Engine timing question
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Lead Lap
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 614
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From: Alabama
Engine timing question
Ok. I'm wondering what are the real consequences of having the timing on my '93 set back so that I can run regular 87 octane.
My grandfather has had it done it on 2 Buicks and 2 Chryslers since the mid '80's with no apparent troubles from a very old friend of his. (he's a religious on car maintenance though) My mom is considering it on her '03 Maxima, and I know I'm in for it if there isn't much hassle caused by it. I can deal with a loss of performance.
The guy that dose it is a "retired" mechanic that's been doing it for years. Charges like $5-$15 to do it. He says, "It depends on how much trouble it is and how much I need to take my wife out to lunch and dinner".
Any ways... No matter what you say the Maxima will have it done
I'll let it be the guinea pig!
My grandfather has had it done it on 2 Buicks and 2 Chryslers since the mid '80's with no apparent troubles from a very old friend of his. (he's a religious on car maintenance though) My mom is considering it on her '03 Maxima, and I know I'm in for it if there isn't much hassle caused by it. I can deal with a loss of performance.
The guy that dose it is a "retired" mechanic that's been doing it for years. Charges like $5-$15 to do it. He says, "It depends on how much trouble it is and how much I need to take my wife out to lunch and dinner".
Any ways... No matter what you say the Maxima will have it done
I'll let it be the guinea pig!
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,792
Likes: 4
From: Brooklyn, NY
I thought the ignition timing was controlled by the engine computer. It would retard the spark if it determined that you were using a lower octane gas automatically. So if the timing was set to factory specifications you shouldn't have any problems. Your car calls for 87 octane or higher, if I'm not mistaken.
Alan
Alan
Lexus Connoisseur
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,882
Likes: 602
From: USA
Originally posted by amf1932
I thought the ignition timing was controlled by the engine computer. It would retard the spark if it determined that you were using a lower octane gas automatically. So if the timing was set to factory specifications you shouldn't have any problems. Your car calls for 87 octane or higher, if I'm not mistaken.
Alan
I thought the ignition timing was controlled by the engine computer. It would retard the spark if it determined that you were using a lower octane gas automatically. So if the timing was set to factory specifications you shouldn't have any problems. Your car calls for 87 octane or higher, if I'm not mistaken.
Alan
As for the 3VZ-FE in 92-93 models, it's a lower compression engine (I think the last time i remember it was 9 or 9.5:1) so running 87 octane will be perfectly fine until you start hearing pinging or detonation at any instance...especially under hard throttle. It's not necssary to speed up timing to use 87 octane on a 3VZ-FE, UNLESS you start experiencing pinging or detonation.
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 614
Likes: 0
From: Alabama
Thanks for the info. I'm not a mechanic at all so I'm fairly clueless on those things.
Yeah no 87 octane for me. Dealer put a 1/4 tank of it in when I picked it up. Ran like crap.
I just swapped to 89 and I put some 91 in every once in a while. Dose fine now.
Yeah no 87 octane for me. Dealer put a 1/4 tank of it in when I picked it up. Ran like crap.
I just swapped to 89 and I put some 91 in every once in a while. Dose fine now.
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