Should I mess with it

[BrianX128]

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So at the rally a couple of the guys mentioned that my truck sounded like he timing was retarded just a bit. I took a peek at the factory timing marks the other day and it does appear I'm a bit that way. I guess my question is, knowing where my marks are now and being happy with the way the truck has performed for a year now should I time it back to those marks being even or let it be? I get 18.5-19 mpg, no smoke, seems to have good enough power to me, but I noticed it does sound a bit deeper then most others engines did at the rally.

Considering I have 0 timing equipment, would it be a bad idea to even those two marks and "advance" it to at least even and see what it does? And since I've never done this yet, is just breaking those three bolts loose enough to turn the pump that small of an amount? I have a bent wrench already that I can get on them with good (for some unknown reason). I'd assume I can leave all hard lines on the whole way too to move such a small amount.

 

[laserjock]

Make a mark where it is. That way you can put it back if you don't like the result. Center punch in the groove where the pump meets the housing.

 

[BrianX128]

Good idea. How loose are these things when you break the bolts loose? Is it gonna be a hard to move thing or a moves so much I'll have a hard time getting it to stay exactly where I want it type of thing? I'd imagine it's more on the hard to move side considering it's also bolted to the gear and all of the lines and whatnot, it's also probably very used to being exactly where it is right now too with all of the lines hooked up.

 

[icanfixall]

The injection pump can have plenty of stress on it from the hard lines. So as suggested. A center pump mark in the pump to housing joint line. then when the pump is loose you will see which way it moves on its own. If just above that top rear nut you loosen you have a square lug on the injection pump thats a good place for a wrench to turn the pump with. DO NOT MOVE PUMP WITH ENGINE RUNNING like we do with gas engines. Tooo mush twisting torque from the pump making high fuel pressure. Honestly I suggest you leave it alone if the mileage is that great. Did someone at the rally time this engine for you???

 

[BrianX128]

No, Autumn and I had to leave early on our last day at the rally unexpectedly, Corey was gonna time it for me though but family stuff came up and we had to run. Anyways, So I center punched it and advanced it halfway to the factory mark from where it was (figuring smaller the better) which was barely anything but I figured it doesn't take much to change the timing and with the mileage being as good as it has been I don't want to play too much though I can turn it back.

Went for a drive and can't say I noticed much, maybe something in fifth gear when climbing hills at 55 and 65, it did smoke a bit more under acceleration which I don't want, but don't care either. Egt's were the same as well or at least nothing stood out to me as odd and we had to drive it up hog back hill where I live which is a nightmare for heavy slow things. It did seem to sound a small amount different to me at idle but that's about it. I'm gonna see how my mileage goes for this 500 mile span, I filled it up last night after running with dad to take the 250 for a front end alignment. I got my usual 18.87 mpg.

 

[Dieselcrawler]

Does it sound louder or more rattle when first started cold?

 

[BrianX128]

Yeah when I started it cold today it sounded louder and more power stroke like but when the cold advance and high idle dropped off it sounds pretty much the exact same.

 

[OLDBULL8]

Yeah when I started it cold today it sounded louder and more power stroke like but when the cold advance and high idle dropped off it sounds pretty much the exact same.

Sounding like that, I'd say your pretty much on the timing where it should be. A little puff of black smoke when kicking it is OK good.

 

[BrianX128]

It was a little more than a puff honestly but I was also going up a hill in fourth gear at 2600 rpms towing my f250, so I think it was acceptable for it to smoke up some.

 

[Dieselcrawler]

Yep sounds like your close to perfect

 

[BrianX128]

https://youtu.be/Z22cHyon_Js

No better way to explain then a video. Tried to give it a couple quick revs so you could hear the increased clatter for the video. When I do the little rev at the end at get that little smoke cloud, it would have never done that before I messed with the timing.

It might have more power, I'm not sure if I'm placebo effectiving myself into thinking it but it does feel spunkyer and 150 miles in the mileage doesn't seem any different then it was previously.

When I recorded the video it was about 46, and had been high idleing for about two minutes maybe three.