(Not) pinging?

DjEep · Post by **DjEep** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:35 pm

'79, FI:

Makes a pinging type noise (like very intermittent, loud un-pumped hydro-valve clatter) higher in gear (all gears) when cold. Goes away when warm (5-10 minute drive). I was under the impression that pinging would be more likely when hot. Bunk lifter? Pinging? Rat skulls in the fan? I though maybe loose alt belt slappin' the tin, but I didn't see evidence of that.

vwlover77 · Post by **vwlover77** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:51 pm

Piston slap? (I'm guessing - not really sure it fits your description.)

Post by **Amskeptic** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 11:47 pm

DjEep wrote:'79, FI:

Makes a pinging type noise (like very intermittent, loud un-pumped hydro-valve clatter) higher in gear (all gears) when cold. Goes away when warm (5-10 minute drive). I was under the impression that pinging would be more likely when hot. Bunk lifter? Pinging? Rat skulls in the fan? I though maybe loose alt belt slappin' the tin, but I didn't see evidence of that.

My engine does that too now, in its maturity. Clattery like a sloppy loose valve or six, under cold load only, for no more than two or three minutes after the first start of the day. I have no idea what it is, but I am suspecting something awful.

DjEep · Post by **DjEep** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:59 pm

me too. I gotta sell this thing too...

Hydro valve sticking in the thick oil.?

vdubyah73 · Post by **vdubyah73** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 4:23 pm

I have heard piston slap up close and personal, .......she got piston slapped me.

I'd be inclined to think piston slap in cold weather. Especially since it goes away fairly quickly. But I'm not there listening to it.

DjEep · Post by **DjEep** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 4:59 pm

Piston slap sounds likely.

Just take it easy 'til he warms up?

Elwood · Post by **Elwood** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:30 pm

Is the sky falling with "Pinging" ? I have always thought of it as - poor, low grade fuel or bad timing in any car I have drivin. Whats up with that?

Post by **Amskeptic** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:05 pm

DjEep wrote:Piston slap sounds likely.

Just take it easy 'til he warms up?

Piston slap is a nice sound, a mellow soft sound like a well-heeled Mercedes Diesel. It is very consistent. Engine cold. . . piston slap. Engine warm, no piston slap. The cold clackityclattery under load that goes away is meaner sharper more intermittant, and my engine has told me over the past 60,000 miles, to just not worry about it. But it's got to be sumfin offal.
Colin

DjEep · Post by **DjEep** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 11:42 am

So, I've got a friend who is very interested in the bus, but a bit scared of the sound. Says he's got $1800 for me if he can be convinced that sound is nothing too horrible, or if it goes away. I told him I was gonna try an oil change, sine it's got 10-30 and some marvel's in there now, so it's pretty thin. I'm gonna try some 20-50, see if that helps somehow, also triple check the timing to rule out pinging, though the temp-relationship-nature confounds me.

DjEep · Post by **DjEep** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 1:14 pm

Solved! Stupid little nothings!

Loose piece of tin under the fan...

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 3:18 pm

DjEep · Post by **DjEep** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:51 am

I swear I checked, and the sound seemed to be coming from the #3 area. But today I noticed and replaced a missing screw, sound went away, then came back. Checked, screw had come loose again. Replaced with a better screw, no more sound.

Go fig on the temp relativity...

Post by **Amskeptic** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:11 pm

Elwood wrote:Is the sky falling with "Pinging" ? I have always thought of it as - poor, low grade fuel or bad timing in any car I have drivin. Whats up with that?

Pinging is very bad news. If the fuel/air ignites before the piston is at the top of the cylinder and tries to push the piston and whole engine backwards. Ain't gonna happen, but the impact against the piston is enormous and can even crush the top of it over time. That delicate little rattling sound to our ears is massive force ringing the metallurgy of the engine.
Colin

Elwood · Post by **Elwood** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 5:06 pm

Thanks Colin for the explanation, I get it now ~ no really

and dj, glad you found the problem and hope all things go your way soon. You deserve to be a happy man.

RSorak 71Westy · Post by **RSorak 71Westy** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 8:54 pm

When an engine is running properly the air/fuel burns with a whoosh, flame front starts at the plug and progresses thru the space until it's all burnt. When an engine is pinging the air/fuel mixture ignites spontaneously and it EXPLODES. This slams the piston/rings and is BAD.

Itinerant Air-Cooled

Itinerant Air-Cooled

(Not) pinging?

(Not) pinging?

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