Timing Question

[Chris28]

What should my timing be doing when the engine is under load? I finally figured out my AFR issues (multiple pre-sensor exhaust leaks) and now I'm trying to figure out my breaking up/bogging down issue. I don't think it's fuel because I'm backfiring with flames, meaning there is fuel present during the breaking up. I hooked up my consult cable so I can see what it's doing, and I'm really not sure what I'm looking at. I know that my injector duty cycles aren't maxing out, and neither is my maf, so I checked to see what my timing was doing.

At idle it's at 20 degrees btdc, which is what it's supposed to be. Under load however, I saw it go to 40 degrees btdc. This wasn't even in boost, just under load. Could the ECU be pulling timing so much that it is making the car bog/break down under heavy load? I mean it could, but I have no idea what the timing is supposed to be under load.

I also dumped my tune to my desktop so I can upload it if anyone wants to look at it. I highly doubt it's the tune but at this point I'm open to any suggestions.

I checked for boost leaks and I have a minor boost leak at my bov. Like barely leaking at 20 lbs of pressure, and I'm only running 7 lbs. The backfiring makes it seem like I might have a boost leak, but the test didn't show any huge leaks that could make the bogging this drastic. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

[480sx]

Your timings probably fine. 40 BTDC is a pretty 'advanced' timing level for a gasoline engine. So, the ecu 'pulling' timing theory is shot out of the water. Not saying you dont have a tune problem, but it doesnt sound likely. What are you using for tuning?

Have you tried gaping your spark plugs to say.. .22(very extreme, diagnosis or high boost with poor ignition gap only) to rule out spark blowout?

Doesnt sound like this is a boost leak if your competent with your boost leak testing lol.

[Chris28]

EFI specialist tune for 370cc's and stock maf. I'll gap my plugs to .022 when I get a chance, it seems like a spark issue so the easiest place to start would be with the plugs. I'll do another boost leak test but I got new couplers and clamps today so I think it's just my minor bov leak.

I'm going to move my fpr to right next to my windshield so I can see what my fuel pressure is doing under load. I have a gauge on my fpr but I can't see it while driving so I'll clip it to my wiper for a few drives down my street so I can see what's up with that haha.

[WDRacing]

Whats the gap set to now? You want to run the largest gap possible without the blowout issue. I won't run anything smaller then .028. If you have issues there then you need some type of amp or atleast new factory parts.

WD

[480sx]

Testing at .22 will at least isolate your problem, or eliminate the spark blowout theory. It is an easy test to run.

[Chris28]

I'm running NGK BKR7E's gapped to .034 right now, I'll re-gap them to .022 just to see if it's spark blow-out or not.

I've had a lot of couplers blow off recently as I got my piping all worked out so I've run pig rich more than normal lately, it's possible that my plugs are already fouled due to this. I'll go ahead and get some new plugs while I'm at it. Thanks for the replies.

[Chris28]

I feel really dumb.

I got my problem all figure out, it was the spark plug wires. I was running nology wires which are really beefy and obviously an upgrade from oem, so I overlooked what I should have checked first. One wire's casing that goes through the head was shattered, and cylinder 1's wire wasn't even touching the top of the spark plug.

I put new wires on today and it runs like champ. Pulls hard through every gear, boost feels great.

Thanks to everyone who helped me troubleshoot, especially 480sx and WD.