How to read timing or knock retard live (1 Viewer)

[Zooguy]

... I'm sorry this is a long post if you just want to see the specific questions scroll to the bottom .

I know the first thing that everybody will say is get a laptop with techstream.... that may be what I want up doing if I can't find a solution.

I'm new to Toyota's. Traditionally I have been a General Motors guy so I'm learning from scratch basically. After doing lots and lots of looking I finally got my 1999 Toyota Land Cruiser and so far I love it it does need some TLC and minor repairs but I am super excited about it.

Something I didn't learn until I bought the vehicle and went to the gas station for the first time is that there's a sticker inside the fuel door that says premium fuel only.

Before I go any further I want to make it known I'm not trying to be cheap because I can't afford premium fuel.

So after doing a little bit of looking I'm finding a lot of different information on whether you have to run premium fuel which here in Oklahoma is 91 octane. Some people say go ahead and run 87 the motor will adjust timing accordingly. Some people say don't do it your motor will knock really bad and you'll damage things. According to my research these motors only have 9.6 to 1 compression ratio and going off of my knowledge that I've gained from building my race car engines and the different fuel options out there I would say this should be able to easily run 87 or 89 happily.

Specifically my question is is there a scan tool that can display the degrees of timing live and also monitor the knock sensors to see if they are detecting predetonation.?

 

[Eicca]

Anything that displays the live feed from the OBDII system should do the trick. I’ve got a $35 scan tool from Amazon that shows timing advance at cylinder 1 and updates fairly quickly.

 

[jLB]

What octane do you run?

How-To: TechStream In 5 Minutes

 

[J1000]

Most smartphone OBD-II scanner apps can view ignition timing and also log knock events. This one is my favorite: https://amzn.to/2SuhhUG

 

[gregnash]

I ended up picking up one of those BlueDriver OBDII bluetooth scanners during the holiday's for cheap and it shows that information plus lots more in the live data feed (note: you have to find what is supported first via the screen, then add all supported items). However, one thing to not is that is all it is, an OBD scanner tool. TechStream cable is all of $20 if you already have a laptop to run it and said laptop does not have to be impressive by any means. If you can, go the techstream route and it gives you MORE options to actually manipulate the systems within the truck should you desire (like adding/deleting master or valet keys).

Oh and I have been experimenting a bit with the whole octane thing. For whatever reason, in 2000 (I think) Toyota changed the sticker from Premium Only to Unleaded Fuel Only. In the month or so I have had my truck I have tried everything I have local except the ethanol free. From what I can tell, I get slightly better power from Mid-Grade or Premium (89/91 respectively) but I have not noticed a difference that is huge or a change in mpgs. I did the whole 400+ mile trip home on 87 and did not hear or feel anything odd.

 

[2023gx460]

Anything that displays the live feed from the OBDII system should do the trick. I’ve got a $35 scan tool from Amazon that shows timing advance at cylinder 1 and updates fairly quickly.

hi, can you comment on which tool you have from amazon?

 

[Live to Ski]

does not the computer adjust timing based on knock?