Could someone tell me what pinging sounds like? I know you are supposed to run the lowest octane gas you can without making the engine ping, but I've never heard anything that sounds like a "ping". What exactly is this sound and where does it usually come from?

 

Pinging kinda sounds like a bunch of change (Quarters, dimes, etc) rattling on your motor. You'll hear it from the front of your car when sitting in the drivers seat.

 

...and you usually only hear it on heavy acceleration at lower rpm's

 

Pinging is either detonation (uncontroled rapid ignition After spark ignition {exploding fuel charge}) or preignition ( a hot spot igniting the fuel before spark ignition.)
Both are not good. Kills power and kill motors. Usually caused by a lack of fuel octane used for the engines compression ratio.
Other contributors are air inlet temp, engine cooling temp,
Ignition timing advance (too much) engine load (lugging), Weak air fuel mixture ratio (lean). Non functional EGR system. Carbon build up in the combustion chambers.

Sounds like a can of marbles under the hood.
If you hear pinging or knocking under the hood while accelerating, get off the gas and find out why. Then fix it.
Doesn't take long to destroy a motor that is spark knocking.

 

is pinging loud? or is it subtle?... My car doesnt sound like its pinging but at idle... it sound like a very faint little whistle..

 

i've only heard detonation once and you really had to listen for it. as far as the whistle sound... sounds like you have a vacuum leak

 

Is pinging accompanied by backfiring?

 

Not normally. Sounds like it's time to visit a garage to me.

 

It sounds to me like you have a vacuum leak causing the whistle noise and backfiring.

 

My car used to ping like CRAZY. So I (newbie'ishly) took it to the shop and they replaced my EGR valve. For a month after, no pinging. Lately, it's getting worse and my code 32 occasionally occurs. What do you guys think?

 

Also, When I pulled the codes a couple weeks ago, I got 32 and 54 (if that helps any). Since then, I've installed an Edelbrock Open Element Air Cleaner w/ K&N. I haven't gotten a SES light yet. But the pinging is still getting worse.... Any ideas? Thanks

 

Hey camaroRS why don't you start your own thread for that problem?

Does anyone have a .wav of pinging?