Originally Posted by
Ebbie 2003
My airplanes checklist tells you to lean on the ground immediately after starting - it says an inch (its a PA28-181).
In the air I lean at 2000ft and up - in my EGT I run hottest at around 1480 - it leaned all the way to get the peak then backed off/enriched (my airplane has a carb not injection so none of that lean of peak BS for me!) - when this is done at 8000ft+ the mixture is maybe 1/2" inch off the lean cut off position, v.scary.
Pulling the red lever back in cruise is good, lean to peak EGT with smooth running and LEAVE IT THERE. (Lycoming's advice, not mine.) With a carb engine you CAN run LOP, so it is not BS; you just have to live with an occasional, irregular rumbling due to unequal air / fuel distribution.
At 8000' your mpg economy should be better than 2000' so as long as the engine runs smoothly, do not worry about the position of the red knob. After all, you are not at sea level.
