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MG TD TF 1500 - Timing vs Overheat

I have read that there is a relationship between the ignition timing on my XPAG and the coolant overheating. In St. Louis summer weather, high running temps are always a critical problem. Does excessive advance or retard timing contribute to this heat and why?
Jim Merz

Hi Jim, there certainly is a relationship between retarded timing and overheating. As to the reason for it, when the timing is seriously retarded, engine power is dramatically reduced. To overcome this you need to have the throttle down a lot further, using more fuel. This is like driving up a mountain range. Hence more heat. I think it is that simple. Others may have different theories. I will be interested to hear any alternatives. We live in a climate probably similar to yours. In summer we generally find open cars far too unbearably in that intense heat and put them away for a couple of months until things cool down a bit.
Cheers,
Paul.
Paul van Gool

Gee Paul,
Why put your car away, just put the hood up and leave the side curtains off. My wife & I had a rally a couple of years ago in 100 Deg F heat and cooked but now we just put the hood up, it's great with no sun beating down on the head. I also use a wide hat with a Aussie brow band and it never blows off, much better than a baseball cap getting the ears & back of neck burnt. ( By the way did you know that baseball caps were used in Australia for cricket as early as 1875 which I think predates them being used in American baseball )
Wayne
Wayne

Sorry Jim,
I forgot to say Hello it's good to hear your back on the road after winter, I agree with Paul that timing and overheating are closely related for the very reasons he stated.
Jim I wanted to ask you, have you put electronic timing into your distributor? If you have what type did you install?
Wayne
Wayne

Hi Wayne,
I'm with you. I wouldn't drive to the local post office in summer without the hood up. But I am envious of where you live. You live in MG heaven. We went to the Natmeet in Tassie in 97 and spent a month driving around the island in the TD afterwards. Best holiday we ever had. Great roads and heaps to see and do. That wide brim hat sounds good. Baseball caps are not much use as there is a direct relationship betwween the amount of hair on one's head and the time a cap stays on.
See ya.
Paul.
Paul van Gool

G'Day Paul,
Although its the middle of winter here we can still drive around with the hood down, we've had a very mild winter so far.
Now that I've retired (last week) I'm hoping to head your way some time soon to check out the great sunny northern state so I'll be able to see why everyone seems to be moving north. I think a trip to S.A. to try out the Bay to Birdwood is the first trip I'll do in the TF.
I did a write up for the English Enjoying MG magazine of the Natmeet in Hobart, it was published in the June 1998 edition with photos if you can get a copy.
Wayne
Wayne

Want to temporarily add a little forced air ventilation to the T type? Obtain about a 6 foot piece of that flexible duct used to vent clothes dryers. Fasten one end to the side of the windscreen by the folding nut. Route the rest of the tube under the dash down by the battery box. Drive over 30 MPH and it really helps.
Blake J.

All I know is that, being somewhat of a bigot who constantly wants the best ignition advance, which I set from a knob on my dashboard, I do find that I have to advance or retard the spark depending on the engine temperature - which I monitor with a temperature gauge for water at the head and one for oil in the sump, and a hidden digital thermometer I switch to monitor radiator and carburettors. As to the why's, this is explained in many books, but essentially the reason is that optmized combustion reduces heat waste and unburnt gases.

Denis
Denis L. Baggi

This thread was discussed between 06/07/2000 and 28/07/2000

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.