Thread: Spark Timing Myths Debunked

Originally Posted by Innovate Motorsports

A widely-held myth is that maximum advance always means maximum power. Here’s what’s wrong with this thinking:
The spark plug ignites the mixture and the fire starts burning. The speed of this flame front depends on the mixture, this means how many air and fuel molecules are packed together in the combustion chamber. The closer they are packed together in the same volume, the easier it is for the fire to jump from one set of molecules to the other. The burning speed is also dependent on the air-fuel-ratio. At about 12.5 to 13 air-fuel-ratio the mixture burns fastest. A leaner mixture than that burns slower. A richer mixture also burns slower. That's why the maximum power mixture is at the fastest burn speed. It takes some time for this flame front to consume all the fuel in the combustion chamber. As it burns, the pressure and temperature in the cylinder increases. This pressure peaks at some point after TDC. Many experiments have shown that the optimum position for this pressure peak is about 15 to 20 degrees after TDC. The exact location of the optimum pressure peak is actually independent of engine load or RPM, but dependent on engine geometry.
Typically all the mixture is burned before about 70 deg ATDC. But because the mixture density and AFR in the engine change all the time, the fire has to be ignited just at the right time to get the peak pressure at the optimal point. As the engine speed increases, you need to ignite the mixture in the combustion chamber earlier because there is less time between spark and optimum peak pressure angle. If the mixture density is changed due to for example boost or higher compression ratio, the spark has to be ignited later to hit the same optimal point.

If the mixture is ignited to early, the piston is still moving up towards TDC as the pressure from the burning mixture builds. This has several effects:

• The pressure buildup before TDC tries to turn the engine backward, costing power.
• The point where the pressure in the cylinder peaks is much closer to TDC, with the result of less mechanical leverage on the crankshaft (less power) and also causes MUCH higher pressure peaks and temperatures, leading to knock.

Many people with aftermarket turbos don't change the spark advance very much, believing that earlier spark creates more power. To combat knock they make the mixture richer. All that happens really then is that the mixture burns slower and therefore hits the peak pressure closer to the right point. This of course reaffirms the belief that the richer mixture creates more power. In reality the flame front speed was adjusted to get the right peak pressure point. The same result (with more power, less emissions and less fuel consumption) could be achieved by leaving the mixture at the leaner optimum and retarding the ignition more instead.
Turbo charging or increasing the compression ratio changes the mixture density (more air and fuel molecules are packed together). This increases the peak pressure and temperature. The pressure and temperature can get so high that the remaining unburned mixture ignites by itself at the hottest part in the combustion chamber. This self-ignition happens explosively and is called 'knock'. All engines knock somewhat. If there is very little unburned mixture remaining when it self-ignites, the explosion of that small amount does not cause any problems because it can't create a large, sharp pressure peak. Igniting the mixture later (retarding) causes the peak pressure to be much lower and cures the knock.
The advances in power of modern engines, despite the lower quality of gasoline today, comes partially from improvements in combustion chamber and spark plug location. Modern engines are optimized so that the flame front has the least distance to travel and consumes the mixture as fast as possible. An already burned mixture can no longer explode and therefore higher compression ratios are possible with lower octane fuel. Some race or high performance engines actually have 2 or three spark plugs to ignite the mixture from multiple points. This is done so that the actual burn time is faster with multiple flame fronts. Again, this is to consume the mixture faster without giving it a chance to self-ignite.
Higher octane fuel is more resistant to self-ignition. It takes a higher temperature and pressure to cause it to burn by itself. That's why race fuels are used for engines with high compression or boost. Lead additives have been used, and are still used to raise the self-ignition threshhold of gasoline, but lead is toxic and therefore no longer used for pump-gas. Of course a blown engine is toxic to your wallet.

Interesting. I always thought both advanced ignition timing created more power and that a lean mix would create more power but would be more prone to detonation.

Thanks for the post.

Originally Posted by mot19

Interesting. I always thought both advanced ignition timing created more power and that a lean mix would create more power but would be more prone to detonation.

Thanks for the post.

