How to Improve Car Engine Performance for Free
This weHow is for older cars with distributor ignitition. More recent cars with electromagnetic ignition requires CPU upgrade to advance the timing (IOW, not free.)
Most cars come from the factory with ignition timing that is in the middle of the recommended range. On Hondas and Accords, this range can be 14 DTDC to 20 DTDC depending on the model/engine. In other words, you can advance the timing of your engine to the top limit of the recommended range, which can provide more HP and better mileage.
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Things You'll Need
- Typical hand tools including screwdrivers, wrenches and socket wrenches of necesssary.
- Timing light.
Instructions
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1
Open hood! Locate the distributor. You should see that the distributor can be adjusted clockwise or counterclockwise (to advance or retard timing.)
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2
Research (online or at a dealership) on which direction advances the ignition timing. Sometimes this information is located on an information sheet under the hood.
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3
Loosen the bolts that hold the distributor. (not just the distributor cap.)
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4
Rotate the distributor to the direction to advance the timing. Only advance 1 degree at a time. It's easy to come back and advance little bit more, but harder to go back after advancing too much and damaging the valves and the piston heads. If you have a timing light, set the timing to the top limit of the factory recommended range.
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5
After adjusting the timing of the distributor, tighten the distributor bolts and go for a test drive. You should take the car up hills and accelerate quickly during the test drive. If you hear any pinging, you've advance the timing too much and you'll need to retard the timing.
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6
If you were able to advance the timing by 2~4 degrees, you should see improvement in HP and mileage. by advancing the timing you are increasing the compression in the piston chamber before detonation occurs. Higher compression equals more HP and more complete burn of the fuel.
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Tips & Warnings
Using a punch or sharp metal object, draw a line along the distributor bracket and where the original location of the distributor was. This will allow you to put the distributor back to the original position.
ADVANCING THE TIMING BEYOND THE FACTORY RECOMMENDATION CAN DESTROY YOUR ENGINE! I strongly recommend taking your car to a shop for this type of work you are not familiar with automotive mechanics.
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Comments
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thunderbay1969
Aug 07, 2007
how much is it for a rebuild engine for a 1986 buick regal with a 5.0 liter engine -
James Jones
Jan 16, 2007
Bent valves and cracked piston heads are possible with the timing set to far in advance! We've done it to racing engines, accidentally of course, but it can be done. Signed, Very Qualified Mechanic!
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harmonyv
Dec 25, 2006
In step 4 you say that by advancing the timing too much you can bend valves? Not possible. Timing belts and chains control valve timing. Distributors control spark timing. Put simply, if you advance the timing the spark will fire earlier. It won't damage the engine in the short term but if done incorrectly will do it in the long term. How about we leave such things to qualified mechanics.
