I live near Denver. My Pontiac (below) runs cooler and gets better gas mileage only in the mountains, on high-octane gasoline. I think this has to do with the ping sensor and timing retarder.
Is there a way to configure a gauge that reports timing advance, on a modern car where it’s varied by the computer?
Enjoyed your radio program, and now column, maybe for decades.
Thanks.
George (no last name)
Yes, an app by the name of Torque Pro is available for android smartphones and tablets (not iPhones). It can stream spark advance data (and a whole lotta other data) in real time as you drive. You just need a Bluetooth adaptor to plug into your OBD2 diagnostic connector.
There are other products that will do this as well, but this is a popular one.
BTW, the data stream won’t look like you expect it will! 
But have some fun with it anyway!
Thank you. That’s something I’m able to do.
I usta be charmed by vacuum gauges but now I know without a gauge. Now ignition timing moves around and I think I can decide what kind of gas to buy if I know what it’s doing.
George
You should also be able to display spark knock counts in Torque as well. That is easier way to identify knock you can’t hear.