CB, could you elaborate on this, I have heard lots of talk of how to time these diesels by ear, but if you know of a better way, please tell me more.

Do you mean to say that the cold idle advance serves no real purpose asside from maybe emissions?

 

David......the people that have "developed a ear" to time a diesel, usually have a heavy background in non automotive diesel engine repair.............most of these non automotive engines do not have a type of cold start advance and until recent years have not had to deal with the EPA (Economy Protection Authority) timing mandates..............these engines usually rely on the glow plugs or intake heaters or both to "get the conditions in the cylinder to start the engine".................now, in automotive applications the factory has to "deal with the EPA" timing mandates...............to the point, that the engines has to have a type of cold start advance even with glow plugs and/or intake heaters to get them to start...............with the EPA timing mandates..................

I usually do not recommend in automotive applications tuning by ear because of the different methods designed into the IP's for "cold start advance" ................now, in this case we have a simple electrical wire to disconnect to disable the cold start advance..............Plus, I am Banking on Kevin has done a good job setting up his injectors and the fact that "he has done so much work on this truck that he knows the truck very well"...................

Now, its going to be simple logic (with the cold start advance disconnected).........he is going to Have to advance the timing some in order for it to cold start...............this in turn, is going to advance the timing in upper rpms........this in turn is going to reduce the glow plug readings.......(I can not tell you how much at this point).............I can tell you this much......as he advances the timing.........the engine is going to sound like a different engine..........especially in upper rpms............if he does this very slowly he is going to hear a diesel knock that he has not ever heard before..............and it going to be at any rpm (providing the IP is keeping the timing advance map close or it not over fueling).........and if he looks at the glow plug readings..........they are going to be the lowest he has seen..................

I trust the reading more than I trust my ear...........especially driving down the road.......

crossbones