Which fuel?

Yoda · February 25, 2016

Definitey getting used to driving the truck with the V8 in it now. And absolutely loving it. However, I'm curious, can someone tell me which fuel I'm supposed to be running a 1UZ on? 95 or 97/99? I'll be mapping it soon and playing around with the air fuel ratio and timing. So I'll be able to map it for which ever fuel I like. But I'm curious which fuel it was designed for and which fuel you all run on?

Colin M · February 29, 2016

I run both of mine on 95 and they seem to run fine on it.

Caractacus · February 29, 2016

I have tried both normal and super unleaded on my Ls400, but either way i get 'pinking' when cold or under load. Anyone know what the problem may be and better still, a cure.

Yoda · February 29, 2016

What do you mean by Pinking Caractacus?

Caractacus · February 29, 2016

Pinking is when the engine makes 'Pinking' noise learnt in the Army that it was caused by the ignition timing being set too early, however understand that Lexus Ls400 as self adjusting timing. No problem when warmed up and driving normally Thanks for your interest.

Caractacus · February 29, 2016

Pinking sounds like short sharp taps

Yoda · February 29, 2016

Interesting. Every day's a school day. Do you feel that in the throttle?

alien1974 · March 1, 2016

i use tesco momentum 99, feels a lot more responsive than normal 95

PCM · March 1, 2016

I'm a Shell Nitro + man.

Is it better? The age old question. Don't know. Does no harm I guess.

It's more expensive, but I collect Shell points.

Received a £10 off voucher last week - that helps...

runsgrateasanut · March 8, 2016

On 29/02/2016 at 6:46 PM, Caractacus said:

I have tried both normal and super unleaded on my Ls400, but either way i get 'pinking' when cold or under load. Anyone know what the problem may be and better still, a cure.

A very common expression for a serious problem if not fixed.

Check this link for further information. http://everything2.com/title/Pinking

Caractacus · March 8, 2016

Thanks, Stuart,

confirms what i thought. Decided to have car 'Mapped' for efficiency, this should solve 'Pinking' and improve fuel economy..

alien1974 · March 8, 2016

3 hours ago, Caractacus said:

Thanks, Stuart,

confirms what i thought. Decided to have car 'Mapped' for efficiency, this should solve 'Pinking' and improve fuel economy..

do you have a stand alone ecu then?

Caractacus · March 14, 2016

No idea, will have to find out. Is it obvious from looking under the bonnet?

alien1974 · March 14, 2016

the reason i asked is as far as i know you cant remap the ecu on these

malcolmdc · September 30, 2016

I'm now running my LS400 Mk1 on Tesco Momentum, which is considerably cheaper than the other makes of premium fuel (typically only 5p dearer than their "cooking" brew) and it is definitely smoother and peppier at lower revs, ie most of the time. Reckon the mpg improved a little too. I did do an ECU reset before changing to help it learn the different octane rating.

Edited September 30, 2016 by malcolmdc
additional info

soundchaser · October 15, 2016

On ‎29‎/‎02‎/‎2016 at 6:46 PM, Caractacus said:

I have tried both normal and super unleaded on my Ls400, but either way i get 'pinking' when cold or under load. Anyone know what the problem may be and better still, a cure.

Change the engine oil & filter.

Paul

PCM · October 16, 2016

And the Plugs? And leads?

soundchaser · October 16, 2016

1 hour ago, PCM said:

And the Plugs? And leads?

No, just the oil & filter. The noise you hear probably isn't pinking but tappet rattle. My LS400 did it when I bought it until I changed the oil & filter.

Paul

mikeyv · October 16, 2016

Would be nice to know how Edward got on with his problem, are you there Caractacus.

I must say, for those who lived with older cars, pinking is an unmistakeable sound, and, in the 60s and 70s, an extremely common one, usually indicating it was time for an ignition service.

Spacewagon52 · October 16, 2016

Pinking in the 1980's was the bain of my life. I had a Mitsubishi Galant 2.0 litre (1982) and I think around 1985 they reduced the lead content of petrol - it would always "pink" to some extent, even with the ignition retarded. I believe that cars that ran on leaded petrol had to have their valve seats hardened to take unleaded when leaded fuel was eventally withdrawn.

I really hated the pinking sound and got rid of the car because it annoyed me so much. I bought a Volvo - an even BIGGER mistake! LOL!

steve2006 · October 16, 2016

I remember in the early 70s when I worked at Rediffusion we had Ford Escort vans and the company had their own fuel supply of 2 star petrol.

Any slight incline and the engines pinked like anything, we used to pull the choke out on hills to try and richen the mixture.

Verbout · October 16, 2016

Carbon build up also LED to pinking I believe, that's a memory dragged from the sump of my memory.

runsgrateasanut · October 16, 2016

3 hours ago, Verbout said:

Carbon build up also led to pinking I believe, that's a memory dragged from the sump of my memory.

So a throttle body clean could be in order if its not been cleaned in recent times.? I'd also use some Wynns Petrol Injector cleaner if you have a long journey in mind. Not saying it will solve problem but less work / expense than changing plug leads and plugs.

Throttle bodies do get carbon build up and injector cleaner will improve performance.

3 hours ago, Verbout said:

Carbon build up also led to pinking I believe, that's a memory dragged from the sump of my memory.

PCM · October 17, 2016

In the 70's pinking was always attacked with Redex, so I recall...

Caractacus · October 17, 2016

Thanks Chaps for so many active and helpful replies, I have now used a strong dose of Valve/injector Cleaner which helped and then took advice and changed to top quality petrol. Previously i used Super Market petrol but since changing to Super Plus at a Shell/Esso station th pinking is all but gone. I really do treasure my old 1997 Lexus Ls400, having personalised it with Chrome Grill and Wheel Arches and now fitted a Dash Wood Kit, my last effort is to have the wheel centres sprayed to match the lower 'Grey' colour of the car body. Not seen it yet as i am in Germany with the Ls430 which drives like a dream. Lucky old me? Never in my life would i have believed i would own two such wonderful cars, having been a grease monkey in the Army.