How much can I advance the timing without doing damage? I have advanced the timing with no pinging and have more power. Problem is I don't know how much I can advance without causing damage. Please reply.

 

no promises but I have mine at 18* (on 93 octane) but I have cams, intake, exhaust....

EDIT ** I would crank it up till it pings and then back it off a little bit**

 

HINT: the higher you advance, the less LOW rpm torque your going to have coming off idle. You'll tend to stall out easier with max advance. 12 degrees BTDC is pretty much all you can hope for on a stock model, with 93 octane.

 

I've got mine @ 13* BTDC, with modified exhaust and ignition, blocked off EGR and intake silencer, on 87 octane fuel. I haven't fiddled around with it too much, might try 14-15 later. I did see noticeable gain in mpg going from 10* to 13*(2 mpg or so). With lot's more low end torque(0-3000 rpm, but esp. between 0-2000 rpm), and little or no high end torque loss(3001-6000 rpm)as far as I can tell, but no huge gain there I can feel anyway(maybe a little). No pinging for sure.

 

17* btdc using 93 octane, but like Katy, I have nice clean cylinders, oversized valves, a port and polish, and cams.... Ive run 91 octane too (our mid grade here) and it didnt ping. But yeah the truck is kinda anemic until you hit about 2700 rpm, then she pulls GOOD.

 

Mine's only like 8 or 9. I just run plain ol Habieb special 87 octane through her, and she seems to like it. My girl never complains.....and my truck doesn't say much either.

 

stormin - the factory timing advance spec. is 10* BTDC with the jumpers jumped. It should take any and all gas at that setting... You get any pinging with more advance than that?

 

Good point, no wonder it runs like .....JK I meant that it was just a few degrees over stock. My bad. I'm not quite sure why I put 8-9.

 

Ive had mine on 13degrees, and ran it on 98 with no pinging.

Not so much "more power" but engine reponse is heaps better, improved economy aswell!

 

Is there a write-up some where that shows how to advance the timing on a 3.0?
Sorry to get off topic but I've been reading about the ECT mod where you tap into the ECT sensor wire going to the ECU and wire in a potentiometer to adjust the fuel and timing. Is this mod worth it? I have Downey heareds and an MDS ingnition.

 

just loosen the dist. hold down 12 mm bolt a little and turn the distributer clockwise a little bit at a time until you get pinging, then back it off a notch.

 

Surly there's more to it than just turning the dist. Seems I remember reading something about a jumper wire.

 

There is a sticker under the hood for emissions. It shows which parts you need to jump. You'll need a timing light and put some chalk or paint on the number you want to advance to.

I run 12 and am happy. A little bit better response. My engine is otherwise stock except for a K&N drop in filter.

 

if you are trying to hit a specific mark, then you need a light to get there - if you are just trying to advance for performance, just turn it until you ping and then back down...

I started at stock and raised it about 1/4" at a time until it pinged and then backed it off 1/4" - then just for fellow yotatech'ers i put my light on it to find out where I was at -

how far you can go will depend on what shape your motor is in, your spark plugs condition, and your fuel(do you want to HAVE to run high octane?)

J

 

i've wanted a writeup as well. but 87 is all my rig will ever get...regardless

 

If you are doing the "advance it til it pings, and then turn it back a notch" and you're willing to run higher octane gas to get better performance from advancing your timing, you might want to consider having that very gas in your tank right now. Because that spot "when it pings" will likely be different with different grades of gas. In fact I'd be interested in hearing how guys fair with 94 octane as far as how far you could advance it.