I highly doubt what u hear or think u hear is spark knock or pinging...the ecu will never let the spark knock get so far as to make itself audible...if it's actually audible spark knock that's really bad...to properly diagnose knock or pinging u need to be datalogging the knock sensor, timing, air fuel and maybe misfire counts....then I'd go from there....this ecu will ride the edge of knock and use the knock sensor to continually adjust timing for optimum performance...stock tune for a Taurus will allow 4 degrees of advance and 5 degrees retard from knock sensor but can go higher or lower based on other compensations....these aren't like the old cars that u can hear pinging from knock....