Timing adjustment via TunerCat?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,014
Likes: 18
From: Raleigh, NC
Timing adjustment via TunerCat?
On my 91 the timing is controlled by the ECM. Adjusting the base timing by turning the distributor would be a mistake, right?
If I bring my laptop to a test and tune, I should be able to add timing until it pings, or stops increasing in MPH, right?
FWIW, the car runs on 93 octane gas, so I think I might be able to run a bit more timing than a someone that is limited to 91.
Any advice from those more knowledgeable than myself?
Mods in addition to sig are !cats, !egr/air, and a PLX 5 wire in car wideband. I use nitrous, but I'd like to maximize the NA output. If necessary I'll use a seperate tune/chip for nitrous use.
If I bring my laptop to a test and tune, I should be able to add timing until it pings, or stops increasing in MPH, right?
FWIW, the car runs on 93 octane gas, so I think I might be able to run a bit more timing than a someone that is limited to 91.
Any advice from those more knowledgeable than myself?
Mods in addition to sig are !cats, !egr/air, and a PLX 5 wire in car wideband. I use nitrous, but I'd like to maximize the NA output. If necessary I'll use a seperate tune/chip for nitrous use.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 6
From: NS
You engine has knock sensors. If you advance the timing and the ECM detects knock (ping/detonation) it will automatically retard the timing. So it's unlikely you will get it to ping, you will lose lots of power before that happens.
Also, advancing the timing does not always equal improved performance. When we run our race engines on an engine dyno one of the things we play with is timing. Our engines are not ECM controlled (carb./distributor) so timing is 100% manual tune. There is a "sweet spot" for each engine, less or more advance results is less power/torque. This is before you even get to pinging. For example, at 34 degrees max advance we may make 380hp peak....at 36 maybe 375hp but no ping.
My advice to you is stick with the factory tune unless you have major mods. The factory tune is pretty well right on for a stock engine.
Also, advancing the timing does not always equal improved performance. When we run our race engines on an engine dyno one of the things we play with is timing. Our engines are not ECM controlled (carb./distributor) so timing is 100% manual tune. There is a "sweet spot" for each engine, less or more advance results is less power/torque. This is before you even get to pinging. For example, at 34 degrees max advance we may make 380hp peak....at 36 maybe 375hp but no ping.
My advice to you is stick with the factory tune unless you have major mods. The factory tune is pretty well right on for a stock engine.
