

It also helps get the spark past the ignition delay Advancing the ignition timing helps raise the high-end power while reducing the low end. The major benefit to advancing the timing of a vehicle’s ignition is increasing the horsepower of an engine. Needed to allow time to get everything ignited. The air and fuel mixture in the combustion chamber doesn’t burn right away. Timing advance means that the spark plugs are firing earlier in the compression stroke, farther from TDC. Spark plugs need to fire at the right time, which can be achieved by advancing or retarding the timing of the engine. Ignition timing is measured in degrees of a crankshaft rotation before top dead center (BDTC). Changes or upgrades to an engine will require subsequent changes to the ignition timing The timing of the spark is extremely important to maintain high engine performance.Ī range of factors can influence the ignition timing in an engine, including the condition of the spark plugs, the temperature of the engine, and the intake pressure. Pressure pushes down on the piston as hard as possible.Īfter the ignition timing process, the exhaust stroke occurs to release the old gases so the process can happen again.Just as the piston hits top dead center (TDC), pressure is maximized.Pressure is built in the cylinder as the burning gases expand.The air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber is ignited.The spark plug fires during the compression stroke.If the spark plug fires too soon or too late during the compression stroke, damage to the engine can occur over time.ĭuring the process, the following steps occur: Ignition timing is an important process when it comes to running an engine. If you’re interested to find out more about ignition timing, how it works, and how you can modify it to affect the performance of a vehicle, then keep on reading. Performance is through advancing or retarding ignition timing. Considering this, it makes sense that there would be ways to affect the ignition timing process to increase vehicle performance. Ignition timing is an important process that plays a big role in the performance of an engine. Ignition timing controls when the spark plug fires during this process. A car’s ignition timing comes into play during the compression stroke. There are four steps involved: intake, compression, power and exhaust. From the crankshaft and camshaft to the pistons, rods, and pulleys, all of these components are moving quickly and at specific times so things function properly.ĭuring this process, your car’s engine utilizes four distinct piston strokes in order Hope that helps eliminate and not add to your confusion.There are a lot of moving parts in a car’s engine. Nothing will live very long with that much advance. For example, if you start at 32* and the mechanical advance moves it another 15*, you now have 47* of total advance. If you were to do that you would not be far from a BBQ that you didn't want to have. It is very important that you understand this enough to NOT lock your distibutor at 32* without disabling the mechanical advance. Search his posts, and you will find a bunch of information about that scenario. Most folks, including myself do not use the later method. When you do this, you need to have a means to remove some timing (ignition control box, etc) so you do not have a problem getting it to start and/or idle especially when it is warm. Then you would set the timing at max advance (32*) at leave it. In this case, the mechanical advance is 'locked' or disabled so that it is not operational. Talk of 'locking' the distributor is another critter all together. Two completely different and independent issues. Springs and weights have nothing to do with vacume advance, they have to do with controling the mechanical advance. However quick the total comes in does not change the fact that you want to limit the timing to 32* total. By using the lightest springs in whatever kit you get, you enable the total advance to be achieved sooner (ie. The amount it advances and how quick it gets to total advance is controled by the springs and weights inside the distributor. That leaves mechanical (or centrifical) advance.
