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Review of Timing Advance

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Old 09-12-2008, 03:52 PM
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Review of Timing Advance

So I had my timing advanced a few days ago and figured I'd give my personal input on performance. First thing I noticed is the throtle response is much better from a dead stop it feels real quick. The other thing I noticed that I'm very pleased about is when the car shifts (auto) it seems to stay in the power band the lag after shifting was greatly reduced. At WOT it just screams it pulls much harder than before. So all in all I found this to be a worth while change for very little $$$. Deffinatly recomend doing this I'm not sure how much gains in WHP but the engine seems to be running much more efficiantly now. Hope this helps anyone wondering about this mod.
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Old 09-12-2008, 04:11 PM
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what dealership did you go to jon?
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Old 09-12-2008, 04:19 PM
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Framingham Nissan on RT 9w
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Old 09-12-2008, 05:22 PM
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how much of an timing advance did u have done
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Old 09-12-2008, 06:20 PM
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from 15 to 17
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Old 09-12-2008, 06:22 PM
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Originally Posted by johnnyd2k2
from 15 to 17
how much did they charge you?
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Old 09-12-2008, 06:26 PM
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$99 flat rate for hooking up the consult so while it's hooked up they will do anything you want that was all I had them do beside clearing any stored codes
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Old 09-12-2008, 07:05 PM
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Sorry to bite on your thread-but I just had this done to my 01 5spd. last week. I agree with all you said. Throttle response improved. Has way more punch. WOT, she just screams. Very impressed. Why had I not done this sooner? I went form 15 to 17. To all who are waiting to do this, STOP IT! Go get it done soon. Run that super though. You'll love it.
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Old 09-12-2008, 07:20 PM
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Timing advance is as old as hot rodding. Before computers, the way you controlled timing was the initial advance and the timing curve (how quickly additional advance was added). No suprise that manufacturers still dial in a conservative timing curve from the factory that can be improved upon.

I remember seeing dyno charts that shows up to 15 hp gains on 350 cubic inch V8s once the initial timing and curve were dialed in.
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Old 09-12-2008, 09:55 PM
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This is my next performance mod actually. I'm planning on getting a Greddy EU, but they are having financial problems and I won't have the cash flow for about a month until I can get it. I might just end up biting the bullet and pay the $100(or backdoor $20 if I can catch a tech ) and get it done tomorrow
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Old 09-13-2008, 07:31 PM
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Getting this done on Wed. after class. $46.50.
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Old 09-14-2008, 07:13 AM
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nice.. how did you go about doing this moncef? i was under the assumption that they wouldnt do this on the books..did u just call and say hey.. will u guys advance my timing.. cuz i heard that some techs will say it "cant be done" lol.,..oh and johnny u got a PM on something OT...
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Old 09-14-2008, 07:46 AM
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If your going to do this, you MUST use Super at the pump to prevent detonation.
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Old 09-14-2008, 10:48 AM
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Originally Posted by mist max2000
nice.. how did you go about doing this moncef? i was under the assumption that they wouldnt do this on the books..did u just call and say hey.. will u guys advance my timing.. cuz i heard that some techs will say it "cant be done" lol.,..oh and johnny u got a PM on something OT...
I called Jim Miller Nissan and spoke to the service manager about it. He said it'd just switch itself back and I told him that was only valid on 4th gens not 5th gens. So he agreed to bump my timing to 17 BTDC.

I think as long as it's within factory spec they should allow it.

BTW: If I were to buy an EU, how much more timing could I add to effectively increase the whp without knocking or having to run race gas?

