>----------
>From: Rader[SMTP:rlr@bbt.com]
>Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 1997 9:14 AM
>To: Dakota Mailing List
>Subject: Back to the gas question...
>
(snip)
>
>>>Questions
>
>>>a. I believe that the winter-formula gasolines (which increase
>>>volatility) are the cause of my pinging. True or false?
>>>b. Has anyone else experienced similar gasoline issues during the
>>>winter?
>Here are my experiences with a 93 xcab 4x4 V8 auto, and 58000 miles.
>The winter gasolines here in Boise, ID don't seem to have an adverse affect
>on my Dakota. I can get away with 87 octane Chevron gasoline in the winter,
>whereas I need a minimum of 89 octane Chevron in the summer. For whatever
>reason, Texaco gasoline in the same octane ratings make my Dakota ping
>terribly. I still get some pinging with 87 octane Chevron in winter, but
>only when in overdrive between 45 and 55 mph with a load on the engine
(uphill or accelerating) when the engine is warm. 89 octane is marginal
>in summertime, though. If it is a hot day out, I can get it to ping at will.
>And I hate to pay extra for the 92 octane premium, so I posted this problem a
>while back and got many helpful suggestions, none of which led to a fix
>unfortunately. I even called both dealers in the area (one notoriously bad
>and one a good 5-star) and both said that "all the magnum engines get an
>appetite for octane as they age. There is nothing that we can do about it."
Neither wanted me to come in to try to diagnose the problem. Suspecting
an EGR problem, I spent a lot of time fooling with that area (both shop
manual diagnostics and on road testing with manual EGR control via a
vacuum pump) and came to the conclusion that it works, but I'm not sure
if it works 100% right. It'll take some time for me to convince myself
>to cough up the cash for a new EGR system to test my skepticism.
The only mod I have is a K&N FIPK. I had the Jacobs Omni-Pak installed
which seemed to cause a rough idle and seemed to make pinging worse
(maybe my imagination), so I removed it. Note that this pinging problem
with the factory SBEC makes me scared of buying the MP SBEC because
others on this list have related heavy pinging with the MP SBEC with no
>problem previously.
So, maybe the dealers are right and we can expect to pay for some octane
increases as these engines age.... But most likely it's just that they
don't see a problem with owners paying extra for high grade gasoline
when that works around a problem they would have to fix.
Steven Connelly
93 Dakota Xcab 4x4 V8 auto
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