When I drive my car when the car is cold, I'll get what sounds like pinging from about 2000-3500rpm (i don't rev any higher than that when it's cold). And I'm not on a high comp piston or anything. I think i may have a little head gasket break, but nothing major. It's leaking a lil bit of coolant, but it's not misfiring or smoking or anything. It's not letting anything into the cylinders and when i check my coolant and oil, i don't have any mixture. I'm just wondering what it could be. After the car warms up, the pinging goes away. Also, I changed my plugs not too long ago, and for a couple days after I changed them, the pinging went away. A few days later, it returned. . . Any ideas guys????

 

have you done a valve adjustment within the last 50k? lift the hood and rev via tb bracket and try to listen where the sound is coming from..

 

it doesn't happen when the car is just sitting . . it only happens when it is under load. . .like when the car is actually driving. .i can rev the car with it sitting fine and I don't hear anything.. it only happens when driving. . . and it doesn't sound like valve clatter..

 

 

guys i really could use some help. .any ideas???

 

You didn't answer his question...when was the last time a valve adjustment was done?

My civic "pings" on cold starts here in the winter, but, the oil and water need to get up to operating temps before everything is "normal" under the hood.

 

Valve was done shortly after the motor was built. . .(nothign extravagant, just an LS/VTEC with a rebuild). . .maybe about 5-`10k ago. . .maybe a lil less. . . If i get a valve adjustment, do you think that would solve the pinging problem?

 

Guys I really need your help on this. . .

 

What does your setup consist of? What's your CR?

 

it's pretty straight forward. . LS/VTEC. . B18B block, B16A (99 si) head. . .ITR Cams. . . .stock PR4 pistons slightly oversized (.020 over). . .stock valve train. . . Pretty basic. . i think that brings the compression ration to around 9.8 to 1 or something. . .correct me if i'm wrong. .