My A&P was of that school, told me I was wasting my money when I put in a JPI
EDM700. Wouldn't you know it, the JPI paid for itself when I had a rough
engine problem a month later. Turned out to be a card that wasn't atomizing
the fuel, but we could see exactly what the engine was doing. We would have
probably spent several times the labor hours chasing that without the
analyzer. He now recommends analyzers to his customers.

You are right, when everything is working perfectly, the analyzer is little
more than a box with blinkin lights. When the engine gets rough or worse
though, you have an immediate indication on where to look, and the response
gives narrows down the possible causes pretty quickly, before the cowl is even
opened and before the A&P punches the time clock.

Doodybutch wrote:

Engine analyzers are becoming more and more popular. They give you the
cylinder head temperatures and the exhaust gas temperatures for all your
cylinders.

That said, there is no real evidence they prevent engine failure or prolong
TBO, despite the many testimonials to the contrary. This is probably
especially true of a cool running engine like the carbureted O-470 in a
Skylane - there is little you can do except adjust the mixture.

I wouldn't bother with the expense. Just my opinion.

DB

--
--Ray Andraka, P.E.
President, the Andraka Consulting Group, Inc.
401/884-7930 Fax 401/884-7950
email
http://www.andraka.com

"They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little
temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-Benjamin Franklin, 1759