Is an ignition advance angle of -10 normal?

[StAniyah]

An ignition advance angle of -10 is not normal. Here are the details about negative ignition advance angle: 1. Cause: The engine's ignition advance angle is negative because the knock sensor is faulty. If the ignition advance angle consistently shows a negative value, it indicates that the engine ignition is in a delayed state, possibly due to poor anti-knock performance of the car or other abnormal engine issues. 2. Function: An appropriate ignition advance angle allows the engine to perform the most mechanical work per cycle. If the ignition advance angle is too large, it can easily cause detonation. If the ignition advance angle is too small, the exhaust temperature rises, and power decreases.

[KathrynAnn]

I've been repairing cars for twenty years, and the ignition timing at -10 degrees depends on the situation. Nowadays, turbocharged cars often fluctuate between -5 and +30 degrees when running at high speeds, as the ECU adjusts in real-time based on the knock sensor. Last time, a Civic owner also asked about this, and it turned out that he had switched to lower-octane gasoline, causing the ECU to automatically retard the ignition timing to protect the engine. You should check the recent fuel quality, spark plug carbon buildup, or coolant temperature sensor data. A brief negative angle during hard acceleration is normal, but a long-term negative value at idle is definitely a problem, and you need to read the complete data stream for analysis.

[DeLucia]

As track enthusiasts, we often adjust the ignition timing to negative values to prevent knocking during tuning. Just two days ago, we turbocharged a Honda Fit GK5 and specifically set it to -8 degrees under high boost to protect the engine. However, a stock car running at -10 degrees in daily driving is definitely abnormal—it's likely due to false knock sensor readings, a dirty throttle body, or the use of low-quality fuel additives. It's recommended to connect an OBD scanner to check real-time data. If negative timing persists even during low-speed cruising, you should inspect the spark plug gap and intake air temperature sensor. Remember, last month, a fellow car enthusiast experienced a persistent -15 degrees due to an ECU misjudgment after modifying the exhaust without a tune, resulting in a significant power loss.

[StPatrick]

For those involved in engine calibration, the ignition timing of modern vehicles is dynamically adjusted. During gentle city driving, it typically ranges from +5 to +15 degrees. However, under conditions like climbing steep slopes or when the air conditioning compressor imposes a heavy load, it may transiently drop to -5 degrees. Consistently operating at -10 degrees is certainly abnormal. Common causes include clogged catalytic converters leading to abnormal exhaust backpressure, oil entering the combustion chamber, or aging ignition coils. I once handled a case with a Lavida owner reporting similar issues, which was ultimately traced to inaccuracies in the crankshaft position sensor causing ECU calculation errors. Precise diagnosis requires connecting a diagnostic tool to examine data across various operating conditions.