Timing Settings
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2016
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Timing Settings
I'm new to my 95 4.9 w/ 5spd. I checked the timing today and it was only 6*, the spec being 10*. I bumped it up to about 13 or 14*. Any opinions here as to what is a good setting?
When I bought my 87 5.0 Mustang new, the timing was at 7* from the factory, the spec was 10*, and it (still) runs good at 13*. There was an issue back then where many 5.0's came from the factory with the wrong timing. All of the magazines said that 13* was the number.
Obviously, the 4.9 and 5.0 are entirely different engines, but I'm wondering what the 4.9 likes. I only drove it around the block; but it feels good w/ no pinging and 87 in the tank with the bumped timing. Was there an issue with 4.9's being built with the wrong timing? I'm almost positive it's never been fiddled with. It has 86,000 miles on it and the tuneup parts were original.
It's no hot rod, I'm just trying to get the best mpg. It got 14.7 the one time I checked it. (I haven't owned it that long.)
When I bought my 87 5.0 Mustang new, the timing was at 7* from the factory, the spec was 10*, and it (still) runs good at 13*. There was an issue back then where many 5.0's came from the factory with the wrong timing. All of the magazines said that 13* was the number.
Obviously, the 4.9 and 5.0 are entirely different engines, but I'm wondering what the 4.9 likes. I only drove it around the block; but it feels good w/ no pinging and 87 in the tank with the bumped timing. Was there an issue with 4.9's being built with the wrong timing? I'm almost positive it's never been fiddled with. It has 86,000 miles on it and the tuneup parts were original.
It's no hot rod, I'm just trying to get the best mpg. It got 14.7 the one time I checked it. (I haven't owned it that long.)
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Joined: Nov 2010
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The good setting is what YOUR engine wants. The setting in the manual is safely conservative, and anyway it only gets you in the ballpark, unless you're lucky, and only with an entirely factory-stock engine in factory-and-broken-in condition. Using the same fuel all the time helps you get closer.
EGR system problems frequently cause pinging, at least in the older vehicles with which I'm familiar (maybe the computerized vehicles adjust for this???).
EGR system problems frequently cause pinging, at least in the older vehicles with which I'm familiar (maybe the computerized vehicles adjust for this???).
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2016
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I'll try a few tanks with different settings and see how it affects mpg. It'll take a while, the two tanks hold 37 gallons. I filled it up March 14th and that lasted until this past Sunday! Also, my driving consists mainly of 4 mile, one way, trips to work. So I suppose it would do better on longer trips.
It's completely stock and will remain so.
I'll listen for pinging, but the 87 octane will remain. Being that I'm strictly trying to improve economy, a higher grade gas wouldn't make $ense.
It's completely stock and will remain so.
I'll listen for pinging, but the 87 octane will remain. Being that I'm strictly trying to improve economy, a higher grade gas wouldn't make $ense.
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 458
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Yeah, and they wear the engine out quick. If that's your situation, you might want to plumb in an engine heater, particularly helpful in cooler months.
A lot of the gurus on this modern stuff say that O2 sensors in computer-controlled engines are devices that ought to be just pulled out and replaced every so often, and a 1995 vehicle surely is old enough. And again, check that EGR valve. If it's not too hard to get at, take it off, hook up a Mityvac or other vacuum source, and watch the operation. The EGR on my E150 leaked vacuum, but I was able to fix it. And if it looks heavily-carboned, you can probably get it apart to clean it. They're often riveted, but a cheapskate can drill and tap for small screws for re-assembly. You hope it's only the valve that's carboned; older Mopar small-blocks used to fill the entire manifold crossover passage with carbon.
Innovate sells a good Air/Fuel meter at a reasonable price, a pretty neat tuning aid fi you're ready to add to and go beyond the trusty old vacuum guage.
A lot of the gurus on this modern stuff say that O2 sensors in computer-controlled engines are devices that ought to be just pulled out and replaced every so often, and a 1995 vehicle surely is old enough. And again, check that EGR valve. If it's not too hard to get at, take it off, hook up a Mityvac or other vacuum source, and watch the operation. The EGR on my E150 leaked vacuum, but I was able to fix it. And if it looks heavily-carboned, you can probably get it apart to clean it. They're often riveted, but a cheapskate can drill and tap for small screws for re-assembly. You hope it's only the valve that's carboned; older Mopar small-blocks used to fill the entire manifold crossover passage with carbon.
Innovate sells a good Air/Fuel meter at a reasonable price, a pretty neat tuning aid fi you're ready to add to and go beyond the trusty old vacuum guage.
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