2002 JTS 156 Engine Pinging

[L4OMEO]

Hahha. Rory owes me five bucks for that but he doesnn't know the invoice is coming.

Just add it to the pile MD, just add it to the pile ...

[Rafa]

Hi,

I bought my 156 about a month ago and was very impressed with its torque around low RPM (2.5k-3.5k). I had the cambelt replaced, the selespeed box serviced and a general service about two weeks ago. Bruno recommended me on the type of Petrol to use (NO 7/11, NO Shell) and around last week, I heard that pinging as well, on 3rd gear around 2,500RPM and I can feel that juicy torque is not there anymore. In the last two weeks I filled in a Shell station (long story, don't ask..), and hopefully can relate it to not-so-clean/good petrol, I will fill with BP/Caltex next time and we see how we go. Also, is there any additive that is recommended to clean up around the engine?

thanks a lot,

Rafa

[colcol]

Hello Rafa, congrats on your car, as previously stated, always use Caltex 98, no pinging heard, sometimes forced to use no name petrol, [or run out], no pinging, but lack of torque up hills, ever noticed the petrol trucks that go to no name petrol stations?, particulary dirty and old, not like the ones that go to the well known branded petrol stations, also i have noticed that the supermarket owned petrol stations don't have the 98 premium, or is that just in my area?, when you say additives to clean up engine, what do you mean? additive to pour in engine, [like Wynns], or to degrease the outside of the engine, Colin.

[wankski]

no shell.. haven't heard that one before... altho i only use v-power 98 for my car...

[MD]

On a recent comparison test of fuels, Caltex 98 had the highest energy content of all the 98 rated fuels.

I use Flashlube in my cars.Great upper cylinder lube and keeps the carbon from building up rock hard in the chamber that can cause detonation in itself. (carbon build up from too much city driving and a lack of sustained high rpms to burn off the carbon build)

Long time ago when they had full driveway service, you could buy upper cylinder lube off the rack while you were filling up. Rmember Golden Fleece Service Stations?  Like all things of that era, all wanished. However this is about as close as you will get to it.

Check it out.http://www.flashlube.com/en/products/valve-saver-fluid.html

[colcol]

Hey MD, but you wouldn't use flashlube in a 156 JTS, or any modern Alfa, only use it in old dungers that are meant to use leaded petrol, so the lead lubricates the valve seats, i know of an old XB Falcan that uses flashlube and its very good, as it would be for cars with cast iron cylinder heads that haven't got hardened valve seats, all Alfa Romeo since the 70's would have hardened valve seats, Colin.

[MD]

Yes I do colcol but totally unrelated to valve seats. I use it to soften the carbon build up around rings and ring lands, the chamber crowns, piston crowns and valves. When you pull a head down that has been using flash lube all its life,the carbon is almost non existent and what is there is soft unlike the scorched on hard stuff without it.

Believe me it is entirely relevant and useful irrespective of vehicle age.

I think you have the wrong take on this product. It is a lead replacement fuel additive but it does not contain lead. That would be illegal and totally screw up the catalytic converters which it does not. If you read the MSDS on this product you will find no reference to it containing lead anywhere.

To recap then, it's not about the valves it's about the carbon and detonation..

[colcol]

Like i said MD, i know people who use it on old cars due to valve seat problems and it works great, as a lead replacement, didn't know it could be used in other ways, but then there has been an alarming increase in things i know nothing about, Colin.

[MD]

Mate, you are obviously a seasoned player here and a knowledgeable asset to the Forum. I personally enjoy reading your posts as always they are made with a sense of "been there" and carry much credibility.

..I think if we all stick our necks out to pass opinion, sooner or later the fan belt will slip just a tad and people will gloss over it without a second thought.

In my case I don't just get a slipping fan belt,I occasionally skip a few coggs as well and some would say it has become a permanent feature.

Cheers .

[Rafa]

Thank you for all the comments guys, very informative indeed.

I was referring to the additive that prevents the carbon build up and cleans the injectors, what you usually pour to your petrol tank once in a while when you refill. Now I can't wait for this sh@# petrol to be finished so I could finally refill with Caltex 98, just to make sure it is all good.

Thanks again for the comments, awesome forum.

[colcol]

And here is an Urban Myth to consider, sometimes the 98 premium Caltex is Shell, and 98 premium Shell is Caltex, due to distribution rights and where the Service station is located and who is delivering, and what refinery is making the 98 this week and how much 98 premium the service station has, the trucking operators don't like half filling the service station tanks and you notice just before the prices 'spike', [ in Victoria anyway], the are always out of 98 premium, Colin.

[wankski]

colcol, personally that is what i believe. Here in Vic if someone can point me to the caltex refinery, the bp refinery, shell, united etc... then maybe i'd believe they get different fuels with different additive packages...

instead:
http://www.exxonmobil.com/Australia-English/PA/about_what_rs_altona.aspx

seems the one altona based exxonmobil (world most cashed up company) refinery makes half the fuel for all of VIC, and most likely most of inner melb...

just sayin'