Having just had to re-time my classic petrol car then having to retard the ignition slightly due to the engine pinking or pinging (where you get pre ignition of the combustion). I have noticed a similar pinking sound when my 2.2 diesels is under load when pulling the caravan! What's the reasons for this?

The type of engine...

Prosport wrote:

I have noticed a similar pinking sound when my 2.2 diesels is under load when pulling the caravan! What's the reasons for this?

Towing a caravan.

Use better diesel when towing and see it that sorts out your issue. Also don't use too high a gear thus making the engine labour on low revs. FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

Prosport wrote:

Having just had to re-time my classic petrol car then having to retard the ignition slightly due to the engine pinking or pinging (where you get pre ignition of the combustion). I have noticed a similar pinking sound when my 2.2 diesels is under load when pulling the caravan! What's the reasons for this?

That reminds me, I still have my home made Xenon timing light in the cupboard somewhere and a piece of chalk to mark the crank pulley. Those were the days! Anyone still got feeler gauges? 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Still have one of these around somewhere


http://www.gunson.co.uk/product/G4094

Mr DSFL

Timing light ...luxury

I used to do the timing by ear......... back in the day when I could hear

Last edited by I Like Chips on 27th Jun 2018 6:36 pm. Edited 1 time in total

All in all, indeed, nice times!
But getting back on the OP question...
As there is no spark and spark timing here, the only thing that can generate the pinking, is a combination, like the guys said, between the injection timing and quality of diesel fuel.
You can't control the first, but you can try to control the later.
And don't forget the fact that it's a diesel engine and it works, by default, on a detonation manner.