Author Topic: Ignition timing/E10  (Read 374 times)

Offline Mikep328

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Ignition timing/E10
« on: July 24, 2023, 01:57:59 PM »
I apologize for being new here, asking a bunch of questions but I DO try to search first and didn't find anything specific re this...

My 1973 Norton Commando is more energetic on 10% ethanol with a few degrees of advance beyond the OEM setting.  To be specific, the Commando spec is 28 degrees of total advance but it clearly runs better with no pinking/knocking under load with 32 degrees total advance.

Has anyone done any fooling around with timing changes on the 400/E10 vs the OEM setting based on "old" style petrol? 




Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: Ignition timing/E10
« Reply #1 on: July 24, 2023, 02:10:16 PM »
Personally, I find no difference in performance between using either types of fuel, so I leave the timing where it was.
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Offline K2-K6

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Re: Ignition timing/E10
« Reply #2 on: July 24, 2023, 02:27:33 PM »
As Julie's experience, find it hard to note anything that would be considered significant and needing to utilise a revised specification.

Pinking, knock etc are primarily influenced by octane rating, which if unchanged for E content can't drive a shift.

Commando combustion chamber very significantly differs from these small four cylinder designs and likely respond in different way.

The 400 appears to be fairly well optimised for this in regard to timing, but wouldn't preclude experimentation if you're willing. They seem hard to detect pinking under load though and you may not detect much in the way of fault, or even any improvement that's measurable. 

Offline K2-K6

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Re: Ignition timing/E10
« Reply #3 on: July 24, 2023, 02:31:50 PM »
To add detail, E component carries oxygen in raised proportion, with this giving a slightly leaner combustion if everything is equal in specification of carburettors when swapping fuel.

Offline McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

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Re: Ignition timing/E10
« Reply #4 on: July 24, 2023, 06:22:13 PM »
I will avoid E10 for as long as I can.
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