Diablo Predator Timing

[Drews02]

Have a Diablo Predator on a 2002 GT. should I modify the timing parameter or juss leave it alone. If so whats a good setting?

 

[flashstang04]

I am running at 15* .. remember that the stock timing is usually 12* . If you set the timing at 14 or 15, remember to run at least 91 octane, 93 if you can get it.

 

[Drews02]

So to adjust mine to 15* and if 12* is usually stock then will i need to add 3* to get 15* or put it at 15* and thats what it will be?

 

['03GTinFLA]

I bought mine tonight and didn't notice much of any SOTP gains, then again I'm quickly turning into a mod junkie and don't know if i'll ever be happy with my car. I installed the performance program. So does this increase timing or do I need to adjust this manually.

 

[MartyMoose]

-bump-

 

[propellerhead]

I have been searching for this for quite a while now. The Predator's timing advance scale goes from -40 to +10. The DiabloSport support tells me this is a percentage value. So +10 means advancing the timing by 10%.

Umm... ok.

My follow up question was "10% of what?" 10% of the factory stock timing? 10% of the Performance Tune's timing?

[crickets]

No response.

I still haven't figured out what's what. I have my timing advance set at "3.0 DiabloSport Predator units" right now. I have no idea what the actual timing is in degrees. This seems to be a mystery in the DiabloSport Predator world and I can't get a decent answer. I think I'll just keep inching it up until it pings then I'll back off 1 unit (whatever that unit is).

Yea, my timing is set at 3.0 DiabloSport Predator Units, or 3.0 DPSUs. Hahaha!

EDIT: I just got off the phone with DiabloSport Tech Support. They said it is a percentage of whatever is in the tune you last installed, original factory backup or Performance Tune.

 

[Seraphitia102]

so if i just installed the stock diablo tune, I still need to use 91 octane right?

 

[propellerhead]

so if i just installed the stock diablo tune, I still need to use 91 octane right?

Yes and no. If you hear pinging, you'll have to retart the timing until you don't hear pinging anymore. You can actually retart the timing far enough to where you can use 87 octane and not get pinging. But you lose out on some of the benefits of the DiabloSport Preformance Tune.

 

[hotrodnut]

........ I have no idea what the actual timing is in degrees. This seems to be a mystery in the DiabloSport Predator world and I can't get a decent answer. .

I haven't messed with the timing yet but couldn't you see the effects of the changes you make by doing a before and after reading using the real time data that the Predator is capable of?

I ran the real time data before I installed the Performance Tune to get a before and after. I even let it idle until the fans kicked on so I'd know what the factory settings for those were before I made the settings I liked.

 

[Red03Mustang]

Diagnostic tools

I haven't messed with the timing yet but couldn't you see the effects of the changes you make by doing a before and after reading using the real time data that the Predator is capable of?

I ran the real time data before I installed the Performance Tune to get a before and after. I even let it idle until the fans kicked on so I'd know what the factory settings for those were before I made the settings I liked.

Sounds like you did it the right way the first time. Maybe I should actually try out those diagnostic tools it has, huh?

 

[propellerhead]

I haven't messed with the timing yet but couldn't you see the effects of the changes you make by doing a before and after reading using the real time data that the Predator is capable of?

I asked Tech Support about that. They pointed out that there's a data log parameter called SPARKADV. I've collected real-time data on it before and watched it jump up and down depending on engine load and RPM so there's no clear indication of a change in timing advance. While driving, I've seen the SPARKADV go from 11 deg to 35 deg. At idle, my SPARKADV shows 18 degrees but I don't think idle really matters since the Predator's timing advance affects the 2k-4k RPM band and the 4k-7k RPM band. We have no control of the timing below 2k RPM.

I think I'll just abandon the old school method of looking at timing advance. Back in the days of timing lights and twisting the distributor, we could easily speak of setting the timing in whole degree measurements. Remember the term "vacuum advance"? But with today's computer controlled ignition timing, there is a much finer resolution and it is constantly changing to meet the demands. In the end, it's all about advancing it the most without pinging, whether the advance is measured in degrees, feet, tons, miles, decibels or whatever.

EDIT: The Predator gives you limited control over WOT timing in the 2k-4k and 4k-7k bands. Anything below 2k and all part-throttle timing is still controlled by the EEC.

 

[flashstang04]

I bumped my timing up +3 bringing it close to 15* as possible. I also use 93 octane (thanks Texas!)

3 "diablo units" plus 12* is around 15*

this gave me no trouble whatsoever and I noticed a BIG sotp difference, but I also bumped my fuel up to accomodate for the hotter spark....

 

[hotrodnut]

I asked Tech Support about that. They pointed out that there's a data log parameter called SPARKADV. I've collected real-time data on it before and watched it jump up and down depending on engine load and RPM so there's no clear indication of a change in timing advance. While driving, I've seen the SPARKADV go from 11 deg to 35 deg. At idle, my SPARKADV shows 18 degrees but I don't think idle really matters since the Predator's timing advance affects the 2k-4k RPM band and the 4k-7k RPM band. We have no control of the timing below 2k RPM.

I think I'll just abandon the old school method of looking at timing advance. Back in the days of timing lights and twisting the distributor, we could easily speak of setting the timing in whole degree measurements. Remember the term "vacuum advance"? But with today's computer controlled ignition timing, there is a much finer resolution and it is constantly changing to meet the demands. In the end, it's all about advancing it the most without pinging, whether the advance is measured in degrees, feet, tons, miles, decibels or whatever.

EDIT: The Predator gives you limited control over WOT timing in the 2k-4k and 4k-7k bands. Anything below 2k and all part-throttle timing is still controlled by the EEC.

What you say about real time data is true as I found with countless times of data I have taken. Altough it is time consuming it seems to me you could just go out and punch it for a couple gears through the RPM band without the timing bumped, check and record that real time data. After that, bump up the timing and go do the exact same thing on the same stretch of road for the same distance and see what effects the timing bump had.

I like all the "techno" ignitions and fuel systems we have today but do miss messing around with timing lights, dwell meters, tweeking distributor advance of my old dual points on the Sun Distributor Machine and tinkering with jets, power valves, float levels, etc. for just the right mix. You could gain a lot from spending time in those areas to tweak for the best performance.

 

[propellerhead]

I think I'm just gonna keep bumping mine higher until it pings under WOT conditions and then back off one or two clicks. Unfortunately, I haven't found anything in the Predator that will tell me if I have the timing too far in advance. I'll have to stick to the old school method of listening for ping.

To answer the original post, with the way things are computer controlled, there's no best setting to speak of other than "the most advance without pinging".