To a lesser extent, detonation under acceleration. Hard starting when hot. It'll run rough at idle and cruise
Abnormal combustion. Why do you ask? https://v8buick.com/index.php?threads/power-timing-your-buick-v8.63475/
In a nutshell, the engine will be mad, and everything said above, plus loss of power. How much total you running now?
Retarded timing will cause higher operating temp. Detonation is uncontrolled combustion, Usually causes mechanical damage if left unchecked.
If left unchecked, yes it will, but for the same reason as retarded timing. More of the heat of combustion goes into the cooling system instead of pushing the piston smoothly down on the power stroke. The bigger problem is the damage it can cause to parts.
Detonation wipes-away the insulating "boundary layer" of air that protects metal that melts at ~1500--2500 degrees, from the heat of combustion that reaches ~15,000 degrees. So, yeah, detonation can increase the load on the cooling system, but it's probably causing mechanical damage to aluminum (especially) long before the temp goes up on the gauge; plus shock-loading the piston/rod/crankshaft/head gasket/head bolts.
When you read the chassis service manual there is a line where it says detonation is acceptable at the end of 1st gear going full throttle into 2nd gear. Why is that written as acceptable? Was this to keep rebuilds going on engines at the dealerships back then?
I remember reading that as well, but they say light detonation, and then they also say that continued heavy detonation is no bueno.
The engines are not made of plastic and can take some load. When i was younger i pushed a 430 always to when it started to ping at part throttle and sometimes just kept on pushing through it. I didn't know about the advanced limiter bushing back then which was missing. The left bank of the engine did not get oil at all. At idle oil light came flikkering on and i never blew the engine. That's how strong they are.
When I first rebuilt my 350, my cheapo timing light went belly up so I timed it by ear. Engine ran great with no detectable detonation but would never heat up (heater blew cold air). Borrowed my neighbor's timing light and it was advanced WAY too much (off the scale). I retarded initial down to 8 or so and heater works great now. I decided my ability to set timing by ear was defective.
My first experience with timing without using a timing light, my uncle showed me how to do it with a vacuum gage, worked great. After I got into hot rods, I found that doesn't work with cams that have a lot of overlap. But, then my uncle's cars were 50's vintage Studebaker's. Vet
From a stock point of view; is it possible for instance when you set dwell at 30 and you want initial at exactly 4 BTDC to do this with a vacuum gauge? How would you know it is exactly at 4 without a timing light?
Driving a lot with detonation is not recommended ofcourse. I probably did not hammer it hard enough which i am glad i didn't.
The problem is that if it pings slightly one day, on another day when the barometer is higher and temp is higher (motor and/or air temp) it could become detonation which IMO is #1 cause for hurt Buick motors. Then people blame the oiling system after their bearings are pounded out. Detonation is like hitting the piston with a sledge hammer. Not worth taking a chance for a few ponies.... Years ago a buddy was about to go down the track and I asked what he set timing to and he said he advanced it until it idled well with his big cam. I said no...gotta check total. He had 42 deg total. He already made a pass and wasn't happy with mph. Duh...detonating on top end. Ended up picking up 3 mph by going down to 32deg. ET was same tho since that 42 enhanced the bottom end. He said it idled like crap now.....what did you do? We fixed that later with light springs in dist and big limiter bushing. Alway better to run less timing than more if you want it to last.
You are correct in your thinking. BUT there is LIGHT PINGING almost like bells, that typically won’t damage anything for SHORT periods, a lot of early emissions equipped engines were prone to it, they just didn’t have the technology then to get around it. Detonation is like a hammer on an empty metal drum, if it’s continuous throughout a run, IT WILL cause damage, turbo, supercharged, and nitrous engines are VERY susceptible to this and damage can occur FAST due to the higher cylinder pressures associated with those power adders. In a nutshell, any pinging or detonation is not good.
