AnswersDrive"Timing advance" refers to the number of degrees before top dead center (BTDC) that the spark will ignite the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber during the compression stroke. Retarded timing can be defined as changing the timing so that fuel ignition happens later than the manufacturer's specified time.
Similarly, what does timing mean for cars?
In a spark ignition internal combustion engine, Ignition timing refers to the timing, relative to the current piston position and crankshaft angle, of the release of a spark in the combustion chamber near the end of the compression stroke.
What are the symptoms of a bad timing?
Symptoms of incorrect ignition timing are poor fuel economy, sluggish acceleration, hard starting, backfiring, or "pinging" or "spark knock". Too little spark advance will cause low power, bad gas mileage, backfiring, and poor performance. Too much advance will cause hard starting and pre-ignition.
How does timing work on a car?
For an engine to work at its best, the fuel /air mixture in each cylinder must fire just as the piston reaches top dead centre ( TDC ). It takes a certain time for the spark-plug to ignite the mixture and for the combustion to build up. A lightly loaded engine works best if the ignition is advanced an extra amount.