Pinging is going away...

Shaners · January 17, 2001

The pinging that I was having trouble with (5.3 L) and I mentioned in PUT.com seems to be going away... The truck is now a little over 4 months old and has 1500 miles on it. After the first 600 - 700 miles I started using the throttle more aggressively... winding the shift points out to around 2300 - 2500 RPM. Maybe it's true that there were carbon deposits forming and that this motor wants and needs to stretch it's legs. It's a running SOB!!! Much nicer than the 5.4 Triton I traded in!!!

Frank S · January 25, 2001

Did you do anything else like maybe change brand or grade of gas you were using?Are you still running your break in oil?If not,did changing it seem to quiet your noise?

Just curious.

Shaners · January 25, 2001

All I did was stop babying it so much... I drive alot of short trips and never really ran the truck hard. Don't get me wrong, because I'm not driving it like I'm at the drag strip, but I stay neck in neck with the car beside when the light turns green, if not a little in front.

I've been running either Agway or Sheetz fuel (Sheetz is a convenient store in the Eastern States for those who don't know that).

I have 1600 miles on it now and since the weather has gotten cold the 2nd gear cold shift extender (it doesn't shift into third until almost 35 mph) is working almost everyday. This feature hangs in there until I'm showing about 180 on the temp gauge.

I'm lead to believe that this pinging may actually be a carbon buildup as everyone says, and it is caused by 2 things... Aluminum heads, and high compression.

With the slightly higher RPM's I think I'm keeping the head temps up where they need to be.

Frank S · January 25, 2001

Good deal.I'm glad it straightened out for you and hopefully others will follow your lead with similar results.

Roofer · January 25, 2001

Ya know Shaners, I had the exact same problem. I started hammering on it more and the pinging went away. Lately I have been babying it again(with the cold weather and all), and now the ping came back. They say that the 5.3 is a high and fast reving engine, so I guess a guy has to step on the throttle a little and not worry about it. I guess there is not much to worry about anyhow....it's not a Triton.....it's a VORTEC!

Shaners · January 26, 2001

My truck is in the shop as we speak and one of the things I'm going to have them do is reprogram the tranny. This should keep the RPM's up a little higher and should also help keep the "pings" away. (I hope)

JohnGMC · January 31, 2001

You guys dont need to baby your new truck,its the worst thing for it,run it up thru the grears,using the full power range,just keep it out of redline and dont sustain high rpm'sShort bursts of power,then letting off are the best way to seat your rings and let off pulls oil past them,keeping them well lubed duringbreakin.Vary speed a lot too,no highway driving-its the worst.Ive found that new trucks that are run and allowed to stretch there legs,seem to last the longest and run the best.Im just jealous that you have an ew truck to break in,mine are well broken in now.