EDIT/OT: Damn my rims look so cool in my sig for some reason
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Old 09-14-2008, 01:44 PM
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Originally Posted by ChrisMan287
If your going to do this, you MUST use Super at the pump to prevent detonation.
what exactly is detonation, and what can happen if you don't use premium fuel?
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Old 09-14-2008, 02:20 PM
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Originally Posted by wyche89
what exactly is detonation, and what can happen if you don't use premium fuel?
Wow....google.
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Old 09-14-2008, 07:26 PM
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for anyone else that is lazy and to make ppl smarter lol... not the best source but eh...wiki...
Knocking (also called knock, detonation or spark knock, pinking in UK English or pinging in US English) in spark-ignition internal combustion engines occurs when combustion of the air/fuel mixture in the cylinder starts off correctly in response to ignition by the spark plug, but one or more pockets of air/fuel mixture explode outside the envelope of the normal combustion front. The fuel-air charge is meant to be ignited by the spark plug only, and at a precise time in the piston's stroke cycle. The peak of the combustion process no longer occurs at the optimum moment for the four-stroke cycle. The shock wave creates the characteristic metallic "pinging" sound, and cylinder pressure increases dramatically. Effects of engine knocking range from inconsequential to completely destructive. It should not be confused with pre-ignition (or preignition), as they are two separate events.
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Old 09-15-2008, 08:03 AM
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Originally Posted by ChrisMan287
If your going to do this, you MUST use Super at the pump to prevent detonation.
Any 5.5 gen owner should already be using 93 anyways since it is stated as required in the manual, I know it's been debated and I know you CAN run less octane but you are right advancing I wouldn't run less than 93.
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Old 09-15-2008, 11:35 AM
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Well since here in Cali our premium gas is 91 octane will I still be ok to get the timing advance done to my vehicle.
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Old 09-15-2008, 12:06 PM
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Yes, it helps.

http://forums.maxima.org/all-motor/4...ive-proof.html
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Old 09-15-2008, 12:47 PM
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Originally Posted by MintVQ35
Any 5.5 gen owner should already be using 93 anyways since it is stated as required in the manual, I know it's been debated and I know you CAN run less octane but you are right advancing I wouldn't run less than 93.
It's not required...it's recommended for best performance.
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Old 09-15-2008, 03:48 PM
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Will 91 octane work, I do not want any pinging.
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Old 09-15-2008, 04:31 PM
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Originally Posted by travof2008
Will 91 octane work, I do not want any pinging.
Your knock sensor should keep you from pinging even with the timing advance. Not sure you'd get the full benefit that way but you should at least get better throttle response even if the ECU is dialing back the timing a bit to keep the engine from pinging.
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Old 09-15-2008, 09:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Puppetmaster

Only 3 hp gain? Bummer
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Old 09-15-2008, 10:28 PM
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Originally Posted by crazy97
Only 3 hp gain? Bummer
You also get better throttle response, which will be noticable. Not much overall power gain but the car will respond more quickly which gives it a better "seat of the pants" feel.

Besides, 3 hp with little effort is still 3 hp you didn't have before.
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Old 09-15-2008, 11:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Scottwax
You also get better throttle response, which will be noticable. Not much overall power gain but the car will respond more quickly which gives it a better "seat of the pants" feel.

Besides, 3 hp with little effort is still 3 hp you didn't have before.

Ah, I see. But 3 hp from a car that had headers, cai, polished IM...

Could a stock car benifit even less maybe?
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Old 09-15-2008, 11:54 PM
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Originally Posted by travof2008
Will 91 octane work, I do not want any pinging.
In Cali, no. Higher elevation like here in Utah it will be fine
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Old 09-16-2008, 12:41 AM
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I advanced mine a bit ago... A friend did it for me, he has a Uprev Cipher Unit... LOL...

anyway.. I noticed all teh same... Nothing crazy.. but like one other person said... its 3 hp you didnt have..
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Old 09-16-2008, 08:32 AM
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Damn well is there anyone in so cal no where I can get this done. Ive called 4 nissan stealerships with no success.
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Old 09-16-2008, 06:13 PM
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Originally Posted by crazy97
Ah, I see. But 3 hp from a car that had headers, cai, polished IM...

Could a stock car benifit even less maybe?
Should be about the same on all cars.
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Old 09-16-2008, 06:31 PM
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Second that. Any hookups?


