What is the optimal ignition advance angle in degrees?
2 Answers
Ignition advance angle normally ranges from 6° to 12°. Here is an introduction to ignition advance angle: Definition of ignition advance angle: During engine operation, ignition timing significantly impacts engine performance. Ignition advance refers to the spark plug firing before the piston reaches top dead center in the compression stroke, igniting the combustible mixture in the combustion chamber. The crankshaft rotation angle from ignition timing until the piston reaches top dead center is called the ignition advance angle. Disadvantages of premature engine ignition: May cause knocking; Piston upward movement obstruction; Reduced efficiency; Increased thermal load, mechanical load, noise and vibration.
Actually, the optimal ignition advance angle isn't a fixed value, typically varying between 10 to 40 degrees depending on engine design and operating conditions. For instance, when I drove high-performance sports cars, the ECU would automatically adjust based on RPM - smaller advance angles around 15 degrees at low RPM for smooth starts, jumping above 25 degrees at high RPM to improve combustion efficiency. Engine knocking is a common issue; excessive advance can cause vibrations damaging the engine, so I recommend keeping factory settings unless you have professional equipment. Tuning enthusiasts often make micro-adjustments to squeeze extra horsepower, but must monitor air-fuel ratios to avoid diminishing returns. With modern electronic controls, we don't need to worry much - just regular ignition system checks suffice.
