Timing advance
07-30-2012, 04:03 PM
#1
Timing advance
I know its on here a million times but I wanna adjust my timing a bit to get more power how exactly do I do that? Its on a 3.0 92 4runner. Do I need a timing light? Whats a safe timing to adjust to and about how far would that be from center like in inches?
07-30-2012, 09:05 PM
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If you start advancing the timing more than a couple degrees it's gonna knock. You can run premium gas or use an octane booster to compensate a little, but you won't get any real power gains out of it and you'll be putting extra stress on the engine for nothing. I would just set it to the stock setting, it's set that way at the factory for a reason. And yes you do need a timing light! If you're after more power, intake and exhaust are easy and pretty cheap. Even just a K&N replacement filter makes a noticeable difference.
08-01-2012, 01:45 PM
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Loosen the one bolt attaching the distributor assembly to the bracket it sits on(3vze)....turn it (the cap)maybe a 1/8 inch to the ...right?... I noticed a small acceleration difference without getting a knock but I went from a place with 8K elevation to sea level ... so it helped to adjust it a little... if you adjust it with the engine on dont grab the cap on the top cause it will shock the crap out of you. I was searching for that when I did my timing belt and couldn't find a clear answer either. Hope that answers your question....
08-01-2012, 07:59 PM
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To simplify things a little:
The ECU applies ignition advance based on a pre-programmed curve, with some feedback from temperature, throttle and maybe knock sensors. If you advance the 'base' timing, that only move the ignition curve up.
You will need a timing light.
You will need to put the ECU in diagnostics mode so you can set the initial timing, and adjust your idle rpm down after advancing.
No two engines are exactly the same so you will have to find what initial advance your engine is happiest at through trial and error.
And don't make the mistake that "it doesn't ping at full throttle so it's okay": you have more ignition advance at highway speeds and a light throttle than you do at wide-open throttle. So, a very little ping in high gear, light acceleration and freeway speeds is mostly okay, but pinging at constant / cruise throttle is bad.
Safest thing is advance it until you hear pinging then back it off so you don't.
The ECU applies ignition advance based on a pre-programmed curve, with some feedback from temperature, throttle and maybe knock sensors. If you advance the 'base' timing, that only move the ignition curve up.
You will need a timing light.
You will need to put the ECU in diagnostics mode so you can set the initial timing, and adjust your idle rpm down after advancing.
No two engines are exactly the same so you will have to find what initial advance your engine is happiest at through trial and error.
And don't make the mistake that "it doesn't ping at full throttle so it's okay": you have more ignition advance at highway speeds and a light throttle than you do at wide-open throttle. So, a very little ping in high gear, light acceleration and freeway speeds is mostly okay, but pinging at constant / cruise throttle is bad.
Safest thing is advance it until you hear pinging then back it off so you don't.
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