O.K. I've read a number of older threads on pings and crackling and I don't know if anyone has ever resolved their "issues".

I have been noticing a crackling sound coming from the underside of the car. I can hear it well when my windows are down, with the radio off, and when I drive by a wall or structures on the right side of the car (not so much the left or driver side). I recently had a "low-oil-pressure" episode... imagine that in a 6MT.... Anyway, I basically ran real low on oil and that's how I discovered the oil consumption issue. I'm wondering if some sort of damage to the engine has been done and the crackling sound that I am hearing is related to that?

I took it in the the dealership here in NorCal and at first the service manager said that it was likely exhaust-related. Then, I get a call later and he said that my car was pinging and that I should on use premium gas from the usual recommended places. I have been using Costco premium, but I didn't think that would result in the excessive crackling that I am hearing. I will try what he suggested, but I fear that this is perhaps something more serious. I don't hear the crackling during idle or when I'm going slow in 1st or 2nd. When I am in 3rd and 4th, I can hear it. Once I get moving, it doesn't seem to matter if I'm giving it gas or letting roll in neutral (as a test). The sound tends to be sporadic and doesn't seem to have a regular pattern or beat to it.

Could this be a symptom of engine damaged? Or is this something more mundane like build up of deposits or exhaust issue? Thanks for your thoughts on this.

 

Thought I'd follow up on my post in case someone else can learn from my experience...

Took the car in again this morning. Got a tech to ride w/ me (ask for the guy that's not deaf...) He heard the sound and identified it as coming from the right-rear wheel area. Just got a call that it has to do w/ some loose or damaged bearings and it's fully covered under factory warranty? The first time I brought the car in, they said that it was pinging.... geez. It'll get fixed tomorrow. Hopefully, the sound will be completely gone!

Also, found out that sway bar was loose, which explains the occasional clanking sound when I drive off the driveway. That's covered under the extended warranty although I should just get underneath there and tighten it up myself and save $100 on deductible...DOUH!