Notices
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

How to adjust timing

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 23, 2015 | 09:47 AM
  #16  
rla2005's Avatar
rla2005
Fleet Owner
20 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,789
Likes: 1,753
From: Kentucky
How to set the timing on a EFI Ford
 
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2015 | 09:50 AM
  #17  
RIKIL's Avatar
RIKIL
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,379
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by rla2005
ahhhh, ye good ol' web archive. Too bad fordfuelinjection went down, was a good site, glad we still have it though.
 
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2015 | 09:52 AM
  #18  
demon216368's Avatar
demon216368
New User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
how to i change the timing without the computer changing it back
 
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2015 | 09:56 AM
  #19  
RIKIL's Avatar
RIKIL
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,379
Likes: 2
all you can do on these vehicles is set the base timing, that is all the computer expects. Once you plug the SPOUT in, you don't have control over the timing and you need the SPOUT in for normal driving conditions.
 
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2015 | 10:24 AM
  #20  
rla2005's Avatar
rla2005
Fleet Owner
20 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,789
Likes: 1,753
From: Kentucky
Originally Posted by demon216368
how to i change the timing without the computer changing it back

The simple answer is leave the SPOUT plug out.

Next question: What are you trying to accomplish? Is there an issue you are trying to resolve?
 
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2015 | 11:28 AM
  #21  
85F350IDI's Avatar
85F350IDI
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 656
Likes: 1
From: New Braunfels
So in retrospect adjusting the timing is pointless since the cup knows what it's doing
CPU*****
 

Last edited by 85F350IDI; Mar 23, 2015 at 11:29 AM. Reason: CPU
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2015 | 11:41 AM
  #22  
Nothing Special's Avatar
Nothing Special
Lead Driver
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 5,006
Likes: 72
From: Roseville, MN
Originally Posted by 85F350IDI
So in retrospect adjusting the timing is pointless since the cup knows what it's doing
CPU*****
Not at all. The PCM (Powertrain Control Module, which does have a Central Processing Unit, so it's still correct to call it a CPU) adjusts the timing away from base timing, based on the engine speed and manifold vacuum. This is just like the centrifugal advance (engine speed) and vacuum advance (manifold vacuum) that distributors had back in the old days, except now they are computer controlled.

But just like old distributors, the base timing still needs to be set correctly, so that's what you're doing.

Back in the old days you'd need to disconnect the vacuum advance and keep the engine at a low speed to not get into the centrifugal advance in order to set the base timing. These engines are the exact same, except that you pull the SPOUT connector rather than pull a vacuum line to disable the vacuum advance.
 
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2015 | 11:53 AM
  #23  
rla2005's Avatar
rla2005
Fleet Owner
20 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,789
Likes: 1,753
From: Kentucky
Originally Posted by 85F350IDI
So in retrospect adjusting the timing is pointless since the cup knows what it's doing
CPU*****
Not pointless....

The computer bases the timing curve on assuming the base timing is at 10 degrees BTDC. By manually advancing or retarding the base timing you are shifting the entire curve.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

5 BEST / 5 WORST Ford Daily Drivers of the 21st Century

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

10 Fords to Drive Before You Die

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

3 Best / Worst Features Of The 2025+ Ford Expedition

 Brett Foote
story-3

10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now

 Brett Foote
story-5

This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-8

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-9

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
Old Mar 23, 2015 | 02:54 PM
  #24  
demon216368's Avatar
demon216368
New User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by rla2005
The simple answer is leave the SPOUT plug out.

Next question: What are you trying to accomplish? Is there an issue you are trying to resolve?
There no issue and I'm trying to accomplish better throttle response more low in torque Thats my big goal is to get a lot more low end torque out of there engine
 
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2015 | 02:58 PM
  #25  
RIKIL's Avatar
RIKIL
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,379
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by demon216368
Thats my big goal is to get a lot more low end torque out of there engine
Get a blower.

Nothing you can do will get you any noticable gains. The computer controls spark and fuel. If you want more power, you need to add more air.
 
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2015 | 03:01 PM
  #26  
demon216368's Avatar
demon216368
New User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by RIKIL
Get a blower.

Nothing you can do will get you any noticable gains. The computer controls spark and fuel. If you want more power, you need to add more air.
The problem with the blower in this truck won't just be street I will be taking it off-road and in mud a blower would just get ruined
 
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2017 | 10:57 AM
  #27  
FordCigarMan's Avatar
FordCigarMan
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 40
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio, TX
Originally Posted by rla2005
Does anybody still have the above mentioned information? I clicked on the link and it is not available..
 
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2017 | 11:11 AM
  #28  
rla2005's Avatar
rla2005
Fleet Owner
20 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,789
Likes: 1,753
From: Kentucky
Originally Posted by FordCigarMan
Does anybody still have the above mentioned information? I clicked on the link and it is not available..
New link: How to Set the Timing on an EFI Ford
 
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2017 | 11:35 AM
  #29  
FordCigarMan's Avatar
FordCigarMan
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 40
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio, TX
Thanks Randy
 
Reply
Old Jul 4, 2017 | 01:28 PM
  #30  
RIKIL's Avatar
RIKIL
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,379
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by demon216368
The problem with the blower in this truck won't just be street I will be taking it off-road and in mud a blower would just get ruined
Getting mud in the blower means you have mud in your air intake. The blower is not your problem, mud in the intake is. Remove the blower from the equation and you still have mud in your intake, which is a problem.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:02 PM.

story-0
5 BEST / 5 WORST Ford Daily Drivers of the 21st Century

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford daily drivers of the 21st century.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-23 08:55:01


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Fords to Drive Before You Die

Slideshow: 10 Fords to drive before you die.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-22 14:29:44


VIEW MORE
story-2
3 Best / Worst Features Of The 2025+ Ford Expedition

The latest Expedition is quite popular, but it certainly isn't perfect.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-22 14:23:19


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition

Slideshow: 10 ways Ford is losing to the competition

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 09:52:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now

Some great targets in today's expensive world.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-15 09:35:19


VIEW MORE
story-5
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

Slideshow: The VelociRaptor Expedition gains a lift, upgraded suspension, Brembo brakes, and trail-ready equipment while retaining the stock 440-horsepower EcoBoost V6.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:01:55


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-7
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-9
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE