What is the difference between pinging and knocking?

Question

and do they sound the same?

John Paul, I have a Maxima that pings(a rattling sound) like hell. Could it be a bad knock sensor? Would that be covered under the 60K warranty?

Thanks for the responses. It leads me to more questions:

1. Does knocking only occur when you start the engine and pinging while the engine is running?

2. Even if the engine is pinging due to bad gas or timing belt, shouldn't the sensor detect it and adjust?

3. What is the difference between a timing belt and a drive belt?

Answer 1

Pinging is a noise that sounds like a bunch of marbles rattling in a can or bottle. Knocking sounds like a hammer hitting something with a rapping sound. You say your car is pinging, I would say you have a bad timing belt. Only three things will make an engine ping. Very bad gas, heavy carbon deposits in cylinders, or timing is off. Timing belts should be changed any were from 40 to 50 thousand miles. I would say the belt has a striped tooth

Answer 2

Detonation or ping happens at high pressures lots of throttle during acceleration. Knocking is looseness of internal motor parts. Very different kinds of sound Ping vs. Knock. You can change knock by removing spark plug wire on the affected cyl. Piston skirt noise happens to be louldest on the sides of the engine. Frequency speed of the noise can also help you isolate top end noise from bottom end noise.

Answer 3

i own a repair shop,and yes sometimes they do sort of sound alike,but a ping will have a sharp sound to it,,as a knock may have a dull sound to it,and may sound deeper than a ping will, i been at this for 36 yrs,and sometimes i still cant tell the difference in the two,but there is a difference in them,and especially if it coming from inside the engine,,good luck,i hope this help,s.

Answer 4

Take notice of the Nissan Technician,he is correct and so are some of the others.
Poor gaso will give you ping.
Change your service station and brands for several tanks.
An Internal combustion Engine does not detonate or explode,the air fuel mixture "Burns".
good luck Waltz.

Answer 5

They are the same thing,but I think pinging is more like the sound.

Answer 6

Knocking And Pinging

Answer 7

If you're refering to engine detonation caused by low octane gas, they're the same thing.