advancing the timing could it damage the engine?

[Olivier]

Hello,
Just read Podmo topic on his engine and the timing not proper, the question I have is that I did the timing awhile ago, got the tool but mess it up a wee bit and decided to finish it visually. The engine run better for sure, but if I did it a wee too far, would that be a worry or not at all?
It suppose to have been advance by 3 degres.
Thank you.
Olivier

 

[johnsco]

Sorry to be unimaginative ... BUT

On a complex engine with ECU and emission-control requirements ...
I would need a VERY VERY good reason to set it up anything other than the manufacturer's specification.

Cheers.
Johnsco

 

[Olivier]

It help as I am on Veg.
Oops.. I said the V word. I'm going to get pinned by Number Cruncher in a minute...
There is praticly no pollution coming from my exhaust. Pollution free ish car and recycling product that is suppose to be in a landfill.
Since this the car feel more responsive to the trottle, less sluggish. Is that a good enough reason to want the car working at its best?
What got me worry is that Podmo as a bother with his engine and this look like this is about the timing. That's all.
Cheers.
Olivier

 

[Smiley]

Is he running on veg too?

I would have placed bets on that being the cause rather than timing being out. If the timing were out far enough to cause problems then I would expect there to be performance or starting or economy issues as well.

 

[Olivier]

Who else is running on veg? Are you talking about Podmo? I don't think so, he was just talking about his timing way off, as I didn't want to hijack his treat I open another with my question.
Olivier

 

[johnsco]

If you're running of Veg, then I can understand you advancing the timing slightly.
All the evidence suggests that it improves running.
Having said that ... I'm NOT recommending the use of Veg in these engines.

Too risky in my humble opinion ...
But ... Olivier ... It's fine by me if that's what you want to do.

Cheers.
Johnsco

 

[Dieselman]

Is he running on veg too?

I doubt it, his car is a 1.8 Kompressor petrol..

 

[Dieselman]

It suppose to have been advance by 3 degrees.

3 degrees from where it was or 3 degrees from standard.? Did you measure where it was to start with.?

3 deg advance is very unlikely to do any harm, it sometimes used to be as a method of cleaning up 'back end burn' and smoke.

The standard setting may well not be the optimal setting anyway as it may be left slightly retarded to create a smother running engine as opposed to a noisier one.
If you advance too far it will get very noisy when firing and performance should drop off.

 

[Olivier]

3 degres from where it was.
Thank you.

 

[Dieselman]

So what is it now?

 

[Olivier]

If I recall properly from 14 degres moved to 11.

 

[Dieselman]

So it was still at the standard setting. No chain wear, not bad for how many miles?

You said you think the car goes better, any better fuel consumption. Did you time it with a stopwatch..

 

[Olivier]

Stopped doing the fuel comsumption as it was not accurate as the strainer ( now gone) was a wee bloqued.
Standart setting? How? The moving of the pump was a nightmare, sooo hard to lift, then those metal fuel pipes, sooo hard to put back in as the pump was not on the same place...
No chain wear? You mean now after the advance or before?
About 4000 miles I reckon.
Car is certainly swifter, might be a wee noisier, still so much quieter then those black cabs. I got a fright last time as I was parked on idle and heard this very loud diesel noise and thought, oh me, my engine... It was a black cab starting next to me.

 

[Dieselman]

I meant the total car mileage.
It's interesting that you can detect a bit more noise, theoretically you should have better MPG unless you've gone too far, which I doubt as the performance seems better.
What's it like at very low revs, more power or less.?

 

[Olivier]

Well, the low rev acceleration is better since I tweaked the wastegate but even before the gate it was more responsive at start up, swiftier not a slug ish comfort start up. I know its a diesel but still, it as a lot of power and a turbo.
I forgot, I timed it I do 0 to 60 in 9 seconds. A wee disapointed. Its not too accurate as I got 2 readings, 8.50 and 9.10, then I say 9.
Car as passed the 100,000 now , ready for another 100,000 minimum, if the rust don't desintegrate it before that.

 

[Dieselman]

Was that 0-60 just from planting the accelerator or holding it on the brake first and letting go when straining?

 

[Olivier]

planting the accelerator. I should try with the brake on? But I thought when you put the foot on the brake the engine shut off?

 

[Dieselman]

Keep pressing but not all the way..and turn the traction control off.. Gives a great number 11..

9s just from planting is pretty quick.

 

[Olivier]

Thanks.
I try it next time.
I turn the traction control off most days now, it annoy me, except on wet road where I find it really helpfull. got few frights on wet cobble stones here. EEK!

 

[Olivier]

I forgot to say, Rad in blinded. Less drag, might help
Thank you DM