Engine analyzer.

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

I also have one in my 67 182. Nice blinkin' lights but I wouldn't do it
again.



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

On Wed, 24 Nov 2004 13:12:28 -0700, Newps wrote:

I also have one in my 67 182. Nice blinkin' lights but I wouldn't do it
again.

I've spent a lot more time installing and maintaining (troubleshooting
and repairing faults where the owner was convinced he/she had a
serious engine problem) "graphic engine monitors" than I have using
an engine monitor to help diagnose a problem.

The only instance I've ever had on the shop floor where a problem was
identified by an engine monitor in-flight was an engine that spit out
the pipe plug in the alternate position for the fuel injector nozzle.

I've installed a bunch of digital TIT and multi-point EGT systems
(with a selector switch), and overall have had good luck with them. A
little bit of common sense and an accurate digital EGT works quite
well.

TC

wrote:
On Wed, 24 Nov 2004 13:12:28 -0700, Newps wrote:


I also have one in my 67 182. Nice blinkin' lights but I wouldn't do it
again.


I've spent a lot more time installing and maintaining (troubleshooting
and repairing faults where the owner was convinced he/she had a
serious engine problem) "graphic engine monitors" than I have using
an engine monitor to help diagnose a problem.

No ****. All those damn connections just means many more failure points.



The only instance I've ever had on the shop floor where a problem was
identified by an engine monitor in-flight was an engine that spit out
the pipe plug in the alternate position for the fuel injector nozzle.

That happened to me. I could detect a slight engine roughness at idle
and when I pulled the power to land the CHT plummeted by about 150
degrees in just a few seconds. On the ground the engine was just ever
so slightly rough. Found the offending missing plug and replaced it.

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

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President, the Andraka Consulting Group, Inc.
401/884-7930 Fax 401/884-7950
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