Hyundai says very light 'ping is normal'

[Ken2]

Quote:
I drive the Sonata in 'ECO' mode often. This may lug the motor further.
That isn't lugging the engine. Lugging is when the car is in such a high gear that you step down on the gas pedal and the car does not accelerate. It just bucks. If it is running smoothly, you aren't lugging it.

The ECO light is a gimmick similar to the old vacuum gauges. A very light foot on the throttle is indeed most economical. A heavier foot gets you going quicker, but reduces mpg.

 

[wemay]

I wouldn't say the Eco function is a gimmick. While in use, It does actually lower the revs and does not kick down a gear as easily when attempting to accelerate.

 

[wemay]

Now I'm wondering if the ECU has re-learned the 87 octane parameters because we haven't topped off with anything higher these past 3 days and the pings have completely gone.

 

[Robster]

FWIW, I've never heard pinging in my 2.0T SFS and it's always been run on 87 octane. We don't use ECO mode because my wife doesn't like the driving qualities in that mode (she prefers performance!). In my experience ECO mode makes a difference on a highway trip, but around town makes little difference.

As for the ECU learning the octane, I'd think that would be an almost instantaneous event--I'd sooner think that other things are effecting the pinging such as ambient temps, altitude, air density, engine load / RPMs etc.

 

[wemay]

Our SFS 2.0T has never pinged either, and it has it has also seen it's share of 87 (although mostly filled with 89 or 93). I'm not concerned about the occasional light pinging anymore with the 2.4 since both dealerships scanned for codes and the results showed all things remain normal. Having it documented doesn't hurt either.

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: wemay
Now I'm wondering if the ECU has re-learned the 87 octane parameters because we haven't topped off with anything higher these past 3 days and the pings have completely gone.



Typically at start up the ecu takes its learned parameters and advances timing from those parameters til it hears knock,then slightly retards(I watched the monitors as tuning was being adjusted on a dyno)so it can maximize power on every new start cycle.
So using regular means the ecu makes no real changes it its learned parameters.
When you switch to high test again the ecu will adjust its learned timing map and will take a tankful or 2 depending on how many times the engine is started because that's when adjustments are made.
New vehicles may work differently as far as how adjustments are made. My experience is based on seeing tuning done 2 years ago

 

[wemay]

Got it, thanks.

 

[BrianC]

I'm on my 3rd vehicle with the 2.4 GDI. Have never heard it ping.
Have only used 87 fuel.

 

[wemay]

On my third one as well. The (now sold) Veloster did it for 70K miles at the exact same shift points/throttle position. Again, very light and almost imperceptible to me and definitely to others. It was impossible to hear even with talk radio on. That car only received 87 octane and never threw a code or gave us a single issue.

 

[cluster5]

Originally Posted By: Vuflanovsky
I agree with Drew. My Hyundai DI occasionally pings for just a second like that but it's usually more related to low rpms approaching lugging with the manual transmission. I can see an automatic doing the same thing with the shift programming that comes with the car and the right circumstance and/or quality of gas.

Is it me or the gear change "logic" on these car auto-transmission is overly conservative. The shift points often make the car "lug". I don't use the eco-mode because it only amplify that behavior. BTW, the eco mode is unusable IMO.

I've driven the 2015 Sonata (2.4) for a week and the transmission behave way more normally in the 3 modes (eco, normal, sport).