LS Advanced Igniton Timing

After getting home last night I thought I'll try adjusting the ignition spark timing, an idea of got from some Mazda guys. After finding my jack does not fit under the car anymore I built a little ramp from 18mm MDF stacked 3 high. Ripped off the drivers front wheel and went to work.

This is a $0 mod that alters how long in advance the ecu sends spark to each plug. Playing around with it can improve efficiency, yield around 2 or 3 kw and push you quicker through the rev range but you can slightly retard to help stop pinging (to run on 91ron) and better low range torque.

Before - Looking at the standard sensor through the drivers front wheel well (the black sensor being held by 2 8mm bolts to the right of the silver pipe bend)
http://grotechlandscape.com/myprofil...e/DSCF0365.jpg

After with sensor moved down.
http://grotechlandscape.com/myprofil...e/DSCF0369.jpg

The movement of the sensor from the middle position to the outer extremities is around +/- 4 degrees. You should be using at least 95RON No Etho to be on the safe side but a lot of people in the US are using the equivelant 91 RON and finding no probs.

Anyways my findings:
There is a slight loss of torque in the bottom end of the rev range 1-2500rpm but not much to notice. The power delivery is a lot smoother now mid range and the tacho catapaults quicker from 4500 to 7000rpm. Quicker to the speed limit? Yes

I am slightly disappointed with the loss of bottom end but the car is at 3100rpm when cruising along the freeway at 110kmh. For $0 the only thing lost was the 15 mins.

BlackLS reccommended?
Yes except if you tend to use the torque lower down over power higher up.

[More revs]

Gotcha.. loosen the holding bolts and slide it down b4 retightning...

Did you have to take off anything else other than wheel?

Nope Except its a good idea to reset the ecu, so unhook that battery for about 30 mins and make sure you have your radio code.

You might find it a bit hard getting to the lower bolt behind the belt. Either push the belt really hard aside to fit a 1/8 8mm socket with extension or use a ring spanner. I did the socket connected to an extension connected to a cordless drill.

Apparently if you grind the slots a bit you can get an extra 2 degrees.

And if you want to retard towards top dead centre, move it up instead of down.

[zetec]

Fascinating. Do you think this solves the issues some people are having with pinging - i.e. just retard the timing a little?

[eXtremist]

Thats right, zetec.

AFAIK BlackLS retarted his timing to stop the pinging, but there are "some" disadvantages.

My car now has 7,000kms, and I notice pinging more often, it doesn't sound very safe for the engine.

I will definately be moving the sensor downwards a few mm this weekend.

Originally Posted by eXtremist

Thats right, zetec.

AFAIK BlackLS retarted his timing to stop the pinging, but there are "some" disadvantages.

My car now has 7,000kms, and I notice pinging more often, it doesn't sound very safe for the engine.

I will definately be moving the sensor downwards a few mm this weekend.

Na I advanced it.

Moving up retards it, moving down advances it.

I run 95 in it all the time now, and it hasn't pinged for a while.

[eXtremist]

Wha.. But.. Meh!

Have you tried to retard the timing to see if the performance decreases?

You'll most likely see top end 6-7000rpm lose out but it would gain better torque 1-2500rpm. Just guessing though.

Also I averaged 7.5l/100km on a 95km trip that is usually at 8.1L/100km.

Theres also this merging lane from an intersection into a 100kmh zone (Illawarra Road right into Heathcote Rd towards Liverpool) that I've only managed to crack 95 or so kmh before the lane ends. Last night I hit 100kmh before the lane ended so definatly a performance increase.

I did get some pinging last night on 95ron by suddenly flooring it after feathering for 5 mins or so but was only 2 knocks, it didn't reoccur, and it wasn't the 6 or so knocks you get from running dodgy 91 when standard.

Pretty happy so far.

[More revs]

I did the mod this afternoon. Exactly as you said BlackLS, easy access and only took 10 mins which included me looking for the socket set.

I didn't reset the ecu yet, wanted to assess any diference.

Well.... it has a little more all over esp mid range where I drive it most of the time. Also seems to have a little more urgency above 5500 RPM so 6300 is a useful maximum now insted of 5800 before.

Bottom end didnt seem to change at all, then I didn't reset the ecu which makes sense.

I have a full day of driving tomorrow, should things change I'll report back.

[More revs]

Well it's had a day or so of city and freeway driving with these results.

