Ignition Timing

[joby 0]

Ive been using Optimax in my 1.8 16v for a couple of months now and it really is an improvement over unleaded, The previous owner had the timing retarded so that he could use lead replacement sh*t the car ran like sh*t but now it seems to be a lot better, but ive been told to advance the timing for a slight improvement in performance does the distributor turn clockwise to advance, Any advice please :?:

[funky 0]

look at the sns site for timing tips its under the section diy

hth

funky

[stevemac 0]

Can't remember on a 1.8-16v, remove the distributor cap and get a friend to sit in the car & turn the engine over. If the rotor spins in a clockwise direction then to advance the timing the distributor should be turned anticlockwise and vice-versa.

http://www.snstuning.com mainly deals with G60's but like funky said, there are some good tips on there.

[chuck 0]

As I remember, turn the top towards you advances it. At idle you'll notice the revs increase slightly then settle again as you advance it. (revs will descrease when retarding it)

BTW, I've set mine at 5deg advanced for super plus (no optimax over here :( ). Basically advance until it pinks, then retard it till it just stops. will involve lots of driving to get it right.

[joby 0]

Cheers everyone! ive spent some time advancing the timing lots of stop starting, just like you say chuck until it started pinking then retarded slightly to get a happy medium, the car doesn`t realy feel any perkier but it is a hot day wich doesn`t help but i was surprised how far i could advance the dizzy before it pinked, but there ya go, my mates got a series 2 16 valve golf that Revs so much better than mine maybe its because its higher miles ? mine always feels flat ! any one else experianced this?

[Si B 0]

The Corrado (1.8)puts out 3bhp less than the Golf due to a more restrictive exhaust system (136bhp vs 139bhp) which might have an effect, but bear in mind the Corrado is also about 100kgs heavier than the Golf which will slow it down a bit. Don't worry though cos out of the box the Corrado handles much better.

[stevemac 0]

Cheers everyone! ive spent some time advancing the timing lots of stop starting, just like you say chuck until it started pinking then retarded slightly to get a happy medium, the car doesn`t realy feel any perkier but it is a hot day wich doesn`t help but i was surprised how far i could advance the dizzy before it pinked, but there ya go, my mates got a series 2 16 valve golf that Revs so much better than mine maybe its because its higher miles ? mine always feels flat ! any one else experianced this?

 

Not sure if this has any relevence on a 1.8-16v, but on a G60 the blue temp sensor MUST be disconnected to setup the timing correctly. This disables the corrective timing system controlled by the ECU. The G60 has a knock sensor which senses when the engine is starting to pink and the ECU retards the ignition accordingly. If your car has a knock sensor fitted then I would expect you would need to disable any corrective timing system that it has fitted.

Maybe worth your while phoning your local VW dealer/specialist to find out.

 

Advanced timing (without pinking) will almost always give you extra power.

[joby 0]

Cheers stevemac, But the 1.816v is Kjet fuel injection (primitive) I don`t think its got an ECU it runs mechanically using fuel pressure! Maybe its just me expecting to much from the 1.816v, my mate is buying it off me shortly so ill be getting a VR6 8) sad to see it go though :cry:

[stevemac 0]

Sounds like a fairly similar system to my Scirocco 1.8i Scala - really flies as it's a lot lighter than the Corrado. (not a patch on my G60 though 8) )

[stevemac 0]

Just a thought - when was the fuel filter last changed ??

 

Made a big difference to my Scirocco when I did that.

[joby 0]

Ill Try that Fuelfilter stevemac, i can`t believe i forgot about that :shock: Im a Dummy! cheers

[stevemac 0]

Maybe worth changing the small fuel pump in the tank. It forms part of the tank sender unit. I think they're only about a tenner & take 10 mins to fit. This pump was always a problem on nearly all K-jetronic cars.

[Scott 0]

I didnt think you could change the timing on the 16V 1.8 Corrados (same as MK2 Golf 16V Engines) as the dizzy is fixed....

[joby 0]

I dont no about that scott but mine isn`t fixed

[stevemac 0]

I didnt think you could change the timing on the 16V 1.8 Corrados (same as MK2 Golf 16V Engines) as the dizzy is fixed....

 

Can't be fixed or you wouldn't be able to run them on unleaded fuel (no CAT). 1.8-16v was originally setup for 4 star fuel

[dazzyvr6 0]

you shouldnt retard the timing to use unleaded either on the 1.8 16v

[stevemac 0]

you shouldnt retard the timing to use unleaded either on the 1.8 16v

 

Why not ????

[stevemac 0]

you shouldnt retard the timing to use unleaded either on the 1.8 16v

 

Why not ????

[dazzyvr6 0]

because when i took mine to be tuned because it was under powered the first thing he said was...i bet its had the dizzy moved to allow the use of unleaded..and he was right,to use unleaded on 16v kr engines you are meant to fit either k star or a v sam

[stevemac 0]

I think you just answered Joby's original question :thumbleft:

 

That maybe why the previous owner was using lead replacement petrol instead of unleaded.