In simple terms, what does the term Engine Timing mean and how does a timing light help you adjust timing?

Answer 1

and then there is valve timing set at the factory by the timing chain or belt that links the crankshaft to the camshaft :)

Answer 2

The piston when its on the way down, the intake valve is opened just before it starts down to let the piston draw the mixture into the cylinder, kind of like a hypodermic needle drawing medicine from a bottle. When it reaches the bottom, the intake valve is closed, and up comes the piston packing the mixture like dynamite, and just about the time it gets to the top, the power is shot to the spark plug, thus causing an explosion. At what time this explosion happens controls (timing) where it makes the most power, and burns the most fuel/air mixture. A timing light lets you adjust the time in which the explosions takes place, by flashing a light at the exact time the coil discharges the spark to the plug. The electrical current is sent to the plug, and jumps to ground (gap) at the exact time the engine needs it most. Get this too early and you burn a hole in the piston. Get it too late and it doesn't make any power.
Glad I could help you. Good Luck!!!
I beg to differ with answer #1. Reason? The firing does not take place in perfect synchronisation with the piston. If it did it would fire at "0" degrees, or (TDC) top dead center. The ignition takes place anywhere from 5 - 12 degrees "BEFORE" top dead center. It might be perfect if it were a one cylinder engine acting on a fixed time, but if you will do your homework you will find the ignition timing is varried as much as 10-12 degrees depending on many variables such as engine temperature, altitude, stretch in chain or belt, harmonic balancer turning inside of rubber, and humidity. Each cylinder may fire several degrees from its designed degree. A reluctor is now on the market (for distributors), that you can bend each tang, in order to adjust each cylinders timing individually. To back up my claim: Go to www.cranecams.com and do a search on setting ignition timing, or www.howstuffworks.com and you will see. The computer now controls timing on all vehicles because an engine starts at a different setting than it does when it gets hot. I realize you asked for the answer in simple terms, so this is as simple as it gets. The term "Synchronize" means: at the same time, not a varried time.
Myth Busted, I guess!!!

Answer 3

Correct engine timing allows the engine to maximize its power by controlling when the fuel in each cylinder is ignited to burn and produce energy.
Most engines are adjusted with a timing light which emits a short flash of bright light when the #1 cylinder ignites, usually with a spark plug. The light flash and plug firing are thus synchronized.
The engine manufacturer places two items on the front of the engine crankshaft: a scale (like a short measuring tape) on the engine block and a groove across the outer rim of the pulley on the rotating crankshaft.
The timing light flash will make the groove "appear" to stand still opposite the scale, because you only see it when the light flashes.
The engine manufacturer specifies that the timing be set according to the scale in degrees BTDC (before top dead center - when the piston is as close to the top of the cylinder as possible). The setting is changed by adjusting the engine distributor with the motor running and the timing light showing how much spark advance (BTDC) at idle is present. The measurement is always taken at a certain idle speed (rpm), because automotive engines do not have a fixed timing (spark advance).
At higher engine speeds, there is less time for the fuel to burn, so additional spark advance (more degrees BTDC) allows the fuel to begin burning earlier. If excessive advance or insufficient octane fuel is used, the engine will "knock" caused by the fuel burning too soon and pushing against the piston as it rises rather than as it drops.

Answer 4

Timing Means

Answer 5

The problem, my friend, is that we can't think or visualize space-time. You have certainly seen illustrations of the universe as a cone with the big bang at one side and the expanding universe. Sometimes you also see the universe expansion as an inflating sphere. They are all wrong because it is only a 3D representation of four dimensions. Here is a practical example. I can draw the universe as an expanding sphere where the center is the big bang. But I can also draw it where the center is here and now, and the sphere is the past and its surface is the big bang? Don't you agree? Okay, try this: connect your TV set to an old fashion beam antenna. Do you see the white dots of microwave noise on your screen? Now, turn your antenna in any direction and you will see as much dots because this is what we call, the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) that is the left over of the energy 380,000 years after the Big Bang when space became transparent. It comes from all directions because the past is a sphere around us! This is also why we can see stars and galaxies in any direction of the sky. In fact, anywhere in the universe, we are at its center, pretty much like the fish swimming in the ocean of a planet without continents is always in the center of the ocean. And this is the magic of space-time, my friend! We can't visualize it but it is in what we live: four dimensions!

Answer 6

Engine Timing is the time that the spark plug fires in conjunction as to where the piston. A timeing light will help to adjust this by hooking one lead to spark plug 1 and one lead to the battery. Point the Light at the harmonic balancer and every time the light flashes the mark on the harmonic balancer will be viewable.

Answer 7

Engine timing (in terms of IGNITION timing) means when the spark plug fires in relation to the position of the crankshaft/piston.
A timing light is used to illuminate the timing mark on the harmonic dampener when the spark plug fires to show how many degrees before TDC (Top Dead Center) that the spark plug is in fact firing.

Answer 8

In simple terms.When the piston gets to the top of the cylinder the spark plug is timed to spark,exploding the gas in the cylinder forcing it downward ,A timing light is hooked up so that every time the light shines or blinks the spark plug is igniting, it is a little more detailed than this ,but you said "in simple terms"

Answer 9

Thomas must have written the book on this subject. I would add that modern computerized ignition and fuel management systems' engine timing programs are factory set and not tunable by the average technician. Aftermarket products that change timing are available after much research and development and also, if sold for use in street-legal vehicles, regulatory obligations.

Answer 10

Engine timing is the synchronisation of the ignition of gas in each combustion chamber at the most efficient point of the piston cycle.

The timing light allows you to advance or retard the ignition so that it is in perfect synchronisation with the piston cycle.