3rd gear pull, knock almost gone?

[smellmyface686]

Just started messing with DSMLink the other day. On my first pull i was showing alot of knock, as much as 11 counts in certain areas. The least amount i logged was on this last third gear pull, and that is the way the car is sitting now. Did i start out backwards, should i have tuned for more power first then eliminated knock? Anyway here's the log, appreciate any help in advance!

 

[JeffGST]

This is the correct way to tune. Add timing slowly and watch for knock. It looks nice and rich according to the Front O2 data. You need to rev the motor higher though and make a full data pull.

You have timing drop like a rock after 6000 RPM. It would have dropped all the way to 15 degrees if you went to 6500. Raise it up and make timing nice and linear after 6000.

 

[Black_Bullet]

My computer wont open your file and i dont like saving stuff on this computer
but what i can suggest is :

Set your AFR to the point you want it to be.(11:1-11:5 is good) Leave the afr a little richer thru torque peak which is the hardest point on the engine. ( You generally want timing adv to be lower in this region also.)
Now pull back timing all the way down to about 10 degs across the board. Keeping timing real low intially allows you to set the boost you want to run without worrying about encountering knock.
So therefore, pull up your boost to the point you want to run.
With the timing real low you shouldnt be knocking yet. Now you run the boost and afr that you want.

Next start gradually bumping timing across the board in 1-2 deg incriments below 5500, and 3-4 deg incriments above 6k.

On 93 crap tane pump gas and lower you will find that ( if running above 20psi) youd probably only be able to managed another 5-6 degs thru you powerband, and maybe a peak of 21 at best.
Every time you bump timing, go and do a FULL 3rd gear log starting at roughly 3k rpm WOT, and taking it to about 500 rpm after the point you'd normally be shifting in a race. ( Or to rev limiter depending if you still have stock limiter.)

I roughly found that under 5k i stay below 12 degs timing, and after 5k i start to smoothly, but quickly ramp up the timing and im at around 16 degs by 6500, and 19 degs by 7000 rpm. This in on a safe 22-23 psi tune on pump gas w/ my evo3 16g. My afr is around 10.8 up to 4800 ish to keep it richer during boost spiking, and then leans out to around 11.2 after 5k and up.
Depending how good your turbo holds boost, you will find you can get a lot more aggressive with timing the higher up in the rev range you go due to boost drop off with the turbo; efficency, etc.
More Pressure= heat in this situation.

Your current compression, FMIC size, IAT's all play a big role in how much boost/ timing you can get away with. Try some BR7ES spark plugs which are non projected. I followed the tip per a wise man on here and found that they helped my tune with clearing up random knock.

Doing a cold air intake also worked for me in dropping IAT's almost 40 degs at all times.
( If you want more info on that, search thru my posts, maybe page 8 has the link about the coldair intake stuff.)

For my setup im going to fix my two minor boost leaks ( tb shaft seals, forge bov valve hole) and try sea foam engine cleaner next to clean up some carbon deposits to see if that allows me to get another deg of timing across the rev range. It all is significant. Boost leaks will make you more prone to knock;
and usually on dsms once you start knocking you may carry some knock, or it may get worse all the way thru the pull even after the ecu has retarded timing. Oh and make sure your knock sensor is new and good, phantom knock still pulls timing.

Ok enough rambling. Thats basic theory of tuning though everyone can have different results....
That is just my insight.