Do I think the guy in question would have taken action to correct his engine's declining health had he known? Absolutely.
Did I take a risk buying that engine? Absolutely. I was offered my money back. I rebuilt it instead.
Believe what you want about instrumentation. That doesn't make my comments incorrect. Aeroaddict has a tweaked-up motor and apparently wants to keep it running at its peak. You shaming that idea is your gig. I applaud the idea.
Stewart,
I was not and am not "shaming" the notion of the OP installing engine instrumentation in his engine. I pointed out initially that in my opinion, relatively low CHTs are likely not a big problem.
But then, the initial responses to his posts, as often happens around here, were relative to O-320 engines, NOT his hot rodded engine.
Then it was suggested that comparing EGTs in climb is, apparently an essential to maintaining health, again-in an O-320. I called BS on that notion. My point was that an engine monitor on a stock O-320 is overkill.
An O-340, which is operating at higher pressures, and making more power.....maybe not-Ive never run one.
So, I guess the point is, let's stick to the original poster's question, and keep it pertinent to his engine.
As I said, I have an engine monitor on my current O-360. The problem I had with that instrument panel was that gauges were all over a large panel, and some vital gauges (oil pressure/temperature, tach, etc) were nearly impossible for me to see. I wanted those things visible. So, we installed an engine monitor, because that was the simplest, if not the most economical way to get there.
I don't spend a lot of time looking at that instrument, but they can be good for troubleshooting, which is what the OP was doing.
If low cylinder temperatures were a serious problem, we'd certainly have trashed a lot of engines in these things doing moose surveys in central Alaska, though. I never ran anything but oil cooler block off plates on Cubs or Huskys, and we did a LOT of flying at -20 and much colder.
FWIW, which may not be much.
MTV