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2018 2.4 Engine "Ping"

9K views 20 replies 9 participants last post by  Fedge 
#1 ·
Really enjoying the car, BUT.... really early on, like 2000 miles, I started hearing the engine ping. It does it especially on warmer days, accelerating up a hill (in Seattle so lots of those) or mid-block when pausing and then re-accelerating, typically between 1500-2000rpm, and after the transmission chooses a lower gear. I'm using specified 87 fuel, top-tier. I've taken it in once for my first 5K oil-change, and they said they messed with the timing or remapped something, but it's still happening. I'm going to make another appointment to address this, but bummed that a new car is pinging. I wanted this to be my forever car, so I don't want to believe it. And yet, here I am. It's not carbon build up on brand new car, so obviously the timing isn't correct or the spark plugs aren't doing something properly...

Will update as I address.....

Is anyone else experiencing this?
 
#2 ·
As a self test; run a tank of premium gasoline through it and see if the ping goes away.

If it doesn't go away, it may be something other than "ping".

If it does go away, you might need an updated flash for your PCM (dealer) to remove some of the timing.

Top tier gas??? Chevron, Shell, & 76 for example sell a better quality gas.

I don't want to mention any names, but there are some station that advertise "Top Tier" gasoline that is straight up garbage.
just sayin'.
 
#3 ·
Thanks, Ed.

Arco is my go-to brand. I can try another brand, and I expect that a higher octane gas WILL make the ping go away. But I understand that the higher octane inhibits early ignition, and so in this case, masks the timing problem. I think it's obvious it needs an updated flash, and supposedly that's what they did at my first service, but the ping is still there. I'm concerned since it's been doing it since new, and I know that early ignition is not a good thing for the life of the engine.

I'll do your suggested experiment, but here's the thing: I've had cars that ping, and cars that don't ping, and generally I've run them all on Arco gas. So there's that. The ones that have pinged, the issue was never sufficiently addressed by the dealer, and that's my concern. I dumped those cars, cause frankly, it bothers me a lot.
 
#6 ·
This isn't a quiet engine, transmission, or AWD system. Especially without an example, the first step in diagnosis is to rule in/out actual engine knock. If it isn't severe, a tank of high octane should make it stop. If it doesn't, then it probably isn't knock but something else.

In hot weather I can get a low RPM noise that is kind of ratchety when getting off an back on the gas in short order at slow speeds when trying to maintain a proper speed (i.e. 25 mph residential zone with hills).

My first through was it's too high pitched and fast for knock, but I fed it a tank of 93 anyway. No difference. Based on issues with other vehicles that sounded kind of similar, I checked heat shielding. The renegade doesn't have all that much rigid heat shielding and I couldn't find a potential culprit. It honestly sounds like a valvetrain that needs adjusting, but only for a moment, and it seems to come form the bottom half of the engine bay on the passenger side.

At this point I assume it has something to do with the transmission or AWD system. It seems to be harmless.

Long story short, noises are easier to diagnose if you post something with audio of the noise.
 
#4 ·
I am not a fan of Arco. I have had problems with them in the past.
Just going to one of the other station that I mentioned earlier might even solve your problem (I would bet you money that you will see a three to four mpg improvement just going to one of the other stations).

Thank you.
 
#5 ·
An engine pinging is really a thing of the past with modern computer controls on modern cars. Certainly pinging on the Renegades is a very very rare complaint that I've seen. It's general rule that if a car is rated for 87 octane, then any higher is just throwing money away. I would try switching gas stations and maybe brands to see if things change. Certainly Top Tier gas is the best to use, and recommended my auto manufacturers. https://toptiergas.com/licensed-brands/


If you're still having issues, and it's actually pinging that you're hearing then there may be a problem. On a side note, an occasional quick ping on a hot day while accelerating is not something to worry about as the knock sensor has to actually hear a ping to make the quick adjustment. I hope this helps.
 
#7 ·
Hi Fedge,

We are sorry to hear that you have this ongoing concern that you have been to the dealer for once before. If you would like additional support while in service, please send our team a private message with your VIN, mileage, and dealer.

Darlene
Jeep Social Care Specialist
 
#8 ·
Mine pings on hot days and initial application of throttle until the knock-sensor takes out a little timing. It's not continuous and I can only hear it with the windows open and low vehicles speeds.

I ran a tank of premium through it and it was gone, but I have the forever warranty so I'm just going to put 87 in it and not worry. Over 60,000 miles so far.
 
