What is one cause of pre-ignition?

One cause of pre-ignition is the overheating of the combustion chamber, which can occur due to excessive engine temperatures or hot spots on the spark plug or piston. This elevated temperature can ignite the air-fuel mixture prematurely, before the spark plug fires. Factors such as incorrect spark plug heat range, carbon deposits, or lean fuel mixtures can also contribute to this issue. Pre-ignition can lead to engine knocking and potentially severe engine damage if not addressed.