Miata Mailing List: February 1996, Message #102
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   From: pturin@sunspot.ssl.berkeley.edu (Paul Turin)
Subject: 18 deg timing - results and a question
   Date: Fri, 2 Feb 1996 17:10:01 -0500

	Here's two more data points on 18 deg timing for 1.8L's. Reset the timing
on my '96 and a friend's '95 to 18 deg yesterday, with good results. It got rid of 
the annoying acceleration flat spot between 3600-4000 rpm, and seems to give 
substantially more low end torque. 

	The cars really seem to pull more strongly over the whole rpm range. Running 
87 octane we drove them up a long, very steep hill while flooring it at low rpm's, and 
could not induce any pinging. Its been in the 50's (really friggin cold, I know, I know) 
in Berkeley, so will watch it in warmer weather.

Question: 
	Does the Miata have a knock sensor? Gotta get the manuals so I don't 
have to ask these dumb Q's. If so, I assume it would retard the timing and prevent 
knock, as well as defeat the purpose of advancing the timing. If I'm not getting any 
knocking, is there any advantage in running higher octane fuel? If the car has a knock 
sensing scheme, I would think that running higher octane would delay knocking and thus 
keep the timing advanced, giving more power, eh? All those Canagun diction lessons are
starting to have an effect.

Paul Turin
'96 montego blue