Installed a %17 pulley and intake 2 months ago and started noticing some pinging. Its a 2005 MCS With 49K on it. Using Chevron 91 octane mixed with 100 to get to at least 93. Ive changed the plugs, wires and coil pack and still pings at WOT from 2800 -3800k rpm. Not sure what IATs are as ive still yet to buy an Obd2 scan tool. But right now the temperatures in las vegas is anywhere from 108-115 degrees. Next would be getting the injectors cleaned or get 380cc.

 

Have you had the car tuned? The 17% will ping at WOT; a custom tune will eliminate this. This is why some people recommend a 15 over a 17. The 17 is okay for use on the street, or with a tune.

It was explained to me as such: the motor will ping with the 17% due to the increased boost. ThE MINI has knock sensors, and the ECU will retard the timing (and maybe make other adjustments) to protect the motor. A tuner will load a timing curve optimized to work with the increased boost.

How can you tell its pinging? I could not precieve pinging in mine.

BTW, i was in your town last weekend; really enjoyed the 114 degrees because,you know, its a "dry" heat...

 

LOL. Had me dying there for sec. Hopefully i can find a shop in vegas that will be able to tune. I've read some people added 380cc injectors for the 17 without tune. As they said it was OK for 17 pulley untuned and it will provide better fuel for the ecu to adapt to. That may be the other route i will try.

 

At 80 percent to WOT i hear a slight ticking (similar to shaking a spray paint can) from about 2800-3800 k. Power still feels like its there. And on the freeways when coasting on 6th if i push to WOT i also will hear it around 3k.

 

Under the intake manifold there is a knock (ping) sensor. I believe the CEL code is P0326 and I read somewhere that it does not bring in a EML lamp when it fails. When it senses that ping is occurring the ECU retards the timing till the pinging stops. This decrease the power output but saves the engine from pre-detonation. If the car was tuned, the timing may have been adjusted with a slight advance at a cooler ambient temperature. When running at higher ambient temp 108-115, the timing may be at the threshold where pinging can occur. I've also read that water/methanol injection will help since it cools the charge going into the engine. But it is quite expensive.