True, the 2-3-2 code can be rich or lean. It is an indication of a "lamda" detected mixture problem. So you are right, except that pinging doesn't occur during a rich condition and plugs are never white from rich comdition. I am coming to the LEAN conclusion by combining all of the data gathered. Pinging is the result of either timing that is too far advanced or a lean mixture (or is one of these actually "knock"?) and the color of the plugs is definitly lean, with no trace of being rich at all. NO black whatsoever. The plugs are ULTRA clean except the white on the ground electrode. Plugs usually are not white from ignition ping from being too far advanced for the load condition (or is it ignition knock?) Usually, the insulator gets blown apart from that and the electrode shows erosion. Neither of these condition exsist on my plugs. And as we all know, a perfect plug should be tan-ish brown especially after 5000 miles of daily driving...