Avster

Hi i heard a pinging sound when i was driving my Harrier 3.0l it was very light but it was detonation have been monitoring for a while as i have just recently bought the car we use 93 octane here in Botswana im not sure what the equivalent is for America and Europe. does anyone have an idea of what may be causing the problem and what i can check to rectify this as i know that detonation is not good for an engine.

Lexmex

I think if I recall the octane numbers are equivalent to what you have there. In the U.S., 93 octane, know commonly as premium, is the highest one you generally see at the gas station (excluding certain racing gasolines), while 87 is the lowest octane known as regular and 89 or 91 is referred to as plus. We also have an E-85 that is for vehicles that can run ethanol. In Mexico, I had the options of 92 premium or 87 magna (their regular) at Pemex.

I haven't had this issue in the U.S., but I did get it in areas outside of Mexico City (in major metro areas that sulfur level was lower in all gasolines than those found outside), and even running regular (in an emergency) or the premium when I filled up out there, I occasionally would have an issue or two (this significantly improved over the time I lived there). It is possible that the gasoline quality could be affecting the vehicle.

I assume you are not getting any check engine lights?

Avster

Hi i am not getting any check engine lights and the car runs and idles great was just wondering why it pings but im sure it is just a fuel issue

Lexmex

Trick here we often do in the United States is to either switch to highest octane or switch gas stations.

In Mexico, there was no other gas station except Pemex and I always (except on rare occasions) used 92 octane. That led me to put gasoline additives in to test any ping (since I knew the other machinery in my engine was running fine).