heat and tuning

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
christofloffer

christofloffer

Member
Posts
22
Location
Stafford
i am investigating tuning my engine a little to get the best from it. so i have ordered myself a turbo, some LED washer jets and a massive exhaust!:p
specifically i am wondering about timing. i have read that if the timing is a bit retarded then it can cause the engine to run hot. if its a hot day then i can easily need to have both the fan (16" electric, in front of rad) and the blowers on. whilst the heater is very welcome on cold days it seems just too hot. the engine is running nicely enough for a tired motor and it is all set on the dot with the timing. i know these engines prefer to be hot but its a novelty for it to sit on the N.
i wonder if giving it a little advance would help this out though. if the heat is symptomatic of the timing not being quite right then it could be a nice fix. i am however still getting to grips with the effects of messing with the ignition/timing of petrol engines so it has been very much by the book so far, which is fine provided that the state of the engine matches up. i do have a strobe but if anyone could tell me how best to work it would be appreciated. if anyone can point me in the direction of some good reading that would be good too, most articles i found deal with different set up or assume a reasonable degree of familiarity already.
the ignition system is all under 1000miles old and it has a powerspark 45D electronic dizzy. like i said, it runs alright enough but i think it could be set up better.
 
christofloffer said:
i am investigating tuning my engine a little to get the best from it. so i have ordered myself a turbo, some LED washer jets and a massive exhaust!:p
specifically i am wondering about timing. i have read that if the timing is a bit retarded then it can cause the engine to run hot. if its a hot day then i can easily need to have both the fan (16" electric, in front of rad) and the blowers on. whilst the heater is very welcome on cold days it seems just too hot. the engine is running nicely enough for a tired motor and it is all set on the dot with the timing. i know these engines prefer to be hot but its a novelty for it to sit on the N.
i wonder if giving it a little advance would help this out though. if the heat is symptomatic of the timing not being quite right then it could be a nice fix. i am however still getting to grips with the effects of messing with the ignition/timing of petrol engines so it has been very much by the book so far, which is fine provided that the state of the engine matches up. i do have a strobe but if anyone could tell me how best to work it would be appreciated. if anyone can point me in the direction of some good reading that would be good too, most articles i found deal with different set up or assume a reasonable degree of familiarity already.
the ignition system is all under 1000miles old and it has a powerspark 45D electronic dizzy. like i said, it runs alright enough but i think it could be set up better.
Click to expand...
this link may help
http://www.turbodynamics.co.uk/technical/turbocharging-normally-aspirated-car1/
 
christofloffer said:
i am investigating tuning my engine a little to get the best from it. so i have ordered myself a turbo, some LED washer jets and a massive exhaust!:p
specifically i am wondering about timing. i have read that if the timing is a bit retarded then it can cause the engine to run hot. if its a hot day then i can easily need to have both the fan (16" electric, in front of rad) and the blowers on. whilst the heater is very welcome on cold days it seems just too hot. the engine is running nicely enough for a tired motor and it is all set on the dot with the timing. i know these engines prefer to be hot but its a novelty for it to sit on the N.
i wonder if giving it a little advance would help this out though. if the heat is symptomatic of the timing not being quite right then it could be a nice fix. i am however still getting to grips with the effects of messing with the ignition/timing of petrol engines so it has been very much by the book so far, which is fine provided that the state of the engine matches up. i do have a strobe but if anyone could tell me how best to work it would be appreciated. if anyone can point me in the direction of some good reading that would be good too, most articles i found deal with different set up or assume a reasonable degree of familiarity already.
the ignition system is all under 1000miles old and it has a powerspark 45D electronic dizzy. like i said, it runs alright enough but i think it could be set up better.
Click to expand...
a 2.25 petrol are you serious,if you want more power fit a 2.5 petrol or tdi
 
???
I think some have only part read the question....Chris is simply wanting to just get the best out of what he currently has ie. how to set it up better.
 
perhaps the LED's are a bit much, a nurburgring sticker instead?;)

seriously though, its not extra power i am after, i have only recently put the petrol back in. i just mean that i have got it all set up as per the manual but a few people have mentioned a little advance can help the motor run smoother. i also noticed some people saying that the timing being slightly out could cause excess heat which might indicate my timing being slightly awry. i dont really have any intention of tuning it up in a power sense (and no, obviously not actually fitting a turbo), more like tuning it up so that everything is running as well as possible for the average set up. they are designed to run on pretty poor fuel so surely the set up would alter a little to match up to the fuel we get these days.
the engine is running reasonably well for an old engine but there is room for improvement. i will be doing a new engine over winter (another 2.25p) but getting my head around the set up now will only help my understanding of it. i love the standard 2.25p and i dont expect anything major from it, but the nicer it runs the happier i get.
 
With the poor quality of modern fuel series 2 forum folks are recommending 6deg before BTDC instead of 3 deg. Have not ran a petrol engine for a few years myself but must be worth a try. Doug
 
it has been known to boil a couple of times, coming out from the overflow bottle. on those occasions it was on exceptionally hot days and it wasnt hissing out but when i stopped it would puddle up on the drive. the gauge sits up in the top third most of the time and it is generally really hot in there. as i said, i have fairly often over the summer had to put the heaters as well as the fan on to keep it out of the red and even then it would dance around the line. the heaters are more effective than any other series, or any other landy at all for that matter. which seems to me to support that it is hotter than it should be. my heater has always worked well in this landy but its been hot enough more than a few times to need to drive with every window open and in a T-shirt, even on the cooler days we have had recently. even without the blowers on it can be quite toasty in there if its more than a short run.
its not so hot that its a major problem, i'm just thinking it my be an indicator. its certainly hasnt stopped me driving aside from a few days of excessive heat in the summer when i simply didnt want to be in there.
 
personally i don't think there's anything you could do to the ignition system that would cause the engine cooling system to struggle, other than maybe douse the engine in petrol and leave a spark lead dangling on the block
 
Have you tried giving the cooling system a good flush through to clear any crap out? Also, maybe the water pump needs replacing.

Col
 
Also check the thermostat is operating correctly and not bunged up with gunk. Be VERY carful removing the retaining bolts so not to snap them.........like I did haha.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Kingshill-Rover
Series 3 Ignition Timing 2.6 Litre Petrol
Replies
6
Views
872
Kingshill-Rover
Kingshill-Rover
L
Series 3 petrol trouble shooting
2
Replies
32
Views
1K
lcdck
L
S
Timing cover oil seal replacement
Replies
2
Views
247
sprie
S
S
Engine installation and running
Replies
4
Views
277
dag019
dag019
S
Trouble with ignition switch wiring
Replies
6
Views
159
mystery
mystery
Back
Top