Ignition timing - 3000S

[duncscz]

Until recently, I was able to buy LRP locally and the engine ran well with the timing set at 12 degs.
Unfortunately, I'm now back to u/l + additive and the engine runs less smoothly. I was thinking to reduce the timing to 10 degs??? Will this help ?
Any views ?

[davidy]

Can you not put S/unleaded or OPtimax in it (+ any additive if your heads have not been done)

davidy

[duncscz]

Good idea - I'm not sure whether it was s/unleaded I put in last time - I was more frustrated/disappointed the garage had stopped selling LRP. I'll give it a go next fill.

[Terminator]

In my experience, getting an engine to run at all is a bonus.

I used super-unleaded for pottering about the highway and add an octane booster for the annual trip to Zolder. Probably makes no difference but it intrigues Jonny Foreigner when he sees me tip a pot of the magic 'motion lotion' into the tank

2 degrees timing change isn't worth messing about with, in my opinion.

[simonsparrow]

I ran my 3000M for 16K miles in a year, on Optimax plus lead substitute. Went very well, with no problems.

[thegamekeeper]

Try using Millers aditive. Excellent lead sustitute and also raises octane by 2. They also do a competition version which I think raises octane by 4 . Add this to super unleaded and you are back up to old fashioned 5 star

[Terminator]

thegamekeeper said:

Try using Millers aditive. Excellent lead sustitute and also raises octane by 2. They also do a competition version which I think raises octane by 4 . Add this to super unleaded and you are back up to old fashioned 5 star

Dammit Steve, you're telling them all of my secrets!

[thegamekeeper]

Sorry Colin I thought you were an open book.

[heightswitch]

Using Unleaded and Millers (with octane booster) should give you as near as damn it the same octane rating as 4 star.

I would make sure that your points / condensor / mixture etc are all set as nature intended, then I would start at the standard setting.

The car will probably pink under load. Don't mean to teach you how to suck eggs, but this means that the static timing although correct to settings is too far advanced and allowing pre-ignition (apparrently unleaded burns hotter than 4star)

You now have a number of options:

1. Retard the timing by small increments until the pinking stops. And set your static timing at the minimum retardation needed to prevent pre-ignition.

2. Use real 4 star? You can still purchase this via Bayford thrust garages, since they have the license to sell in limited quantity. Outlets over the country, but it is more expensive than super plus unleaded.

3. Use unleaded and add your own tetra ethyl lead substitute, IE real lead.

My 1600 Vixen is pinking like hell, but the guy had set timing and is using superplus and millers to give a 5 star octane rating?? Like you I need to experiment with timing settings.

Neil.

[duncscz]

Tks guys...off to the shops to source some Millers and then a dabble with the timing.
Unfortunately, I've not found any 4-star in Scotland, but a move down South later this year should improve availability...