Spark knock is a phenomenon that occurs in engines which can lead to engine damage if left unaddressed. It is also commonly known as engine knock, detonation, or pinging. Spark knock is caused by premature ignition of the air/fuel mixture in the engine's combustion chamber before the spark plug fires. This can be caused by factors such as a damaged or worn out spark plug, excessive engine load, high air/fuel ratio, or engine overheating. It is important to detect spark knock early on as it can lead to costly engine repairs. Other synonyms for spark knock include knock, ping, detonation, and pre-ignition.