the heads off :confused:

This is what I did. It's pretty much right off of the Deep Creep can.

1) Buy a can of Deep Creep.
2) Warm up your engine.
3) Turn off the engine and loosen the hose from the PCV valve (do not remove the tube yet).
4) Start the engine and remove the tube from the PCV valve ( your engine will begin to run rough, if it begins to stall place your finger over the end of the tube).
5) Spray Deep Creep into the PCV tube (this will draw the Deep Creep into the throttle body). Keep sprayin until the engine stalls or until you use about a half of the can.
6) Turn off the engine and let it sit for 5-10 minutes.
7) Start engine. After a couple of minutes there should be white smoke coming from the exhaust. This is the engine being "de-carboned".

I tried 89 octane gas and it helped....




This is what I did. It's pretty much right off of the Deep Creep can.

1) Buy a can of Deep Creep.
2) Warm up your engine.
3) Turn off the engine and loosen the hose from the PCV valve (do not remove the tube yet).
4) Start the engine and remove the tube from the PCV valve ( your engine will begin to run rough, if it begins to stall place your finger over the end of the tube).
5) Spray Deep Creep into the PCV tube (this will draw the Deep Creep into the throttle body). Keep sprayin until the engine stalls or until you use about a half of the can.
6) Turn off the engine and let it sit for 5-10 minutes.
7) Start engine. After a couple of minutes there should be white smoke coming from the exhaust. This is the engine being "de-carboned".

I had the same problem with my 98 passport. take your EGR valve off and soak the end in gumout and spray alot down into the egr pipe going to the eshaust manaflow. make sure the EGR plunger is fullt free floating it is pring loaded but make sure you can move it and not sticking closed... I did this a year ago and my truck is ping free
If you can fine a long flexable pipe cleaner to clean the egr pipe thats even better

Hey thanks for the information. I will give that a shot (when I have time) Thanks again