NEW 2009 Euro Luxury Auto Pinging

[cathay]

Hi All

I m from Singapore. Recently noticed a low rattling noise coming from e front right part of e engine bay. Noise is just noticeable when acc from a low cruising speed. Wasn't there at first or maybe I blast e audio most of e time. Not always but occasionally. Now after reading all these pages I tens to agree with e school tat lives n let live with tis problem. Just hope it doesn't get louder as e day passes.

[Fredoops]

Thanks guys.........I haven't checked this forum for a few months. Then stumbled upon a post -I think by Irving.??

Yes, I am one of the MANY luckless CU2 Lux owners with a pinging power plant @2000-3,500 rpm's.

Yes, I complained to
Yes, I had 3 "patch fixes"
Yes,I complained to the dealer (numerous times and threatened legal action)
Yes, I complained to Fair Trading

I always use to use Caltex Vortex 98 ROM.

But, I read some ones post here about Ultima.......ran the tank down to 15 kms.

Then filled the tank with Ultima

BINGO

Loads more power..... 7.1l /100kms(country) and LITTLE or no fkcukn PINGING.

I really gave it a good boot up Mt Ousley yesterday for the true test in S-mode and she lapped it up.

So its Ultima for me from now on. God knows whats in it ??/ I thought all petrol came out of the same Cat Cracker and we were just marketed different brands.

I still have a bitter taste in my mouth over the contempt from HA to me as a customer.
I have made damn sure lots of people know about how shite they are.

Don't get me wrong though -I love the car.
Just hate Honda Australia-who treat the customer as first class CHUMPS.
"What you sow.....you shall reap " !!

BUT- as they say in the Thai massage shops :

I got Happy Ending

That meant there's something up with the ping sensor....

[Irving]

That meant there's something up with the ping sensor....

Nope.... The Knock Sensor is basically a microphone which was replaced by with a more sensitive one during the ping fix.

It's true that BP Ultimate is possibly a cure for this issue. Kowever, I used to get the odd tank that pinged.

I am now using SUPERMARKET BRAND 95 RON mostly without PCS. Most tanks are great! there is absolutely no PCS. Now and then I get a tank which gives me slight PCS (not enough to worry about).

So, now I get get my fuel from Tesco and rack up club card points to boot....
Hwy economy is 7.1 ltr/100Kms and city is 8 lts/100kms.

I can't comment on the details of the additives of these fuels or their long term effects on the engine. However, I try to run the car on Tesco fuel for 5000miles then 1 tank of BP Ultimate 98, then back to Tesco 95. This seems to work fine in my car.

[89superstage]

I reckon its the fuel quality that causes this. Had a similar experience to Irving, switched brands and the PCS reduced or stopped completely.
I too use Supermarket 95' fuel here in NZ, and give it the occasional 'treat' with 98, BP or Mobil, car's running just fine. economy's like Irving's above.

[Fredoops]

Nope.... The Knock Sensor is basically a microphone which was replaced by with a more sensitive one during the ping fix.

It's true that BP Ultimate is possibly a cure for this issue. Kowever, I used to get the odd tank that pinged.

I am now using SUPERMARKET BRAND 95 RON mostly without PCS. Most tanks are great! there is absolutely no PCS. Now and then I get a tank which gives me slight PCS (not enough to worry about).

So, now I get get my fuel from Tesco and rack up club card points to boot....
Hwy economy is 7.1 ltr/100Kms and city is 8 lts/100kms.

I can't comment on the details of the additives of these fuels or their long term effects on the engine. However, I try to run the car on Tesco fuel for 5000miles then 1 tank of BP Ultimate 98, then back to Tesco 95. This seems to work fine in my car.

Is yours a k20 or k24 tho?

I'm hesitant to say it's fuel quality problem since the yanks some times use 93ron in the TSX without the same issues.

[Irving]

^ k24

[BigBen]

I've got a 2012 completely stock with less than 1000km at the clock and it does ping at high loads with the aircon on and its noticeable at about 5k-6k rpm range. Notice it more when I drop from 4th to 3th on the auto box.

What oil is filled in these engine from the factory? That is what is the viscosity?

Could the pinging be caused by blowby from prolong idling in stop go traffic with the aircon on.

The main difference I notice is that the 2012 TSX runs a 0w-20 oil as a factory fill and the Aussies one run 5w-30 or even a 10w-40?

I personally doubt that the viscosity will cause the pinging but blowby from the PCV might?

Any ideas?

[aaronng]

Is yours a k20 or k24 tho?

I'm hesitant to say it's fuel quality problem since the yanks some times use 93ron in the TSX without the same issues.

Yanks don't use RON. They use a different system (PON)

Their 87 octane is equal to our 91 RON, 89 octane is 95 RON and 91 octane is 98 RON.

Their 93 octane is equivalent to our 100 RON, which you rarely find anymore without ethanol.

[SPQR]

The main difference I notice is that the 2012 TSX runs a 0w-20 oil as a factory fill and the Aussies one run 5w-30 or even a 10w-40?.....Any ideas?

It's colder in North America than Australia. That might explain the oil viscosity difference.

[Fredoops]

It's colder in North America than Australia. That might explain the oil viscosity difference.

Nope, it's about reported fuel consumption, 0w-20 gives better fuel economy than 5w-30

Also... Australian market is different from the states. They don't have to give us all the good stuff.

[aaronng]

Using 0w-20 is a dodgy way for Acura to achieve lower fuel economy figures. Most people over there do 3 year leases anyway, so even if the engine is fked up by the oil, it doesn't worry them since they will be getting a new car.

[BigBen]

Just an update, car still pings, Honda service people say its normal. They better give me a new engine if I put a nice hole in one or more piston that all I can say.