Timing advance at idle and part-throttle cruising

[matthewdesigns]

I've searched here, VFAQ, and 1000AAQ, and cannot find a reference to what timing should be at idle and part-throttle cruising.

I've recently started using a logger, and find that my timing drops sometimes to 5-9* when I'm steady cruising (most recently: tps=20%, rpms=2500, mph=30), and always when I'm at idle (I'm idling at about 730rpm). Other times, when I'm steady cruising, timing is in the 30's.

I also see a drop to single digits when I go to WOT from a steady cruise, which then rises to the 16-20* range...I believe I've read that this is normal, though.

Are these numbers normal? All the searching I've done yields a ton of info about timing at WOT, but not in other situations. I don't have an eprom ecu, so I can't count knock...I have to rely on timing at this point. I just want to make sure it is not way off, and damaging my engine.

Thanks much, Matthew

 

[FORMONTOYA]

Yes, that's normal. During idle and cruise conditions the timing will bounce.

The only instance when the timing is at a steady state (during idle) is when you ground the timing connector either manually, or with a program such as DSMLink.

 

[matthewdesigns]

So, just to restate, it's not a response to knock when timing drops that low at idle or at cruise conditions.

Please correct me if I'm still off here.

Thank you, Matthew

 

[JayRolla]

No the timing will just bounce around. Usually you will not knock at low rpms unless you are real lean on lo throttle. The only time you need to watch the timing is during WOT.

 

[matthewdesigns]

Thanks for the info guys.

 

[Raph]

just adding to this thread, ive never logged during idle before, so today i was bored.. and my timing at idle was at 2-9 degrees..then when i slowly reved it to 2500 the timing went to 20-30.. wierd isnt it..

rant: i just installed a new boost guage and now i have 4" of idle.. (272s) , my old busted autocrap boostguage raid 14" .. after waiting so long to get this boostguage..its broken too (reads no boost.. )

 

[fuzzydoodle]

Ok so you want your timing to stay advanced when wot? I'm just starting to tune with 660's and an AFC and @ -15% across it runs good timing will advance when starting to throttle to about 30* then when it gets to about 4-5 grand it drops to about 9* Normal?