Im a newb when it comes to setting ignition timing and what is good and bad so I figured Id ask here to make sure what I just did is not bad for my engine.

I have a 89 CRX Si, stock d16a6, I/H. Ive been having a problem where the car emits a large smoke cloud from the exhaust when I leave stoplights/sitting after its been idling for 30 or more seconds. I know this problem is due to the oil I found in in the #2 exhaust port yesterday when I installed my header. I read around alittle and found that my ignition timing could be a small part of the problem so I got my friend's timing light and played with the timing today.

When I checked it initially it was advanced maybe 1 or 2 degrees, it was just barely off. I tried retarding it back to normal and the smoke cloud got worse when I jabbed the throttle. I tried retarding it more, let it sit for a minute at idle then jabbed it, the smoke cloud was even worse. I next tried advancing it ~5 degrees, let it sit again and then jabbed the throttle, and the smoke cloud was barely there. I then advanced it all the way, im guessing around ~7-8 degrees (I couldnt advance it anymore at this point, the top bolt is all the way against the alternator bracket to the advanced side) and the smoke cloud was completely gone, so I left it there.

I took it for a drive and listened for pinging and to see how it drove, and it seemed fine. What is awesome is now there is no massive blue/black smoke cloud when I leave from a stop. My question is is running it that far advanced bad for the motor? Im hoping its ok that way because the car smells really bad when I drive it the way it was before. Thanks in advance.

 

chances are its the piston rings or the valve seals causing the smoke. prob burning some oil .

 

hey, be sure to dump $5 into some new spark plugs, and let us know what the old ones look like... DO IT NOW!

Also, have you done a compression test? That will shed some light on the condition of your engine...personally, I think your valves are ready to be spiffed up a bit.

 

I recently changed the plugs when I went in for emissions testing. The electrodes and ceramic insulator looked great, but there was a thick black coating on the base of the plug. It appeared it was running very rich. The car did pass emissions though with a new o2 sensor and cat. (pulled the cat after I passed, swapped back to a test pipe)

I need to do a compression test but I dont have the tools to do it myself, yet. Ive been doing alot of reading and have come to the conclusion that its either valve seals or the rings. Ill get a compression test done as soon as I can.

The engine has unknown mileage on it, I got the car used without a gauge cluster. It purrs like a kitten, no ticks or knocks, but does burn a small amount of oil. (1/4 of a quart every couple weeks)

So its ok that Im running the ignition timing this far advanced?

 

I'd like to know too as I have my D15B2 advanced as far as the bracket goes, it got rid of alot of stuttering I was once getting.

 

if u need to run timing that far advanced for car to run right then something else is off or wrong. is your timing belt lined up right? its not off a tooth or something? i dunno could be alot of things.. chances are your pison rings are a lil worn and or valve seals are worn. one or the other.. i dont know how advancing timing stops the smoke but i dunno, thats not the best way to fix the problem. a compression tester is like 20$.. just get one and test it.

 

i got dual cam zc.i always thought d-series motors love advanced timing.i got my way the way advanced,and then like a hair or two reatrd.


i been ruuning like this for a year no probs. at all.

 

advancing your timing all the way with the setup your running should be fine,just make sure to run good gas,and check your fluids often.