After consulting with various mechanics...

[Halcyon]

Everyone on this forum, and other g20/sr20 forums, seem to agree in unison that advancing the timing is among the best low end mods. But... I talked with a few of the local mechanics around my area, and basically went on google, searched up car repair and mechanics sites, and emailed about 20 of them regarding advanced timing. The responses turned out to be... not really what i expected. Not a single one recommended advanced timing. Some said the computer would adjust the timing after I change it, so it wont do any good. Others said it's just plain bad for the engine. Still others said it's an outdated technique that would bring more problems than good. So now.. I dunno. What do you guys think about this?

[Cliffgump]

Well there are a ton of people who run it with no problems and IS a proven gain. True the engine will retard the timing if it's advanced too far, and you'll notice a decrease in performance, but advancing it to 17 or 19 degrees isn't that much and won't cause the computer to retard the timing. The mechanincs that say it's bad for your engine are right, IF you don't use premium fuel. Those mechanics you talked to just don't know the SR20...

[EvilYak]

another thing... the technique maybe old, but so are our cars :p

[JBLoudG20]

I'm not taking any sides, so mt first question is how many horsies are we talking? If I remember right, its only a few. In my opinion its not worth the hassle. My dad, infiniti tech, says that although over the course of a few years, it shouldn't do anything real bad, over time does do damage to the (pistons I think he said) engine. For a few horsies, I didn't think it was worth it.

[CowboyDren]

Nobody's ever had a problem with advanced timing done right. The FSM specifies that the timing be set at 15° ±2°, which means that even Nissan thinks that 17° with 87-octane fuel is perfectly safe. The only two problems that could occur with too much timing and not enough octane are plug damage and ring damage, each being a direct cause of knock. Guess what? With 91 octane fuel, SR20DEs don't knock until 22-23° of advance!

Don't talk to mechanics. Talk to people who understand your engine, like the people that've been racing SE-Rs for ten years (uh, same engine).

The mod at 17° has been shown to add three horsepower, 19° makes even more power. Those are more than a POP charger or a cat-back, and it's definitely enough to feel SOTP. Don't be such a pussy and try it.

[NismoPC]

Originally posted by JBLoudG20
I'm not taking any sides, so mt first question is how many horsies are we talking? If I remember right, its only a few. In my opinion its not worth the hassle. My dad, infiniti tech, says that although over the course of a few years, it shouldn't do anything real bad, over time does do damage to the (pistons I think he said) engine. For a few horsies, I didn't think it was worth it.

No offense towards your dad, but that is complete KAKA! Advanced timing has been around for years and has been proven to work for as many years as it has been around. Our cars take kindly to advanced timing as long as we take care of our cars. Proper octane fuel and do not over advance, change oil regularly, etc. and your car will run for many years to come.

You gotta respect your dad for the knowledge he does have, but you also have to know that he might not always know everything. Even if he is an "Infiniti Tech".

I bought my old '91 NX2000 with 34,000 miles. At around 40K or so I advanced the timing to 17 degrees and always ran no less than 91 octane fuel. I ran the piss outta that car every day for 7+ years, sold it with 124,000 and the car now has over 140,000 and still runs strong as hell.

Complete kaka I say, complete kaka. Advance at will!!!!!

And remember, a stock SR0DE' timing is 15 degrees +/-2, so 17 degrees timing is still within Nissan's spec's on the engine. 19 degrees is not that much farther and I don't believe that anyone could have stated it better than CowboyDren:

Don't be such a pussy and try it.

Best thing is you know it will be done right if your dad's a tech. Have him assist you.

[Geo]

Originally posted by Halcyon
Everyone on this forum, and other g20/sr20 forums, seem to agree in unison that advancing the timing is among the best low end mods. But... I talked with a few of the local mechanics around my area, and basically went on google, searched up car repair and mechanics sites, and emailed about 20 of them regarding advanced timing. The responses turned out to be... not really what i expected. Not a single one recommended advanced timing. Some said the computer would adjust the timing after I change it, so it wont do any good. Others said it's just plain bad for the engine. Still others said it's an outdated technique that would bring more problems than good. So now.. I dunno. What do you guys think about this?

Well, you've already admitted you read what the experts have said, so why are you asking again?

Then you wrote to a bunch of monkeys and they threw poop.

Who do you want to believe?

I've yet to find a dealer tech, let alone a plain Jane ASC certified monkey who knew as much about these cars as the enthusiasts who drive them and tune them, such as the folks from the SE-R list, SR20DE forum, Nissan Forums.com, G20.net, etc.

Originally posted by JBLoudG20
I'm not taking any sides, so mt first question is how many horsies are we talking? If I remember right, its only a few. In my opinion its not worth the hassle. My dad, infiniti tech, says that although over the course of a few years, it shouldn't do anything real bad, over time does do damage to the (pistons I think he said) engine. For a few horsies, I didn't think it was worth it.

Sorry dude, but your dad is dead wrong.

First of all, the owner's manual specs 15-17 deg BTDC with 87 octane. So, forget about damage unless something else is dramatically wrong with your SR20DE. You can advance to 19 deg BTDC with premium fuel (only) without any risk of damage to a healthy SR20DE. You can, in fact, advance even farther without detonation (the thing that damages pistons) with premium fuel, but dyno testing has show it doesn't reliably make additional power.

I've seen Mike Kojima make additional hp on the dyno with each and every car he touched at a dyno day (and that included a Honduh and a Mustspank) doing nothing more than advancing the timing. I actually saw him get 7 hp out of a car simply by changing the timing to 19 deg BTDC. That's plenty cheap hp.

[NismoPC]

Originally posted by Geo
Then you wrote to a bunch of monkeys and they threw poop.

Woohoo! :lol:

[JBLoudG20]

First I want to thank Nismo and Geo because you were nice about how you stated that my dad was wrong. I guess that is why I like this forum so much. Next, you are correct in saying that my Dad doesn't know anything especially if it doesn't have to do with stock. He was kind of guessing at what could go wrong with advancing the timing. and the general statement was that it could make the engine knock.

We learned in lowering the car, and with my rims that aftermarket is a whole dfferent ballgame.

[Geo]

Originally posted by JBLoudG20
Next, you are correct in saying that my Dad doesn't know anything especially if it doesn't have to do with stock.

Whoa! Dude, I never said that. I'm sure your dad knows a lot. He was just wrong in this matter. I'm sure he could teach me a few things.

[JBLoudG20]

lol, sorry. He does know quite a bit, hes a master tech, but i'm sure you could teach him a lot too.

[NismoPC]

Originally posted by Geo


Whoa! Dude, I never said that. I'm sure your dad knows a lot. He was just wrong in this matter. I'm sure he could teach me a few things.

:confused: ACK! Me neither! I did not say that.

And yes, modified is a whole different ballpark than stock. ;)

Wholatta fun too!

[Myinfinitig20]

i know this is kind of off topic but i just ordered my hothshot headers and when i get them installed i'm going to have my mechanic advacne my timing to 19*.

can you guys give me an guess of how much hp/tq i will gain from both mods. I have a hotshot intake as well if that makes a difference

[Double Overhead]

10-15 WHP is a optimistic gain. 5-10 on the lower end