Nope- - - -"ping" is slang for detonation- - - -the noise caused by two flame fronts traveling opposite directions across the combustion chamber. The second flame front is caused by something called "pre-ignition"- - - -burning of the fuel begun by something other than the spark plug. The source of the preignition can be a glowing piece of carbon in the combustion chamber, too lean mixture which causes the fast-burning flame front to push a pressure wave ahead of it and cause the mixture to "diesel", or several other factors. Too-early ignition timing and/or too low octane gasoline for the compression ratio can also contribute to detonation. Once the second flame front begins, the noise created by the flame fronts slamming together is loud enough to be beard through the cylinder walls, coolant, and cylinder head structure.
Gasoline engine detonation is the most powerful destructive force (other than nuclear) known to science. It is much more destructive than an equivalent weight of Dynamite, TNT, C-4, etc.
Jerry
