What does "Pinging" mean?

[Ranger850]

What the hell is "pinging"? this has come up in several threads recently, and I do not know what it means. Some have referred to it as Knock(?) Is "Labor Knocking" the same?
To me, labor knocking is when the truck sounds like it is in too low of a gear and need an downshift or more fuel. is this "Pinging"?

 

[Uncle Gump]

Spark Knock...

Two uncontrolled flame fronts slamming together...

 

[Ranger850]

Spark Knock...

Two uncontrolled flame fronts slamming together...

GREAT know I gotta ask about spark Knock. Sorry @Uncle Gump , but is sounds like a word to describe another word.
I was hoping for an explanation.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Spark knock is what consumers call pre-ignition and/or detonation there is a difference between the two.

If you google either... you find a ton of information on both.

 

[RonD]

Pinging and knocking are used by most interchangeably, same meaning in regards to a noise that occurs usually when engine is under load, i.e. accelerating

Knock sensors are installed on some engines that either have higher compression(9.5:1 or higher) or have shown a tendency to ping/knock from chamber design or lack of EGR system, when running engine on 87 octane fuel
If knock is detected computer will advance spark timing to ignite air:fuel earlier in the cycle which does reduce power a bit but way better than the damage that continued pinging or knocking WILL cause

EGR systems were added to reduce NOX emissions but it does that by slowing down air:fuel burn rate which lowers cylinder's combustion temperature, and as a by-product it lessens the likelihood of pinging/knocking

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Pinging and knocking are used by most interchangeably, same meaning in regards to a noise that occurs usually when engine is under load, i.e. accelerating

Knock sensors are installed on some engines that either have higher compression(9.5:1 or higher) or have shown a tendency to ping/knock from chamber design or lack of EGR system, when running engine on 87 octane fuel
If knock is detected computer will advance spark timing to ignite air:fuel earlier in the cycle which does reduce power a bit but way better than the damage that continued pinging or knocking WILL cause

EGR systems were added to reduce NOX emissions but it does that by slowing down air:fuel burn rate which lowers cylinder's combustion temperature, and as a by-product it lessens the likelihood of pinging/knocking

So. Wait. I thought you ret*rded timing if you had ping/knock issues?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I think ron may of missspoke.

Retarded timing is less susceptable to knock/ping/whatever and causes power loss.

Advanced timing yeilds more power/better mpg but causes pinging.

 

[Denisefwd93]

Ron could should design a retrofit KS system!

 

[Uncle Gump]

Ron spits out some great info...

But as he said before... He does make mistake so.... "grain of salt"

 

[Denisefwd93]

Most don't have distributors, so how is that even possible? but my whole truck is retarded!

 

[Uncle Gump]

software makes it possible...

 

[Snoranger]

It's what all 4.0 rangers do! The side benefit is you don't want to push down on the gas pedal so you save gas

I've put well over a 1/2 million miles on my 4.0s between the bunch I've owned. The only one that ever pinged was the '01 SOHC running off the '95 OHV computer. That was easily cured by machining a custom cam synchronizer.

 

[Denisefwd93]

Glad for you! Doesn't really help my 94 no CPS

 

[cbxer55]

Typical description, marbles in a tin can. That's what ping sounds like. You'll know it when you hear it. My 98 3.0 has done this forever. But, it's mostly my fault. MAC intake, no muffler in exhaust, JET chip that advances timing and ups fuel flow, ups trans shift points. It pings horribly on 87. Almost the same on 89. Even pings once in a while with 91 in the tank. Fortunately there is a station three miles from here that has 93. Not a peep when that's in the tank. I use it in my Lightning due to it being supercharged. And both my bikes are 91 octane minimum bikes, so 93 is just better. So it's not really a bother to keep it in my Ranger.

But you know what, last night coming home from work, at a STOP light. When it turned green I hammered it and got really nice long chirp out of those sticky Cooper Cobra GT 255/60-15's. It's all good.

 

[Ranger850]

Thanks @cbxer55, your description is what I would call "labor knock". My 83 did this bad if you put in the 87 octane. My '01 hasn't ran in so long IDK if it does this or not. lol
To me, a ping is like when meal snaps and goes "ping" and a piece flies away, never to be found. C/E clips ping, motors knock.

Moral of the story - Ping is labor knocking, thanks to all for helping me with my vocabulary.