This car has been octane hungry since the beginning -- always required 91 octane to keep it from pinging. Recently (87,000 miles), it has begun pinging on 91 octane as well, moderate load, no ac.

Maintenance has included regular fluid changes, a plug replacement last year with oem and regular filter changes with exception of fuel filter, which is original. No codes are present (I have a reader).

Wtf is going on here? Does anyone think a new fuel filter might solve this issue, should I be cleaning the mass air sensor, or what direction should I be going?

 

I would suspect the gas.
With 10% ethanol the 91 may not be all
that it should be.
Try the 93 octane and see what happens.

It may be your hungry car just got hungrier.
At the the cost of premium it may be cheaper
to buy a second car.

 

good question cause the 3.8s dont even have knock senosors[&:]

 

try a colder heat range spark plug

look here for a recommendation http://www.vmptuning.com/store/index...nt=57&pg=1

 

+1 to colder heat range spark plugs - they will dissipate the heat from the plug faster

Also, do you have the stock thermostat? You could get one that opens at a lower temperature to help out.

I'm not sure that it would help your pinging, but your fuel filter should be changed about every 15,000 miles. It's cheap and easy insurance to keep crap out of your engine and make sure plenty of fuel is getting through without being clogged up.

Good luck!

 

Thanks laserred for the link. I'll try that. And change the fuel filter of course.

Thermostat is original, so probably stock. Might try a colder one as well. Can't hurt, I live in the desert!

The gas issue, yah, could be. I did notice more pinging in CA going up 58 toward Tehachapi from Bakersfield. Had to back off quite a bit to avoid pinging. Might have been a Chevron that sells 10% ethanol-laced fuel. But I'm noticing it here too (Las Vegas) and afaik the fuel I buy does not have ethanol in it.