Timing advance?

[dsmtuned]

Originally Posted by JoeB

I'm reading and learning, not a mechanic. I have a 99 Toyota Solara with a 3.0L V6 1MZ-FE. The ECU Toyota used is not rewritable. I use a Split Second FTC1 piggy back to control fuel/timing. I've been told there is no way to advance the timing, I can only retard timing. I've read here that one of the things I should do is to advance the timing with water injection. Any ideas? Thanks -JoeB

I don't know how your car works, so I am assuming here based on the way other cars do it.

You ECU should advance timing at lower RPMs and when you have a leaner mixture on the piggy-back control. Piggy-backs usually modify the signal from the intake air counting sensor to the ECU. To make a richer condition, you need to add fuel. When "adding" fuel, you are essentially tricking the ECU into thinking that there is more air coming in the intake and it thus increase tuel to match the air.

Most ECUs take have a control "map" (spreadsheet) that has lower timing values for increased air flow. That means when you are adding a bunch of fuel to combat knock, you are decreasing the timing advance that the ECUwill dish out.

Water injection allows you to run a leaner mixture without knock. So your ECU "sees" less air coming in the intake sensor, and will advance timing. So, yes, if tuned correctly, water injection will help to increase you timing.

Whew!! I'm out of breath now.