THIS IS NOT A LAME BASH THREAD - DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT 
HOW MANY AIRCRAFT OWNERS TAKE AN ACTIVE INTEREST IN THE TECHNICAL RESULTS OF MAINTENANCE ON THEIR PLANE?
I thought I would start this thread to raise awareness of what you the pilot can do to better look after your aircraft and ensure it is configured in an optimal state.
Topics should be typically engine related although airframe and avionics can be discussed, so I will suggest things like plugs, magneto's fuel flow etc.
To kick off, lets look at a very smart guy, who randomly visits this forum and has a large pressurised twin. Turbocharged engines. This aircraft is maintained by a very good shop and has recently come out of annual. The plane does typically 12-13 hours a month or more. The aircraft is fitted with a good EMS setup and the pilot has been educated very well on understanding exactly what the EMS is telling him. No dog watching TV here!
Engine A is showing signs of lower TIT and higher CHT's and can not flow the typical LOP fuel flows without busting 380-385dF and has to be run around 20-30dF further LOP.
Engine B is not showing these symptoms, rather it seems not to be as smooth when LOP. The GAMI spread is still perfect however. The TIT is a bit higher and during an inflight mag check there is a bit more variation in the EGT bars.
What was found? Engine A had both mags timed with 1 degree too much advance, plugs were all fine. Engine B had several plugs with a gap beyond 0.018" and the mags were 2-2.4 degrees retarded. It should be noted this engine was also easier to start, and that makes sense too, the pilot noted this.
How many pilots out there would be this sharp? My guess is 1% at best.
This was not long out of an annual so the obvious question is how on earth is this possible? the answer is simple. Most LAME's do the best they can with the little they have. Many are still using the old timing gear marks under the brass plug or the hole/flywheel method. We used a Rite System kit.
Why is this important? Well on a TC engine 1 degree of timing really does make a big difference. With the digital Rite System you can pick and adjust in 0.1 degree increments, and a full degree is hard to pick using the old factory markings. So if the LAME is a bit slack or in a hurry or whatever, he can say "it's within tolerance" and think it is fine. But add another degree or two and it is not fine and may be very bad.
If you or your LAME do not have one, buy one and gift it to him/her.
Plugs.....If they are fine wires and tempest, not much to do, if Champion check their resistance. If they are massive electrode buy your self some gapping tools and every 50 hours clean and gap them. 0.016" to 0.018" is the range, set them at the lower end and recap at 50 hours. When they get to 20-22 thou they are not performing right.
I am sure there are plenty of stories that can be shared, so feel free to share or ask questions if you wish. I will do my best to answer them, or others here will for sure. There are some LAME's here that might have to help me out too.
Remember this is not a LAME slag fest. I will ask Taily to keep an eye on that. I want this thread to be all about learning and positive things.
I am out bush for the weekend so I may not be back to this till Monday, so play nice y'all.