I keep reading that advancing the timing on an engine can improve fuel economy. Has anyone tried it on their Civic? I know you can't go too far without pinging or requiring premium, but I was wondering whether such a mod would be worth it considering it really wouldn't cost much.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

It's not quite as easy to advance timing on newer cars...this was pretty easy to do on the big muscle cars in the old days. With fuel injection/electronic ignition a lot of this is now controlled by the ecu. If they sell adjustable cam gears for these cars, you can do it. I personally wouldn't touch it. You have so much going on with the cams with the 3 modes of the vtec system there is a lot of room for error.

Timing is usually looked at in performance cars because the more you can advance timing (to an extent) the more power you can create (and usually running a bit leaner as well). There is often a fine line between perfect and "uh oh" depending on the car. This is why cars pull timing back when there is knock present. Generally timing curves are very safe from the factory, so there is probably a little room for improvement.

 

Also,

VTEC motors employ the variable timing under different throttle positions, so boosting the initial timing isn't going to help you much, as the ECU controls the advanced timing in the end anyway. It works GREAT for older muscle cars (like my Chevelle) that don't have Variable Timing or even an ECU, but not for this car. I would leave it alone bud, its at the best its going to get.

 

If it were so easy, wouldn't Honda's engineers already have thought of it? They did, it is called VTEC.... the valve timing changes throughout the rev. range, allowing better FE and power.

 

You defeat the purpose of VTEC by adjusting to a fixed advance.

 

I see. I guess that's not a way to go then. Thank you all for the VTEC info.

Jeff