Using Your Engine Monitor

I remember the first time an EIS (engine information system, commonly known as an engine monitor) saved my bacon. I was in a Cessna 210 I’d flown for many years by that time and we were high over Varadero, Cuba. I looked over at the JPI engine monitor, a retrofit on this L-model, and noticed the LED bar representing the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) for the number two cylinder was bouncing around.

Amy Laboda

Friday, November 16, 2012 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Engine monitors provide crucial early warnings for engine issues (e.g., erratic EGTs), enabling in-flight diagnosis and preventative maintenance, which saves significant costs and prevents engine damage.
Modern engine monitors have evolved to offer comprehensive data beyond simple leaning, allowing pilots to optimize engine performance, diagnose various problems (like exhaust valve failures), and monitor overall engine health.
Once a retrofit, digital engine information systems are now standard safety equipment in new aircraft, and the author strongly recommends retrofitting older planes to enhance safety, extend engine life, and reduce maintenance expenses.

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Now, that EGT probe is located in the exhaust pipe somewhere four to six inches down from the cylinder head, measuring the temperature of the exhaust gases on a continuous basis as they exit through the exhaust port. That temperature, when compared with the exhaust flowing out of the other cylinders, tells me a lot about what is going on inside the engine. And what it was telling me right then was that cylinder number two was being erratic about how much power it was putting out.