Horrible Pinking!!!!!!

[rallyejames]

Hi there.....Got a bit of a prob with the rs2 ... just noticed after a short journey home that I'm hearing a lot of pinking from the engine when under load. The car has had a MRC generic re-map last year with no problems at all since. I usually run on super unleaded or Optimax but when feeling the credit crunch(!) I very occasionally have to put regular unleaded in, but haven't had any problems before now.

Have just been down to the garage to fill the tank on Super Unleaded but hasn't seem to have made any difference on the way home. Do you guys have any suggestions for any other possible causes of the pinking other than fuel??

The pinking only comes about when the engine is under load; on tick-over and revved in neutral it sounds completely fine. Any bright ideas out there?

Many thanks, James

[david]

Hi there.....Got a bit of a prob with the rs2 ... just noticed after a short journey home that I'm hearing a lot of pinking from the engine when under load. The car has had a MRC generic re-map last year with no problems at all since. I usually run on super unleaded or Optimax but when feeling the credit crunch(!) I very occasionally have to put regular unleaded in, but haven't had any problems before now.

Have just been down to the garage to fill the tank on Super Unleaded but hasn't seem to have made any difference on the way home. Do you guys have any suggestions for any other possible causes of the pinking other than fuel??

The pinking only comes about when the engine is under load; on tick-over and revved in neutral it sounds completely fine. Any bright ideas out there?

Many thanks, James

you will always get change in engine sound when you put a regular in the tank.remember this car's are sportcars,so you must treat em as such.if you're going to cut back on super fuel,atleast try mixing regular and super at thesame time.

[T2Andy]

I thought the nock sensors took care of this .

[S2central.net]

When changing fuel - you wont get an instant change - takes a lot of cycles for adaptation to swing round... Quickest way is to reset ECU - unplug it for a minute and then see how she runs on 98 fuel.

[david]

When changing fuel - you wont get an instant change - takes a lot of cycles for adaptation to swing round... Quickest way is to reset ECU - unplug it for a minute and then see how she runs on 98 fuel.

i agree

[johne]

I thought the nock sensors took care of this .

The knock sensors do but if you run regular unleaded and it's hot outside you'll hear knocking just as the sensors and Motronic ECU will and the ignition will be retarded and then boost curtailed accordingly.

John

[rallyejames]

Just come in from the w/shop....friend popped down to have a listen.seems to be getting worse? took the plugs out to find they were all hand tight????? they all look ok.Put them back in.
Started the car to hear a knocking noise! just on light pickup? this seems to just get worse?! also smelling a little oily from the exhaust?
WHATS GOING ON????
Am going to have to remove my ad on pistonheads!!! i just can't beleive this
The car has never given me any probs

[GT500]

Don't think it'll be fuel.. but.
If you read your handbook it says to only put enough normal unleaded in to get a garage that sells super. IE NEVER use normal!

I wonder how Chris Hoy would go on pot noodles?

Hope your engine is not developing what mine did and wear its oil pump drive dogs. Mine was engine speed related, and only when you blipped the throttle. No noise when slowly reving up.
Does your noise sound to be front off engine?

[goodridge]

The symptoms you describe are quite similar to that....

Did you get away with just a oil pump or did it cause further damage?

[s2_bo]

Can you describe exactly whats happening and where you think the sound is coming from.

If its doing it at idle try using a long metal bar, like a breaker bar and placing one end on different points on the engine and the other end to your ear.

This method can help to track down where noise is coming from.

Hopefully its nothing to serious..

Cheers.
Bo

[GT500]

The symptoms you describe are quite similar to that....

Did you get away with just a oil pump or did it cause further damage?

Just needed an oil pump, thats a sump off job.
I took the opportunity to replace the rings and bearings at the same time with the engine out.

[rallyejames]

Only put £10 of standard unleaded in to get me to a super unleaded garage........never have filled the car up on standard.
Have disconnected the batt today....will try again in a bit to see if there is any improvment?

[rallyejames]

Had a chat with Mrc today....sounds like it could be head gasket? have taken plugs out tonight and am going to pressure test tomoz evening....if so,can anyone point me in the direction of a head gasket set?

[newsh]

Exhaust manifold cracked or leaking at gasket can make a similar sound, usually changes or gets quieter when hot though.

[rallyejames]

cant see any obvious cracks or any sign of blowing around the manifold.....the noise is a very slight knock just as you give the throttle a little tweek,then dissapears almost instantly.No pinking in Neutral..only when engine is under load
Compression test tomoz evening...might tell me something?
Does anyone know where to get hold of a head gasket set? or will i need to make a visit to my local Audi dealer?
Many thanks James