This is what I thought as well, that's why people are advancing 2* or something. I understood that the leaner you are, the hotter the engine which in turn causes pre-detonation. Damn, I gotta get me a book in engineering. I've been trying to learn how to tune with fuel and now that I'm starting on it, now I have to go look at ignition tuning too! So many things to read..so little time.

they advance 2* because it brings the spark to a more optimal spot on these motors

all the more reason for people to drop the SAFC and get something that can actually control ignition

Originally Posted by Specv03

they advance 2* because it brings the spark to a more optimal spot on these motors

all the more reason for people to drop the SAFC and get something that can actually control ignition

But not everybody wants to deal with controlling the ignition (i.e. more work for them).

i know it but if your going to boost a car i would hope they would put work into it to get it running right and safely

Originally Posted by Specv03

i know it but if your going to boost a car i would hope they would put work into it to get it running right and safely

QFT aint it?

1 word - Osiris.

Unfortunately for 02-03's. It's 2 steps. 04-06 ECU upgrade then Osiris.

It's really, where you live too. If it's a DD and in California or have Cali-style smog laws, then your options are limited.

well you can get a decent piggyback like a Greddy E-manage or E-manage ultimate and many others. idk how SAFC's got so popular except for the fact they're cheaper then most

Originally Posted by Specv03

well you can get a decent piggyback like a Greddy E-manage or E-manage ultimate and many others. idk how SAFC's got so popular except for the fact they're cheaper then most

It's cheaper and again not so labor intensive as the others for obvious reasons.

Originally Posted by Specv03

well you can get a decent piggyback like a Greddy E-manage or E-manage ultimate and many others. idk how SAFC's got so popular except for the fact they're cheaper then most

The EMU is hell to install and without a starter map it will confuse most tuners.

Originally Posted by MoltenNismo

It's cheaper and again not so labor intensive as the others for obvious reasons.

Yepp, 41 wires later...


I miss the EMU though, it was a wonderful unit and it had a ton of features, it's a pity they don't have a plug and play harness for our cars.

AEM FIC Is starting to look better now. I know it can't advance timing, but it can retard it. Its not too expensive either.

I'm glad I have UpRev because timing is extremely complicated. It requires different advances in a matrix of engine rpm, load, and A/F. An engine will not ping (knock) with a high advance if it is not under load, however, the pinging will start on acceleration. UpRev has an ignition map that will handle spark advance at all rpm's and loads. It also has an A/F target map that adjusts the A/F under all loads and engine rpm's. An experienced Pro Tuner can optimize these tables with the help of an ultra-sensitive knock sensor and a dyno.

You and your 04+ ECU..man making me want to swap.

Originally Posted by MoltenNismo

You and your 04+ ECU..man making me want to swap.

good thing you did

this is a good thread to bump~

This should be "must" reading for anyone looking to increase performance.
(Ash, if you read this consider making it a stickie.)

Of all the maps in the ECU, the most important ones IMO are the A/F and ignition tables. UpRev tunes ignition by setting the timing to obtain maximum cylinder pressure under various loads (base fuel schedule) and engine speeds. Advancing or retarding the spark a couple of degrees will not optimize the entire table correctly.

A/F also needs to be tuned for maximum combustion under various loads and engine speeds. The numbers in the table represent 1=14:1, therefore 0.88=12.3:1. A knowledgeable tuner, using a dyno, can modify each cell in the table to obtain maximum power and torque.


.

Andy, what's the "base fuel schedule"? Does that correlate to a certain load% or something?

Originally Posted by MoltenNismo

Andy, what's the "base fuel schedule"? Does that correlate to a certain load% or something?

I've been wondering the same thing. Here's another AFR target window screenshot I got from Justin, same as Andy's but with actual AFR numbers:

Originally Posted by MoltenNismo

Andy, what's the "base fuel schedule"? Does that correlate to a certain load% or something?

Yes, it does. Justin explained that in his earlier Osiris post.

maps on factory ECU

Originally Posted by MisterNuts

I've been wondering the same thing. Here's another AFR target window screenshot I got from Justin, same as Andy's but with actual AFR numbers:

UpRev changed that a while back. They are using values that are "multipliers" rather than the actual values. That goes for the fuel trim tables as well. If you change injectors, for example, all you need to do is change the fuel multiplier and you're good to go.