330CI pinking??

[baronvonhorne]

Hi All - probably a silly question... but would you expect a 145k well serviced (main dealer) 330 auto to 'pink' rather a lot?

If so, is this preventable? The main dealers don't seem to know what to do?

Thanks for any tips

[Ment-Al]

My E46 did quite a lot. Believe it or not, some of that fuel additive injector cleaner stuff really helped after I took it back and they said they couldnt do anything - this was under an AUC warranty too!

[Neil.D]

Do you use super unleaded?

[baronvonhorne]

No, but I'm guessing I should?

[Neil.D]

Afriad so.
The fuels higher resistance to knocking (pinking) should allow the fuel to be burnt when it should be, not when it wants to.
Allow your current tank to reach nearly empty before refilling with the good stuff. Allow 1 or 2 tanks - maybe more, for the ECU to get used to it, that should sort it out as it is just a firing error within the engine.

[E30M3SE]

Not necessarily, as your engine is equipped with knock sensors so it compensates for different octanes of fuel.

Does your car use any oil?

Oil lowers the octane rating of fuel when mixed, so if it is burning an appreciable amount of oil this may cause the 'pinking' running a higher octane of fuel may solve this problem if this is the cause.

[baronvonhorne]

It does, but not an abonormal amount - probably less than 4L between 15k services (I am assuming this is not out of the ordinary??).

[E30M3SE]

Your oil consumption is not wrong, it's well within tolerance.

Try a 'Super' fuel as previously suggested, see if that solves the problem.

[baronvonhorne]

Cheers fella's!