Had the car for a month now, long enough to try several different kinds of gas. Car pings under low rpm light acceleration -- I've read several threads over in the tech section -- many report the sound to be something coming from the rear axle and they were confusing it with engine ping/knock.

I'm pretty certain what I'm hearing is engine pinging -- tried some fuel injector cleaner, but it made no difference. Any other Norcal folks have pinging problems with our crappy gas?

Yep! My car pings too!

um..i have that too..but I only have it on startup..but its doesn't happen all the time

Try to use a different gas station..or try using the same gas station all the time..

how's your acceleration?? normally or some time got weaker to acclerate on highway?? I had a ping thing on my first year of the 04 coupe, it sounds like there was some water within the engine pipe or something and weak acceleration. The dealer had to replace some gas sensor/gas regulator unit which they told me cost around $500 something and they did lubricated the rear axle's bearing too. So far, I dont hear any strange noise.
Let us know on your status....
pd

Instead of fuel injector cleaner for pinging try buying octane booster. I've found Chevron and Union 76 works best in my car and no pinging.

Ambient temp seems to be a factor. On real hot days, I'll ping on low rpm take-offs in first. Cooler days, no ping.
I agree with the choice of Gas Companies too. 76 and Chevron no ping on hot days, where as, Flyers or Costco fuel, ping on hot days. Don't know about Arco or Shell.
Cali fuel basically is crap anyways...only 91 octane.

My 05 6mt slightly pings too, especially on hot day. between 2000-2600, it pings slightly under acceleration. I wonder if it's damaging the engine?

Frontier Infinity said "that's normal". I don't think it's normal for a 35k car to ping on premium gas. the IS350 doesn't ping like this.

yeah i experience the ping as well....I took it to the dealer and they claimed they couldn't reproduce the ping... BS. So at least it makes me feel a little better that its somewhat common. However, I still don't think it is right.

^
I agree.
And shouldn't have to use Octane Boost to solve this issue.

Remember that the reason we only have 91 is due to Unocal 76 forcing its "patent" on the formulating of 92 octane. Thanks 76 for giving us less for more.

Just because the IS doesn't audibly ping doesn't mean it doesn't have the same issue and the G35. It just means Toyota is more aggresive or early to retard the timing in a knocking condition. I'm not even sure what the compression ratio is on the IS350, but anything over like 9.8:1 with knock bad on 91 octane without a computer to retard the timing for ya.

It is in the Infiniti manual, some pinging under load condition, especially in high heat is normal.

Perhaps this is "normal" then, because I have definitely noticed it a lot more this summer and it has been much hotter here this year than it was last year. I don't know, it still doesn't seem quite right..... I wish we had 93 Octane fuel readily available around here. Does anyone know of places to get 93 in the San Jose area? I guess there is one spot to get 100 Octane, but I am not up for spending that kind of money....

I went looking for that, but couldn't find it. Can you please provide a reference?

Wow are you serious? It is in there in the same section where it tells you to only use supreme unleaded etc. If you are still having trouble finding it, I can find you a page # when I get home.

Page 9-4 of my 2005 Coupe Manual: