Is there any point/harm/benefit in moving the mixture knob part way to where I know it will eventually go - will this be better/worse/waste of time than leaving it fully rich until I get around to leaning it by EGT?
Thats how I always lean. Reach the cruise and cruise power, pull the knob back a bit, do whatever I have to do then lean properly. In recent times, I click the "Engine button" on the right hand MFD, choose "lean assist" then bring the mixture back until the CHT graphics tell me I've reaced peak. Then advance it until I get a reading of 50F rich of peak. Makes hell of a difference actually, watching the fuel flow on the screen in a DA40 FF went from around 12 gals / hr to around 8 when correctly leaned at about 6000'.
