Noise

[TVR5]

Under hard acceleration, I think it did it in 3rd gear and not 1st and 2nd, there is a strange noise that comes from the general engine area.
It is kind of like an occasional (say once or twice a second) sort of 'chi'.......'chi'........'chi' sound.
Think it did it at somewhere over 4k revs.
Is this pinking? Never understood what 'pinking' was.
Is it a bad/damaging thing?
My old Griff(s) used to do it as well under similar circumstances IIRC.

While on the subject of noise, IMHO my Tuscan S (standard exhaust) sounds bloody superb. I can't really understand when people say that they would miss the sound of the V8 if they got an S6.
Sure it sounds different, but IMHO the S6 I have now sounds every bit as good if not better than the V8 TVRs I have had. It pops and burbles all the time and sounds very aggressive.

Finally, to 'judas' any further news on your car yet?

[judas]

Just talked to TMS and they have the computer speaking to the engine management system right now - so far nothing conclusive, but initial diagnosis just based on how it was running was faulty HT leads.

Watch this space...

[donaldhunter]

It is kind of like an occasional (say once or twice a second) sort of 'chi'.......'chi'........'chi' sound.
Think it did it at somewhere over 4k revs.
Is this pinking? Never understood what 'pinking' was.
Is it a bad/damaging thing?

Yes, your descrption suggests pinking. My Tuscan has a tendency to pink under hard acceleration, something that I am currently investigating.

It is, I believe, a bad thing - detonation can cause power loss, damage to pistons, valves, etc.

[donaldhunter]

Here's some pages I've found about detonation and preignition.

www.hastingsmfg.com/Service%20Tips/detonation_and_preignition.htm

www.misterfixit.com/deton.htm

[GaryF]

Pinking is indeed detonation and can be caused by a weak fuel/air mixture. It causes overheating and can do serious damage to the engine if left unchecked.

One of my old cars had it - after fiddling with air flow sensors and metering heads it turned out to be clogged injectors. Doh!

I would advise driving around it until you get it sorted i.e. avoid full acceleration - hard in a Tuscan I know

[GaryF]

Don't want your Speed Six looking like this...

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=27455&f=66&h=0&hw=detonation

[luca brazzi]

Mine ticks like a good 'un between 2600 and 3000rpm, about 15-20 ticks per second (guessing), getting faster as the revs climb. After that you can't hear it anymore (other noises take over )

Does this sound like the usual sewing machine rattle they've all got? I don't know.

Took it to Mole Valley, who checked valve clearances and loose chain, said all was in order, go and enjoy it. So I am.

Any thoughts?
LB

[GaryF]

I've noticed some slight 'ticking' from mine but I think this is just tappety-type noise - it's definitely not detonation. As you say, you certainly can't hear it at full chat with all the other hullaballoo.

It hasn't been for it's first expensive 12k service yet for top-end re-adjustment. It's certainly not down on power anyway

Forgot to say, the detonation I had before sounds like a distant tinkling and not the kind of ticking you describe and that I can sometime hear from mine.

>> Edited by GaryF on Wednesday 23 April 17:11

[yohan]

Mine was ticking at first then it turned into a "clattering" that was loud enough to be heard above all the other (fantastic!) noises with the roof off at 60-70mph. It was also drinking oil (1 litre per 200miles).

Currently at TVR Power in Coventry waiting to be fettled.

[whitey]

I thought my Tuscan was pinking when hot under full acceleration at above 4000 rpm in it's early days before it's engine re-build. It was actually the exhaust pipes coming out the engine expanding and "tinkling" slighty when very very hot. Dealer was going to fit an "8" type clamp to keep a couple of the pipes from touching, but then post-rebuild it does not seem to do it anymore