I've heard lots of engines pinging in my life. With some retarding the ignition helps when using lower octane fuel, with some you have to retard so much the engine loses top end. I read we can retard the ignition with our cars to use what is branded "regular" here in the US. Has anyone heard our V12 pinging? I tried with regular and couldn't hear any ping. My engine has 12.5:1 compression ratio. I also just verified my timing is correct, not retarded, and the distributor itself is in good order.

 

Please for the love of god do not use regular. I run 94 octane and often toss in a 4 liter of toulene or 15ml of Archoil fuel treatment to enrich the fuel. The engine requests and requires in the name of her Brittanic Majesty that you run the best possible fuel at all times or you will regret it.

The retard function is a matter of switching plugs but I am not telling you how because its awful to do so.

 

Run premium. It cost cents per fill up... just a few more cents.

 

Being a 1986, AND a manual trans conversion, the ECU has been "fiddled" for the manual requirements.

A 12.5 with manual would be hard to get to ping, unless you be "silly" of course.

High end rev range "ping" is the danger, and is rarely heard, as other things, like watching where you are going, and concentrated on driving, take most of the processing.

Low Octane fuel is foolish, and I removed a V12 from an owner here until he saw the light. NO WAY was he going to screw one of my engines for a few $$ per tank, its not a Hyundai.

As long as the mechanical advance inside the distributor, and the vac capsule, are operating as designed, AND, the "full load" fuel switches, there are 2, are working, you are good to go.

 

OK, that's the end of this idea. Thanks everyone.

 

I experienced what I believe was pinging on a single filling in UK a few weeks ago. It happened at light throttle at appr. 60 MPH and was easily cancelled by a little more throttle.