Didn't reset ECU - too lazy and don't have the radio PIN
No pinging - had the ping gland removed at birth.
It has got better pickup at all revs.
Revs higher smoother
Mid range is stronger - don't have to wring it's neck all the time.
Feels like a bit less throttle is needed compared to b4.

Here's the rub - I only use 95RON E10 so I was expecting it to ping... but not at all.

This car has no other mods.

Enjoy !

Well I ran 91 in it from Thursday to Sunday and no pinging, unlike the BP 95 I had in the previous tank. Did have an increase in fuel consumption though over a 80km drive, Couldn't get it under 8.5 on a usually 7.4l/100ks trip.

[More revs]

I find the same thing on 91RON, increased consumption and less torque below 3500RPM. As for the mod it's been a week or so and it still pulls like a 16 year old. Only time it pings is when the throttle is aggressively cracked open which I don't do in normal driving.

[photn]

Originally Posted by More revs

I find the same thing on 91RON, increased consumption and less torque below 3500RPM. As for the mod it's been a week or so and it still pulls like a 16 year old. Only time it pings is when the throttle is aggressively cracked open which I don't do in normal driving.

thats an interesting analogy!

Ok last night, I put in 98 RON. And what a difference.

Cruising at 120kmh for 5 mins have around 7.4l/100km(usually 8.something). 110 - 6.9; 100 - 6.5. If you hit the limiter the knock sensors richen the mixture and the next 20 mins or so you'll have worse economy, I tested this on the way home.

Averaged 7.2 on the trip i mentioned 3 posts up.

Engine is more willing rev and sounds gruntier as well.

This mod is more convincing by the day!

[More revs]

Couldn't agree more mine now has enough pickup that cruising @ 100KPH on a country road every hump and bump that moves the throttle makes it almost leap ahead. I'm looking for a 6th gear...

Originally Posted by More revs

Couldn't agree more mine now has enough pickup that cruising @ 100KPH on a country road every hump and bump that moves the throttle makes it almost leap ahead. I'm looking for a 6th gear...

LOL same!! Thank god for the reverse lockout when shifting down the gate from 5th.

[Uni]

so you guys both went all the way down?

sounds like you've done some good there lads, i'll be doing this one over the weekend. always wondered how hard it would be to have the timing advanced for the higher octance fuel i use.

thanks!


Uni/.

[More revs]

Yes all the way down as far as it will slide.

modest but noticable gains.

[Fast Eddie]

Is this mod available in the LR (85kw tune) Focus?

[More revs]

Don't know eddie. check if it has an adjustable crank angle sensor.

Can anyone confirm this for him??

I'll look when I get home, check out Mums LR.

[Rollake70]

sorry to bump an age old thread here, but im looking to do this to my focus, but cant see any difference between the 2 pics? could someone please circle what i need to adjust?

[Tj-zetec]

seconding the bump, did fast eddie ever find out if something similar is possible on the LR?, i know it's a different motor and i can't say i've seen it pop up anywhere.

[RJO89]

Originally Posted by Rollake70

sorry to bump an age old thread here, but im looking to do this to my focus, but cant see any difference between the 2 pics? could someone please circle what i need to adjust?

The sliding bar they are talking about is indicated by the green arrows

[BlackLS]

Thanks for the post edgecrush.

I've got a LR at home, when I get a chance I'll see if there is a sensor.

[04RSD]

i have an 2007 st zetec, i just went to do mine but its already all the way down from factory.
i can remember it pinged its head off when i drove it out of the dealership after about 50ks i had to put some octane booster in it.
i have run 98ron since i filled it up the first time.
i need more power!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rollake70]

thanks guys, will have a go when the missus gets it home

[BlackLS]

Just back on this people.

I've moved the sensor back up-ward enough so I can run E10 properly.

With the cost of fuel now I'd like the option to run E10 and better torque 2000-3000ron.

What I did was moved it back to the original position of the sensor. I took it for a drive, tried to get it to ping. Went back home moved it down, went out, tried to make it ping. Repeated this about 4 times until I got it to ping, then I moved it back a mm or 2.

[mudwaa]

actually had the front wheels off on the week-end so i decided why not give this a try. always hard to tell with small things like this but it does seem to have more urgency from 4000rpm and feels more willing to race thru the redline. small gain, zero cost. can't complain about that.

[Mullett]

Done and done

-RM.