Originally Posted by travof2008
Damn well is there anyone in so cal no where I can get this done. Ive called 4 nissan stealerships with no success.
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Old 09-16-2008, 07:28 PM
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I didn't see it mentioned, so I'm gonna say it...The knock sensor senses detonation/pinging...so if you're not running super-and pinging occurs, the computer will retard your timing...curing the knock. That is why it is beneficial to use premium gas. Less detonation means that your timing is gonna stay on the upper part of that curve. So when you have the timing advanced by way of the Consult II, it bumps that knock level/cutoff higher. I believe the knock sensor will cut timing back as far as 11 degrees BTDC. Thats the lowest I've seen it go on a poor running VQ, with a BAD tank of regular gas. I had another tech tell me he had seen a VQ at 8 degrees. Sure, run regular-but you just defeated the purpose of the advance anyways. Even if you don't advance/or run super-not running the reccomended fuel is just robbing you of precious horse power. IMHO. I ran 1 tank of plus-in 115K miles- a few weeks ago while on a trip. Oops. My car didn't like me for 320 miles. I'll tell you what. Backdoor a tech, get a tank of premium-and enjoi the new ride. I think it really is that much nicer.

Last edited by flatcat19; 09-17-2008 at 01:01 AM.
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Old 09-17-2008, 06:15 AM
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Originally Posted by travof2008
Damn well is there anyone in so cal no where I can get this done. Ive called 4 nissan stealerships with no success.
Originally Posted by ICELANDIC MAX
Second that. Any hookups?
Pose the question in your regional forums.
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Old 09-17-2008, 03:20 PM
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Update. So a cool-ish story about me getting my timing bumped.

I went to Jim Miller Nissan and talked to the service manager and asked him if I could speak to the tech who was working on my car. The dude said it couldn't be done and I had those instructions for Consult which I showed him. He told me it would ping with anything less than 92. I decided to continue being a **** and say it shouldn't ping with 91+.

That aside, he plugged it in, and pushed a few buttons and I asked if he could check the timing and he said since there's no dizzy/flywheel mark he can't (wtf). Oh well.

So the service manager decided to knock it down from $50 to $30 just because he decided it "wouldn't do anything".

Driving impressions for me were increased throttle response. I have no dyno, nor do I have a butt dyno. But this will work better with other bolt-ons which I'm looking forward to
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Old 09-17-2008, 06:24 PM
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Originally Posted by MoncefA33
, nor do I have a butt dyno.
you dont



heh me neither........................................... .................. ,...
















oh and btw.. butt dyno means how the car feels to you.. butt..aka ur *** on the seat feeling how the car drives lol ..good ol' urban--->

URBAN DICTIONARY

1. butt-dyno 22 up, 1 down

A device which implements a human being's rear-end to report a vehicle's performance in acceleration or engine power.
My butt-dyno says it's faster!

Last edited by mist max2000; 09-17-2008 at 06:28 PM.
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Old 09-17-2008, 07:33 PM
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I'm aware of what a butt-dyno is haha...

Me saying I do not have a butt dyno means that I cannot say "it feels like I gained 80whp, and I could slaughter Cobras with this thing" or even make up a close estimate. My buddy said it pulled harder, for what that's worth.

We'll see what happens when I get my Y/POP I've seen dynoed gains for THAT. lol.

Moncef

EDIT YES 69 posts wooo! lol

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Old 09-17-2008, 07:54 PM
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haha okay my bad lol..u never know with some of the new 'clientele' around here ....g/l w the y/pop
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Old 09-17-2008, 09:22 PM
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Originally Posted by flatcat19
I didn't see it mentioned, so I'm gonna say it...The knock sensor senses detonation/pinging...so if you're not running super-and pinging occurs, the computer will retard your timing...curing the knock.
Must have missed post #23...

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Old 09-24-2008, 11:27 AM
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question on this. My father s a mechanic. he has access to a consult II. Can i use the consult to advance timing?
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Old 09-24-2008, 04:53 PM
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Originally Posted by jeff5347
question on this. My father s a mechanic. he has access to a consult II. Can i use the consult to advance timing?
you can do it with the consult here are the directions
http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...lt-2-tool.html
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