advanceing timeing
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Eaton, CO
I've been trying to find a place to time my truck and have been told repeatedly:
With the truck off, unbolt the three IP adjustment bolts. Locate the hash mark on the IP and the hash mark on the block. Supposedly, if they're aligned right now, you can rotate the pump towards the passenger side by the width/thickness of a hash mark at a time and it will advance the timing. Someone in my thread said to rotate it towards the passenger side the width of 2 hash marks. I believe I was told there's a square slot to fit either a 3/8" drive or 1/2" drive breaker bar to assist you with rotating the pump.
I believe those instructions are to bring it into time with new injectors and a fairly fresh IP. I guess if you want to advance it even more, just keep going hash mark width at a time and see what you think. If you advance it too much, won't you sacrifice power?
With the truck off, unbolt the three IP adjustment bolts. Locate the hash mark on the IP and the hash mark on the block. Supposedly, if they're aligned right now, you can rotate the pump towards the passenger side by the width/thickness of a hash mark at a time and it will advance the timing. Someone in my thread said to rotate it towards the passenger side the width of 2 hash marks. I believe I was told there's a square slot to fit either a 3/8" drive or 1/2" drive breaker bar to assist you with rotating the pump.
I believe those instructions are to bring it into time with new injectors and a fairly fresh IP. I guess if you want to advance it even more, just keep going hash mark width at a time and see what you think. If you advance it too much, won't you sacrifice power?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 0
From: Kville, ohio
I've been trying to find a place to time my truck and have been told repeatedly:
With the truck off, unbolt the three IP adjustment bolts. Locate the hash mark on the IP and the hash mark on the block. Supposedly, if they're aligned right now, you can rotate the pump towards the passenger side by the width/thickness of a hash mark at a time and it will advance the timing. Someone in my thread said to rotate it towards the passenger side the width of 2 hash marks. I believe I was told there's a square slot to fit either a 3/8" drive or 1/2" drive breaker bar to assist you with rotating the pump.
I believe those instructions are to bring it into time with new injectors and a fairly fresh IP. I guess if you want to advance it even more, just keep going hash mark width at a time and see what you think. If you advance it too much, won't you sacrifice power?
With the truck off, unbolt the three IP adjustment bolts. Locate the hash mark on the IP and the hash mark on the block. Supposedly, if they're aligned right now, you can rotate the pump towards the passenger side by the width/thickness of a hash mark at a time and it will advance the timing. Someone in my thread said to rotate it towards the passenger side the width of 2 hash marks. I believe I was told there's a square slot to fit either a 3/8" drive or 1/2" drive breaker bar to assist you with rotating the pump.
I believe those instructions are to bring it into time with new injectors and a fairly fresh IP. I guess if you want to advance it even more, just keep going hash mark width at a time and see what you think. If you advance it too much, won't you sacrifice power?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 20,383
Likes: 845
From: Mi'kma'ki
one way to far or the other will hurt performance and fuel economy.
to much advance,and some have claimed to have ruined a set of brand new glow plugs.
i think timing by ear,is good enough to drive it to the diesel shop lol.
you'll have to be more lucky than good to get it within fords recommended specs,so claim the guys with the proper meters.
to much advance,and some have claimed to have ruined a set of brand new glow plugs.
i think timing by ear,is good enough to drive it to the diesel shop lol.
you'll have to be more lucky than good to get it within fords recommended specs,so claim the guys with the proper meters.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 2
From: Dairy, OR
Make sure to scribe a mark were it's set at before you adjust anything! I borrowed a buddies diesel pulse adapter to do mine, took me a few tries even with that to find the sweet spot. The end result is that since I timed it I got more power and I saw a very slight increase in fuel economy. A key indicator that your not timed right is if it doesn't rattle properly when cold. Mine now sounds like a psd when you first fire it up but mellows out as the engine warms up.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Eaton, CO
Trending Topics
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 6,945
Likes: 13
Well i got to playin with mine and just started advancing until something happened, the farther i went the better it runs... i had it maxed out to the pass. side. And that is the only time i ever heard anything of PSD rattle. Maxed out i did wonder if that might have been as far as it wanted to as i did not see the power gain i did with the other advances. Although, it does seem to start a bit easier backed off a little.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 6,945
Likes: 13
I went out and checked mine, Right now im about 1/16th of an inch advanced (to pass. side) according to the default scribes on the upper left side of the IP. To me, it ran much better and definately had more power/ smoked less advanced more. But im 99% sure that my IP is fubar'd and there is some reason why im needing to advance it so far to find the "sweet spot"
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 20,383
Likes: 845
From: Mi'kma'ki
as a rule,they require a rebuild/replacement every 100k miles like the fuel injectors.
they are a medium ware item.
you don't want that "power stroke rattle" after warmup.only when the cold advance is on.
be careful,to much advance you can kill your glow plugs.
they are a medium ware item.
you don't want that "power stroke rattle" after warmup.only when the cold advance is on.
be careful,to much advance you can kill your glow plugs.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 6,945
Likes: 13
Im curious how the advance hurts the GP's? When i had the IP max advanced you could barely hear it rattle any louder whatsoever when the advance is on, when it was off sounded the same as before i touched it. I did notice that when cold and advance on, under load and under 2000 rpms it would almost sound kinda like detonation if you really got on it. My pump and injectors are pretty rough, ive no doubt about that, they have 272,000 on em, and im sure there is something mechanically wrong with the advance inside the pump. Basically when the internal advance is on, the thing is hardly drivable, surging and what not, and its always done this regardless of base timing.... although it is less noticable with the base timing more advanced. One thing i think i noticed was it didnt like to start as well with it more advanced which i though was odd seeing as it ran so much better and cleaner. But that may be due to my charging system issues and partially discharged batteries so who knows.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,701
Likes: 0
From: KY
Don't get too crazy on advancing the timing. Remember the faster the pump the longer fuel is burning on the pistons. To early and you will not have enough heat to allow combustion but it will have enough heat to hurt things. You can fry a diesel by getting it too advanced. Have seen it allot over the years. Just be careful.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,665
Likes: 4
From: Terre Haute, IN
Yea...... that could end up in a sig... maybe i should change it...
Catfish, IF i move it at all, it will be just a tiny amount. It seems to run fine, so i may not touch it...