What does 'pinging' sound like?

[ayeyew]

I've never heard this 'pinging' noise (which i suppose is a good thing!)

But i just got a capa flash tuner and am going to program the 98 RON tune into the ECU (car has run on only 98 RON in the last 18 months). Just want to make sure that if it does happen, i can identify it

So besides sounding like a 'pinging' noise, what can u relate it to?

Does it sound like banging on a tin can?
The screech of brakes?
The sound that used to be made off the old petrol pumps for every litre or gallon you put in the car?
A bell?
ANYTHING?

Cheers

[Professor Farnsworth]

like someone playing a musical triangle, or tapping a jar with a spoon, but the sound can vary.

[DJM83]

Im pretty sure its called 'pinking' i could be wrong, thats what i was told

[Peuty]

Damn thats a tough question mate. I would describe it as harsh/sharp rattling noise, but in saying that the only pinging I have properly heard is on my 308 engined ski boat and once in the XR8, but thats what it sounded like.

[svo347]

Originally Posted by Peuty

Damn thats a tough question mate. I would describe it as harsh/sharp rattling noise, but in saying that the only pinging I have properly heard is on my 308 engined ski boat and once in the XR8, but thats what it sounded like.

Im with you mate, the only noise ive heard too

[ayeyew]

So, it's quite loud is it? Does it happen only at high revs? or throughout the rev range?

[Peuty]

Usually at highish revs.

[Whitey-AMG]

"pinging" sounds like rattling a small chain and it can also sound like a dull knock.......you'll more than likely hear it when the engine is under load...........taking off from the lights, going up a hill etc .........

[ratter]

a lot of people describe it like shaking a tin can with a few marbles in it.

It's volume can very according to how bad it is and different motors have different levels of how loud it can be.

It normally only happens under heavy load situations, but it can even happen at cruise if there is a problem.

[RG]

Originally Posted by 51RTE

Im pretty sure its called 'pinking' i could be wrong, thats what i was told

It is pinking, the yanks bastardized the word (along with the rest of the English language) and call in pinging. Me, I call it detonation. Whoosha will call it rattly.

To me it sounds like there is a really small dude in the combustion chamber with a really small hammer trying to get out, really trying to get out. Mine used to get it at around 4000rpm, at max torque.

[b2tf]

Peutys description describes it best. Other way to find out is to let Herrod tune your car, then you'll hear it for sure.

[Professor Farnsworth]

my EB 5 litre used to do it around 4500rpm, but the thing sounded so good i couldn't stop pushing it harder anyway. only did it at high revs.

[CAT600]

It can happen at any RPM, but always "heard" under heavy load.

Boosted cars will tend to make it down lower in the RPM, where a tuned NA car will be higher up. Its all a matter of cylinder pressure and ignition timing.

Originally Posted by ratter

a lot of people describe it like shaking a tin can with a few marbles in it.

It's volume can very according to how bad it is and different motors have different levels of how loud it can be.

It normally only happens under heavy load situations, but it can even happen at cruise if there is a problem.

Agreed, though I think it's more like marbles on a tiled floor.

Daniel

[Professor Farnsworth]

no one likes my description, i'm offended. Seems everyone has their own description. Put it this way, if you hear something from the engine bay that doesn't sound normal, while the car is going up a hill or reving, it's most likely pinging.

[SIKSIX]

The best way to for listen for pinging that i ahve found is all windows up, and hold it flat in second (man 3rd) on freeway. if you think you got it then do the same thing in second with low load (slowly accelerate) if your sounds not there then go straight to your nearest drag strip and RACE!

[Stav]

Pinging is a metalic cracking noise and if bad it sounds like steel marbles .It can happen at any throttle opening and corresponds with the problem range in your car.
Causes of pinging can be too advanced ignition timing,lean fuel and heat. Contributors can be poor fuel quality,extremely hot weather ,poor cooling system or poor fuel system. etc. Pinging occurs as the events happen. Detonation is different.Detonation occurs when a hot spot occurs in the combustion chamber causing the fuel to cause a premature explosion.Results can be holes in pistons,bent rods etc..

Either way ..the fixes are similar.Better cooling,better tune or better fuel are some common fixes.

[pottsy44]

oh so thats what that rattle is .

i did one tank of 91 the other week, then i put 95 in it last week. must burn off the rest of the 91!!!! :

[tex]

Happens under load, can happen anywhere in the rev range (depending on tuning) but most often heard at low to mid rpms.... mainly because the exhaust noise, mechanical thrash has not drowned out the pinging, as is the case at high rpms.

I like the description of it sounding like someone playing a 'triangle' from inside your engine. Best description so far. My description.......... hitting two large ball bearings together.... that sound in fast repitition.... coming from inside your engine.

I have personally witnessed several people that simply can't hear it, one of them chose to ignore my advice to get the tune checked out due to the pinging under load in higher gears......... he could not hear it, ignored my advice and cost him several grand several weeks later.

Thrashed car + pinging = broken engine eventually. Bent rods, smashed pistons, failed bearings.

[sly]

I've heard 3 slightly different sounds over the years. One is like a few marbles or ball bearings in a bag rattling (a kind of hard-edged rattle). Another is like a soft rattle, and the 3rd actually sounds like someone saying "pink". So Russell is right - it's "pinking" because it's onomatopoeic.

I've heard it quite distinctly when I had a u/s knock sensor, but used to often get it when launching uphill from a standstill on a hot day when the car had standard ULP in the tank.

[V8 EF Fairmont]

The best way I can decribe it is it sounds as though there's steel marbles in the combustion chamber. If you can imagine the sound those would make when the cars under load. The best way I've found to test for it is to start off at really low reves locked in 3rd gear and just floor it and if its going to pink it will do so at some stage through the rev range. Had a substantial pinking issue in my E49, that could only be solved by mixing in some avgas...

[Dauphin]

Put about 50 metal PC screws on the floor together, get your vacuum cleaner and suck them up. About the same as that?

[Peuty]

Yes Dauphin, that is kinda how I would describe it, but less metallic.

[Mechan1k]

Originally Posted by CAT600

Agreed, though I think it's more like marbles on a tiled floor.

Daniel

Actually ... that sounds about spot on to me ... I would have said rocks in a tin being rattled ... but the marbles on a tiled floor would be better described.

[MRJUCY]

It depends on the car & how bad it is but in my car it reminds me of rattling a chain.

[bodes-sh]

i guess it could also be like shaking a can of spray paint, when the ball is rattling around inside, just a lot faster. mine did it badly about 18 months ago, put a new fuel pump in and it was a lot better, haven't heard it since then...

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by bodes-sh

i guess it could also be like shaking a can of spray paint, when the ball is rattling around inside, just a lot faster. mine did it badly about 18 months ago, put a new fuel pump in and it was a lot better, haven't heard it since then...

thats the description I would use.

My subaru did this when I used 91 fuel. Completely stopped after using 98 fuel from then on. Went down to 95 fuel and it was ok too. But never ran it on 91 again. Horrible noise.

[Peeler]

stand next to a V6 commo on start up, you will soon hear it