What Timing Do You Run On The 3.0?

[mikedks]

Finally got around to resetting the timing on my 3.0 from the setting listed in the FSM. After I rebuilt the top end, I believe I set the timing @ about 10 BTDC.
Have only put about 100 miles or so as I work out other minor issues like vibrations and brakes. Needless to say, the 3.0 is a dog. But after I reset to 15BTDC, it really perked up!, who knew? At the factory settings, seems to really struggle getting up to speed, no problems at the 15d mark. No pinging, purrs like a kitten, will check in the dark to see if the exhaust manifolds glow.
Mileage may go down, but its not my DD, so who cares.

What do you guys think is an optimum setting for the 3.slow?

 

[Hyde802]

I have mine set at 14*

Its fine on regular gas, but I run at least 89 just because Im not nice to it.

 

[SUBTEGRAL]

Mine is at about 18*, it actually prefers that over 15*.

Damn does it get up and go!

3.slow my ass ..

 

[mikedks]

18?, why the hell not?

Like I said, not my DD. let's see what she can do!

 

[SUBTEGRAL]

I have less power at 15* ...

 

[Bear_F_ucker]

I have mine set at 14*

Its fine on regular gas, but I run at least 89 just because Im not nice to it.

What kind of horsepower gains do you get from upgrading this from 10 to 14 or even as far as 18 ??? and what are the reprocussions of turning up the timing like this ???

 

[mikedks]

I personally can't tell you the ramifications of cranking up the timing, leave that to Hydey and the engine guys on here. But I will tell you this, horsepower numbers aside, driveability has increased by 100%. I had to push it pretty hard to get up hills and get up to speed with the timing @ 10, now @ 15, it cruises right up to speed and has no trouble at all on steep hills. Try it, you will be surprised.

 

[Hyde802]

I am most defiantly not an engine guy. Haha.

Basically, your changing when the spark plug fires in relation to where the piston is in its cycle.

 

[KidVermicious]

Also not an engine guy, but there's a sweet spot where you get the maximum possible combustion of your air fuel mix in the chamber. For whatever reasons (better gas? safety cushion? I don't know), the factory timing is a little behind that sweet spot. The 22re and 3vze both appear to benefit from a little timing advance over factory, power wise.

There are drawbacks. Your engine will burn hotter, leader to higher manifold temps. Hot engines are bad, mmm'kay? The other problem is pre-ignition, normally called "pinging", caused when pistons are pushed when they aren't ready to be pushed yet. Obviously this can (sometimes catastrophically) damage your engine.

So if you decide to mess with your timing, I'd recommend knowing about and being prepared for the consequences. Obviously folks can push it a little. I know a guy here in town who pushed his to 20 and ran high-octane fuel just fine, until his wife borrowed the truck and drove to Idaho on standard gas. The truck didn't make it back. :nono:

 

[SV_Dude]

:iagree:

There's a reason that these motors are so reliable. Toyota designed them to run a little behind their power curve for reliability. Keep the timing as per the FSM for maximum reliability. By advancing the timing you may get some ping, and if your knock sensor does its job then it will be a tattle tale and let your ECU know. Then your ECU will reduce the amount of gas that the motor gets to reduce the risk of your motor going kaboom!

I'm not familiar with the 3.0's but if the FSM says 10* BTDC, then turning it to 18* seems extremely excessive. I would be very cautious about turning it back that much! I have heard of guys running a couple degrees over but not 8*.

 

[SUBTEGRAL]

It just lacks power any lower. I believe it's at 18 advanced now. Need timing light to check again. Runs great though..

 

[mikedks]

I don't think I even owned a timing light until I was 25. Grew up on small/big block Chevy's, we always just advanced the timing until it started breaking up/pinging, backed off, then set the timing.

I have it set at about 14-15* running on 87 with no pinging, just kidding about
jacking it up to 18*, but if it works for Subby, more power to ya. Longer term, I will see how 13* works with 87, or keep it where it is with 89.

 

[4Running90]

After reading about this im also going to try advancing my timing too see if i can get a little more power out of mine as well. I will Post back when i try it, probably over the weekend.

 

[AaaronF]

This sounds like it's going to shorten the life of my motor... but I cant help it, I NEED to try this. A couple degrees can't hurt.

 

[Hyde802]

Regular oil changes and youll be fine.

 

[KidVermicious]

This sounds like it's going to shorten the life of my motor... but I cant help it, I NEED to try this. A couple degrees can't hurt.

Yeah, but it's going to shorten the life of a Toyota motor.