How easy is it to recognize pinging. There are so many small noises I can't tell if it's pinging or engine noise.

 

the best description that i have heard to describe pinging is ... ball bearing rattling around inside a tin can ... no way can it be confused with the sound of a healthy running engine.

i would bet that a search on youtube will bring up someone displaying the sound of a pinging engine.

 

Finally found a good clip. I'm not pinging. Now I know what to watch for when I advance my timing.

 

I guess I asked because it sounds like a diesel sometimes under load and I thought it might be pinging. I think it's just what the 4.9 sounds like.

 

I would guess you have an exhaust leak.

 

That's possible, all my gaskets are factory. I have a vacuum leak too. I need to track it down. Oddly enough, I'm getting around 20 mpg.

 

diesel under load is another good description of pinging . a 4.9 does NOT sound like that when running right.

 

It only does it when it's cold and when I'm in a high gear at a low speed. Once I fix all the vacuum leaks I'll reassess what's going on.