2006 Corolla xli engine pinging

[beach gold]

My corolla was purchased brand new in August 2006, made in Brazil. I did everything that was recommended re the early engine break in period, during which time I had no problems at all. It was religiously serviced every 3 months. Now for the last 3 or 4 months I notice a slight pinging sound, which I think has been going on for an even longer time, but with the radio or cd playing all the time was hardly noticeable..

Has anyone else experienced this and has an idea of the cause?

Thanks for your help.. [The last service was in October, during which the spark plugs were changed, but that didn't help]

[mikered30]

What octane do you use and what does it require? What plugs did you put in?

[beach gold]

Originally Posted by mikered30

What octane do you use and what does it require? What plugs did you put in?

Well Mike, I can't give you an exact answer. Here in the Bahamas we get gasoline from a number of service stations, namely, Shell, Texaco, Esso and they mostly carry unleaded gasoline. I always fill up from Texaco which is said to have the best..

I purchased my car from the local Toyota dealer and its under a 3-year warranty, which ends August 14, 2009.

I always religously take it in for service/maintenance every 3 months. The dealer is a large and reputable company and I would think they use the correct kind of spark plugs for the vehicle.

I would also think that the unleaded gasoline from Texaco would be the proper gas for this vehicle. One thing though, a very good mechanic who is a friend of mine, said even HIS car pings and he believes that the gasoline we have here is not full strength ..

Can gasoline dealers dilute the gasoline!?

I am due to take the car in for service mid January, 2009. Will enquire re the proper octane, etc, to see whats causing the pinging.

Thanks very much for your help..

[mikered30]

I am just curious and unrelated to your question, since your car is made in Brazil but shipped to the Bahamas, what does the manual say about ethanol content in gasoline? I know in the states we are not allowed to use over 10% ethanol.

[beach gold]

Originally Posted by mikered30

I am just curious and unrelated to your question, since your car is made in Brazil but shipped to the Bahamas, what does the manual say about ethanol content in gasoline? I know in the states we are not allowed to use over 10% ethanol.

Again, I don't know the ethanol content of the gasoline here (personally, I did not think there is ethnaol in the gasoline - I think our gasoline is from Venezuela ... does that mean it has no ethanol?)

Checking the specs at the back of the owners manual, all it says is the following:

Fuel type, gasoline engine: Unleaded gasoline Research Octane Number 91 or higher.

Rgds, beach gold

[mikered30]

Originally Posted by beach gold

Again, I don't know the ethanol content of the gasoline here (personally, I did not think there is ethnaol in the gasoline - I think our gasoline is from Venezuela ... does that mean it has no ethanol?)

Checking the specs at the back of the owners manual, all it says is the following:

Fuel type, gasoline engine: Unleaded gasoline Research Octane Number 91 or higher.

Rgds, beach gold

Ok, thanks, that is what the corolla requires too, 91 RON=87 pump octane.

[beach gold]

Originally Posted by mikered30

Ok, thanks, that is what the corolla requires too, 91 RON=87 pump octane.

Mike, I think I found out the problem just a while ago. I phoned the service manager at the dealer and he said its a problem with our gasoline here. The octane is not high enough, and he's been tying to import some octane booster -- he says if I can find any locally, it could solve the problem..

I don't know of any but I'll have to check around. Do you know of any reliable octane booster?
Rgds,
beach gold

[mikered30]

Originally Posted by beach gold

Mike, I think I found out the problem just a while ago. I phoned the service manager at the dealer and he said its a problem with our gasoline here. The octane is not high enough, and he's been tying to import some octane booster -- he says if I can find any locally, it could solve the problem..

I don't know of any but I'll have to check around. Do you know of any reliable octane booster?
Rgds,
beach gold

Most octane boosters only raise your octane by POINTS per bottle, that is, 87 to 87.8, not 87 to 95. Be careful what you buy.

Believe it or not, a really good octane booster is ethanol.

Can you just use a higher octane rating, say 91 pump octane, not RON 91. Say premium gas for example.