#10 ·
UPDATE: So I have been experimenting with gasoline, and one half-tank of 89 helped quiet it for the time that gas was in the tank. I used Shell and Mobil 87 for a couple of weeks, and that seemed to help a bit, but not entirely. I think it has also helped that the weather has changed, as warmer days make the ping more pronounced. I'm back to cheaper gas after I went up a familiar on-ramp when the tank was holding Shell and heard pinging all the way up the ramp. (That ramp has side-walls that echo the noise so I can hear it.) That does not sounds to me like an engine making the timing adjustment properly. To me it sounds like an engine wrecking itself. I've had a RAV4 4-cylinder that pinged when I bought it with 30K or so miles on it, and I didn't see a bright future for that engine, so I replaced that car with a V-6 model as soon as I could. The fact that this Renegade has pinged since new is disheartening.

I'll take it in and see if, firstly they'll actually do a timing adjustment, and secondly if it will help.
 
#12 ·
The car continues to ping. I'm at about 16,500 miles. We haven't had much hot weather yet, but warm enough for windows to be down and so I'm more aware of it. The ping has typically been brief, under load (uphill). I have consistently gone to the dealership where I bought the car for service. I'm losing patience with them. I mentioned the ping this time but didn't insist they make a note of it because I knew they wouldn't dig into it with more time allotted for my appointment, and I was only there for an oil change and tire rotation. Our local authorities are mandating masks inside businesses, and it wasn't happening, so I wasn't too interested in spending any more time than necessary here. I did want to address that my oil level was down to the bottom of the hatched part of the dipstick at 5000 miles between oil changes, while it was above the hatched part when the oil was freshly changed. What he told me was nonsensical.... "Chrysler allows for 1 quart every 1000 miles before they consider it an issue." And I'm like, that's ridiculous. That would mean - on a brand new car - that I'd be driving around with a five gallon jug adding oil and almost finishing it off between oil changes. I really hope no one is experiencing that. I'm doing oil changes every 5K miles. If I recall, the manual says to perform oil changes at 10k miles. Even at 1 quart every 5K miles, that's not right. I'll try another dealership next, and I'll keep an eye on it. And hope warmer weather doesn't bring on so much ping. We shall see.
 
#15 ·
Hey @Fedge

I got the exact same problem you got. I thought I was the only one! 43k miles and it still pings like I remembered it. I also have oil consumption issues, with me also carrying a 5q jug in the trunk. I got no clue what the problem behind it is, and desperately want to get it resolved.
 
#19 ·
Hey @Fedge

I got the exact same problem you got. I thought I was the only one! 43k miles and it still pings like I remembered it. I also have oil consumption issues, with me also carrying a 5q jug in the trunk. I got no clue what the problem behind it is, and desperately want to get it resolved.
You'll want to look into it before your 5 year/60K mile powertrain warranty expires.....
 
#18 ·
I found a fix.

I used Lucas Oil Octane Booster that claimed it stopped pinging.

2396349023


It was a $7 purchase, which was a little steep, but I thought I’d give it a try.

There was absolutely no pinging at all, I was shocked. I kept trying to motivate the pinging to occur, but I just couldn’t do it!

The product claims that it raises 15 gallons of gas up 3 octane points, so from 87 unleaded to a rating of 90. Next time I fill up, I’ll try the 91 rating and see if there still isn’t a pinging.
 
#21 ·
Update.... I have a case opened with FCA. I went to the dealer as per their instruction, and was told the same thing as before. No dash lights, no codes, no problem. And yet, the car pings. So..... This time I thought they had authorization from corporate to dig into it further, but not according to them, so I'm not sure what I was doing there. Will continue to follow up.

I did have a technician ride along with me two visits ago to confirm the ping.

About oil consumption, ... I've only experienced being down a quart of oil between changes once. Mentioned to service, I was told 1 qt per 1000 miles is acceptable, which is absurd. Was told that was the edict from FCA by service at new dealership yesterday, even though they know that's absurd. What gives?

Weather is changing here in Seattle and we won't have hot days for a while, but last week, it was 90, and the car pinged like crazy. This week, less, but it's there. Not just at the stop til the knock sensor kicks in... it keeps pinging. So maybe it's the knock sensor? But I think I read somewhere that sensor is not easy to get to.

Will continue to report on this issue. At this point, we know there's a problem with the car. It's about how FCA handles it.
 
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