The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

Hey Guys,

Hoping someone may offer some advice. Just had the car serviced not long ago and the mechanic (who builds race engines and is always chasing power) set my timing to 14 degrees. On 91Ron it pings quite badly and the motor runs on when switched off. On 95Ron the car does ping somewhat but only under load. On 98Ron the car runs perfectly. Given the fuel for 98Ron is pushing a buck 80 Im keen to get it back on 91Ron. He said you'll notice a big power drop if he changes the settings. My questions is will it really make that much of a difference for an old boxy 2.4 petrol fourbie, where power doesn't come into it. If I could get the same mileage on 91 Id be happy. Changing the timing is relatively easy so I was think of dropping it back to 12 degree, in saying that im assuming the carbie which is a webber would need to be adjusted as well, also does the vacuum advance need changing as well?

rubisubi forgot to mention it's a Nissan Pathfinder but i wont hold you to that

Jan

The manufacturers installed a knock sensor on new motors just for the hell of it??? It damages your engine. retard your timing ASAP

ktmtragic wrote:The manufacturers installed a knock sensor on new motors just for the hell of it??? It damages your engine. retard your timing ASAP

Do you know what year his pathfinder is? does it even have a knock sensor / ECU ?

From what I have searched a 95 pathfinder has its timing to 15 +/_ 2 deg advanced or 15 +/_ 2 degrees ATDC.

What year is your pathfinder?

FSMs here http://jdmfsm.info/Auto/Japan/Nissan/ it is a big server and not just for Subaru

If it pings at 15 degrees try 10 degrees and work your way up until it starts to ping, then take it back to the closest point before it pings. this way you should be able to run it on 91 ron.

As well make sure your sparkplugs are at the right gap.

hope this helps

TOONGA

Jan i could of been talking about any car, but good guess though The cars a 1987 pathie 2.4 petrol carbie. I wouldnt of thought an old car would have the sensors. Im think about dropping it to maybe 12 degrees to see if the pinging stops. Note it only pings on 91 and 95 ron.

If it is an 87 with a carbie it won't have a knock sensor.

As it is an 1987 model this site would have the best information for your model.

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Hardbody/

you may even find you have to go below 10 degrees ATDC.

TOONGA

Do the fuel tank test. Run one tank with the 14deg tune on 98 and see how many kms you get out of it. Then fill the tank with 91 and have it tuned to factory. Try driving the car the same way with both tank fills and see which one gets the best value for the money. In my experience, I found the 98 gets 50 to 70 more kms out of the tank and the car has a lot more get up and go when I need it.