I recently did a tune-up. With the timing jumpers jumped, I set the timing to 5-deg btdc. The vacuum advance takes it out to around 11 or 12.

I drove my 88Runner 22re for a few days, and the truck was great.

Then, not being able to leave well enough alone, I advanced the timing to 8 or 9-deg btdc.

It just sounded good there. So, I ohmed out TPS, reset RPM to 750, checked timing, wash-rinse-repeat.

At 8 or 9-deg btdc jumped, the advance takes it out to maybe 14 or 15 btdc.

I have no knock or other issues, just pulled a 1000 pound trailer 900 miles, and she has noticeably more pep-in-her-step around town.

If some “extra” timing advance increased my pulling under load (i.e., the trailer), and performance while just driving around, then why doesn’t everyone do this?

Why the 5-deg btdc factory recommendation? I must be burning the preverbal candle at the other end somehow. What am I missing?

Thanks in, well, advance...