535i Pinging at around 3000 rpm's EAT chip

[Deke NorCal]

Hello guys, I have a 1990 535i and I keep noticing it pings a little bit even on 91 octane. Notice it going down the highway and accelerating under load at about 3k RPM's.. The motor has around 150k on it but runs very good otherwise. What are some things I can do to start tackling this? (Have checked for intake leaks, injector cleaner additive changed air/fuel filters) I've noticed the pinging is definately worse on Chevron gasoline whats the deal ..

Thanks in advance,

Deke

[Martin in Bellevue]

Loan the car to Jeffro for the eyetalian tuneup.

Buy some ventil sauber to break up the carbon in combustion chambers.

change the oil after tank with ventil sauber.

[Warren N.CA]

it will ping very badly. But after the IT, no more pinging for several weeks.

To do a good IT, wind over 6K in each gear at full throttle while accelerating to freeway speeds (at least!). Then cruise on the freeway in 3rd gear at 5.5 to 6K for about 1.5 minutes. If it still pings after that, repeat the process for a longer period, at a higher RPM.

After my IT, no more pinging at all, until time for another in a few weeks.

This blows carbon deposits out of the cylinder head, getting the compression ratio back down to normal.

Loan the car to Jeffro for the eyetalian tuneup.

Buy some ventil sauber to break up the carbon in combustion chambers.

change the oil after tank with ventil sauber.

[Deke NorCal]

Thank you very much Warren, I rarely get over 5k RPM's because of the damn auto tranny so I will definately take this advantage to drop it in Sport mode and let it rip hopefully blow that **** out

To do a good IT, wind over 6K in each gear at full throttle while accelerating to freeway speeds (at least!). Then cruise on the freeway in 3rd gear at 5.5 to 6K for about 1.5 minutes. If it still pings after that, repeat the process for a longer period, at a higher RPM.

After my IT, no more pinging at all, until time for another in a few weeks.

This blows carbon deposits out of the cylinder head, getting the compression ratio back down to normal.

[Warren N.CA]

Why I ping is because I don't wind over 5K ENOUGH (Trying to stay out of jail!).

Thank you very much Warren, I rarely get over 5k RPM's because of the damn auto tranny so I will definately take this advantage to drop it in Sport mode and let it rip hopefully blow that **** out

[MarkD]

Thank you very much Warren, I rarely get over 5k RPM's because of the damn auto tranny so I will definately take this advantage to drop it in Sport mode and let it rip hopefully blow that **** out

The pinging can be due to various problems, such as:

- lean mixture caused by unmetered air leaks
- carbon deposits, as mentioned by others
- oil getting into combustion chamber.
- winter gas used in CA. Did the problem start in December? I think they switched to a different formulation (for winter) then. Other people even without chips had mentioned pinging that started in December.

Mark

[jeffro]

Loan the car to Jeffro for the eyetalian tuneup.

Buy some ventil sauber to break up the carbon in combustion chambers.

change the oil after tank with ventil sauber.

Funny, I don't have any pinging problems. When the head was off, I noticed next to no carbon buildup. Hmm maybe I'm on to something.
And yes, my answer to the smooth idle problem is a prolonged 240kmph blast.

[Jeff N.]

Funny, I don't have any pinging problems. When the head was off, I noticed next to no carbon buildup. Hmm maybe I'm on to something.
And yes, my answer to the smooth idle problem is a prolonged 240kmph blast.

Yeah. What he said.

[TheGeak]

turn up the radio?

[eric5150]

Also check plugs/distributor/wires and make sure they are all up to the task...

Eric