2.3 duratec ignition timing

[Pony Boy]

On the duratec engines, they have a knock sensor correct? I'm interested in bumping the ignition timing a few degrees ( I have the Diablosport Intune tuner ) for a little extra HP. My question is, with the knock sensor connected will I be able to hear spark knock to know when to retard the timing back a couple degrees? I'm much more familiar with doing this on my old Ranger with a distributor, it's easy to hear spark knock.

 

[Soledad]

Yes, the Duratec's do have a knock sensor. It's a round puck looking thing bolted to the side of the block down by the PCV valve. Unfortunately I can't answer your second question about hearing the spark knock/pinging. I've never noticed any knock or pinging on mine so I'm not sure if it's audible or not but I would probably assume it is should it ever occur.

 

[RonD]

If knock sensor is working correctly then you would not hear a ping/knock sound, knock sensor "feels" it before you hear it.

If an engine/computer has/uses a knock sensor then spark timing is usually more aggressive, this allows better performance on higher octane fuel, if driver chooses to pay for it, so not sure you would benefit from more advanced spark timing.
I would run a couple of tanks of higher octane and see if you notice a performance increase.

If no knock sensor then computer is set for 87 octane spark timing, so no difference in using higher octane.
Unless things change in the engine/system and it starts to ping/knock using 87 octane