2.3L ('83-'97) Pinging?

[bilbo]

I was driving home on the freeway today at about 75mph and noticed a metallic noise when I was accelerating to pass someone. I’ve never had pinging demonstrated to me so I’m not exactly sure what it sounds like, but I suspect that is what was happening. I have a small exhaust leak just behind the cab, and it sounded like that but sharper. Thought timing maybe drifted but it’s right where I left it at 8 degrees. I’ve never noticed this sound before and I can’t get it to do it in any conditions other than freeway speeds in OD. I’m going to try running some chemtool this weekend in case it’s carbon deposits. any other ideas what it might be?

 

[Dirtman]

Could be Smaug?

 

[Fredness]

FIX the exhaust leak first.
And exhaust leak can allow air IN to be misread by the O2 sensors.
THEN you can look at the pinging issue...

 

[tomw]

You could attempt a 'steam clean' of the carbon in the combustion chamber. Running a warmed up engine at a good fast idle, you can spritz some water into the intake. Not enough to kill the engine. The water will get flashed to steam inside the chamber, and in some cases that can make carbon deposits come loose and get sent down the exhaust.
Would not hurt to take a glance at your coolant temperature gauge when you notice the pinging noise. If the temp is a bit high, you may want to check that the thermostat is not playing games. It can stick and then pop loose, rinse repeat.
tom

 

[DCman]

FIX the exhaust leak first.
And exhaust leak can allow air IN to be misread by the O2 sensors.
THEN you can look at the pinging issue...

+1
Fix the obvious problem first, then see how things sit.