I searched and found a lot on what detonation sounds like...most agree that it sounds like bb's in a coffee can...

What causes detonation? I have heard bad gas, too hot of intake charge, too lean of a mixture...anything else?

What is actually occuring in the bottom end when detonation happens? What is it making that noise?

 

The way somebody once explained it to me:

Detonation= Overly advanced timing
Pre-ignition= Combustion chamber temp too high

Two different avenues leading to the same destination, in a nutshell.

 

detonation occurs when the fuel is burnt to fast insted of burning it explodes in the comustion chamber. this makes things verry hot and lots of pressurs are being put on. so parts melt and break. im 80% sure on my discription so dont yell at somone if they think u are wrong if this is what u say

 

Detonation is the noise caused when the intake air charge ignites spontaneously without a spark. This is due to high heat and or too advanced a timing curve.
Preignition is caused when hot spots onteh piston, cylinder head, or valves cause the intake charge to light. When the spark lights the charge and the hot spot lights it also the two flame fronts collide and cause a "knock" Either condition is very bad for your engine and can cause serious damage as well as poor driveability.
On a competition grade engine if you can hear it pinging the damage has already been done.

 

Obviously a good tune would help eliminate detonation...would also a bigger more efficient intercooler help against detonation on hot days while running hard?

 

There a million things that contribute to detonation/preignition, and a million other things you can do to help get rid of it.

Proper fuel supply, proper timing control, cooler charge air, higher octane fuel, etc, etc.

The noise you can hear is the cylinder walls reverbating.

When you have one of these conditions, you have excessive cylinder pressure, due to the uncontrolled burn, or the combustion happening at the wrong time. This cylinder pressure can blow through head gaskets, ringlands, rods, and more.

 

Is detonation the most common destructer of turbocharged hondas?

Maybe this will help...I'm trying to build my car to be done properly to be as reliable as a factory honda (don't laugh!) or at least as reliable as a factory turbo car...I figure if I know what can go wrong and mess my motor up then I can be better prepared in preventing it.

 

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Yes, a cooler intake charge will definately help against detonation. From what I understand, on lower boost levels it's the detonation that kills engines, not excessive power.