UHZT

I have a 2000 Protege 1.6L and sometimes i feel a slight detonation under hard acceleration.

I read in other post:

Check the combustion chambers for excess carbon buildup. My car (99 1.8L) had a pinging problem that developed last summer due to excess carbon inside the engine. According to the techs at my local dealers and a well-known Mazda mechanic in the area, some newer Mazdas tend to have carbon buildup problems when they're used for lots of stop-and-go driving, like mine.

I cleaned the carbon out and viola, no more pinging. I've managed to keep it away since then with regular applications of Redline SI-1 Complete Fuel System Cleaner. FWIW.

HOW CAN I CLEAN THIS CARBON BUILDUP ?

Regards
LUIS

NegatiZE

Well, I stopped my pinging by changing the spark plugs, wires, and putting a bottle of Techron fuel system cleaner in a nearly empty tank of gas. No more pinging.

Oh yeah, don't use 93 octane, use 87. 93 octane will cause the carbon buildup because our Proteges do not have knock sensors to adjust timing for the increase in octane.

UHZT

Thanks for the fast one

LUIS

Maxx Mazda

Does the FS-DE?

NegatiZE

Don't quote me on this, I think it does. It's the ZM-DE and FP-DE that don't.

Giuseppe_2003

I have a 1999 Protege SE 1.6L engine (canada) automatic trans. and have this pingning problem since summer 2000 but it was only a little bit when going uphill and straight from stop if i accelerate fast.
The dealer/s i visited for this problem said to increase fuel octane and/or do a fuel injector flushing using a machine to force pressurize the cleanup. Any thoughts on this? I am afraid the gaskets and seals will be damage. I didn't do this but increase the fuel octane and it improve the ping sound. But when prices for gas increase i switch back to 87 and 89 (every other tank full) but still some ping.
Winter comes so engine not to hot so better for ping and engine. Now spring, and hotter a bit the ping is there again and engine performance is not so good. sluggish.
After reading this forum, i tried to use "MI 3000 desposit control BG" which is recommended by Honda because the Mazda dealers here doesn't recommend a DIY even though they carry other brand, of course they wanted to do the pressurize flushing. I cannot find the MOBIL and Redline here. Maybe there are but I dont know where.
When i used this, the engine has no ping and perfomance improve, acceleration. But after the tank 1/4 full, I pump in 89 octance, the pinging got worse. usually the ping develops @ 0-40km/hr but now even at already 40 to 60km/hr ping is heard.
Don't know what to do any advice. I was looking at changing my spark plug wires but NGK is difficult to find. Negatize, how much did u spend for the wires? What spark plugs are u using platinum tips or normal? Is it better to use short AEM or NGK filter box replacement. I was thinking of making holes in the grill where the OEM intake box is so more air will come in. Do u think this will help.

Thanks to all...sorry for the long thread.

Cheers

NegatiZE

I bought the wires and plugs from Finish Line Performance, it's a Mazda dealer parts store in VA that was put online. Excellent service. Here's the direct URL to the Protege parts: http://www.finishlineperformance.com/protege/parts.htm

I bought the standard NGK spark plugs and Premium blue wires. I'm assuming the tips are regular non platinum.

If I were you, I would go ahead and change your spark plug wires, spark plugs, and run some fuel system cleaner through the engine like I did. I doubt modifying the airbox would help any. Even with my Injen intake, the pinging was still there before I did the spark plug change.

Giuseppe_2003

Thanks you for your quick reply, Negatize

Any input of using BG 44K or BG M3000, I read somewhere in the threads about BG 44K but i cannot find it anymore.

Where do u buy your fuel system cleaner?

NegatiZE

Not a problem. I've never hard of BB 44K. I just bought some Techron at my local Wal-Mart. There's a ton of brands to choose from. Any auto parts store will also have it.