Extra 10 HP secret revealed !!

[JcsMP3]

I finaly got a straight answer from Mazda as to where we get that extra 10 Hp. I know it might not have been a secret to most but it was to me a few others....

Advanced Ignition Timing, this can be achieved with a simple change in the codes of the ECU's program or with a chip. I have no idea they wouldn't tell me that much.

Yep that's all, I thought something fancier or more complexe but nope.. it's all about the timing....

This is why they recommend premium fuel. If you simply put regular gas, when the engine is under load or you are revving it really high the engine will knock. The knock sensor will pick it up and retard the timing back to stock 2.0L specs. Meaning you only get 130 Hp out of your motor. It might take a tank or two before your engine notices this change to higher octane fuel but it will detect the lower octane instantly upon your first knock in the engine.

Plus if you use lower octane your engine will develope earlier carbon build up therefore again reducing your engine performance.

If you want an excellent explanation of the octane rating and what it does please read.
http://theserviceadvisor.com/octane.htm

Jc

 

[JcsMP3]

double psot by accident...

Jc

[ 01-10-2002: Message edited by: JcsMP3 ]

 

[rcfan]

Do this relays to our car or to the p5? cause in the j-spec they also recommend high octane fuel.

 

[kep0ne]

this relates to the MP3, i think in the P5 you can use 89 octane. the reason jspec motors need higher octane is because of the higher compression, and probably due to advanced timing too...

 

[rcfan]

so using 92 octane is good or bad? I just in another topic talking about not spending the money in expensive gas, cause if that is the case them i will save like 3 to 4 bucks everytime i put gas.

Kep a ? gunmetal coating for rims how much?

Zoom Zoom

 

[kep0ne]

i was told it can run from 100-150 to powdercoat...havent done it yet...saving money for performance parts. i figure 92 or better is good for the engine...also, why would mazda recommend it if it wasnt needed? it doesnt make them any money...

 

[spoolinmp3]

jcsmp3 thanks for the great post!
If there are any p5 owners out there you will be wasting your time if you use premium fuels.

You can get mp3 power by just advancing your timing by about 2-6 degrees(very easy to do)and then run premium to prevent any detonation in the motor. I think the stock p5 comes at about 8degrees and the mp3 at 12 but you can double check with mazda and get correct numbers. This is very common in the miata community. We would advance our ignition timing from 8 degrees (which is set for better fuel economy and emmisions) to 16degrees. That gave us and extra 12hp and 18lbs of torque!!

So make sure that if you have an mp3 run premium because our ecu will sense knocking and retard timing to p5 levels wich means 10 less ponies!!

 

[sttl013]

Jspec FS-ZE 170HP has 10.5:1 compression ratio, hence the recommended upgrade to premium unleaded. Higher compression, advanced timing, boost (turbo or supercharged) all should use higher octanes to prevent knock. Most good boost systems also have computer controllers to detect knock and adjust accordingly, similar to the MP3's computer.
The P5 won't show an immediate advantage by using premium unleaded, but the long-run results are worth it. Using gasoline that burns easier and more completely will keep the combustion chambers, fuel injectors, and other internal parts cleaner. I used 92 octane in my Civic, purchased new in 95, and after 6 years and 130,000 miles, it ran smoother and better than a friends 94 Civic with 80K, we both did regular oil changes and tune-ups, but he always used 87. He was always amazed how much better my car felt over his. So a waste of money is not exactly what I'd call it.
Does anyone know how to change the timing on a P5?

 

[sttl013]

Of course, I could be totally wrong and my Civic felt faster due to the carbon buildup on the pistons caused a higher compression ratio!!!!

 

[cougfan99]

That's great- now how do I get ANOTHER extra 10 hp from the engine???

 

[LinuxRacr]

Originally posted by SanFranMP3:
<STRONG>That's great- now how do I get ANOTHER extra 10 hp from the engine???</STRONG>

Install a CAI. It will get you close to 10 mo fo tha rooaad!

 

[cougfan99]

What's a CAI? Where do I get it?

 

[DBR]

like asked above, does anyone have any suggestions how to advance the timing on a p5 to mp3 specs? anyone know how was it done on the miatas? all suggestions welcome, but i'm particularly interested in:

(a) the solution that's the cheapest, and/or

(b) the solution that allows the easiest switching back and forth between p5 and mp3 specs (in case the periodic government emissions test, like they have in ontario, is stricter for p5s than mp3s).

thanks.

 

[spoolinmp3]

I am not sure how you would advance or retard timing on our cars I would have to take a look but my car is all taken apart for the turbo install, and its not at my house. On the miata's there was a screw on the crank angle sensor and you would move it back and forth to adjust timing via a timing light ofcourse.

 

[APEXistud]

If you could get your hands on an APEXi ITC you could change the timing. Using the ITC is not for the faint hearted though. It is a sophisticated piece of equipment and should only be installed by a knowledgable tuner. The intake manifold had a bit to do with the extra 10 hp. The different timing usually addresses the torque issue. Advancing the timing usually gives more torque, but at the expense of top-end hp.

[ 01-12-2002: Message edited by: APEXistud ]

 

[mazdamastertech]

u cannot change timing, it has 2 be done by computer only. u cannot move any sensors, the crank and the cam sensors have to be adusted to gether. alot of time to invest

 

[MP3-Owner]

I have a question...Would the advanced timing in our MP3's cause a sooty look to our spark plugs? I have N2O as most of you know and when I took out my OEM plugs they had the sooty build up before I used the N2O. Now when I checked my new ZEX N2O plugs the other day they had the same sooty build up but they also had the rainbow effect around the nose of the plug. Now I read an artical that talks about the use of N2O and it said that this rainbow effect can be caused by additives in pump fuel. So what am I to believe? Is the engine getting too much feul because of the advanced timing? OR Is the engine getting too much N2O? OR Somehow getting too much of both? OR something else perhaps? I am at a loss. Does anyone have any clue as what I might be able to do to fix this?

[ 01-13-2002: Message edited by: MP3-Owner ]

 

[<SilverPro>]

Have you noticed any signs of detonation while your on the bottle such as pinging?