I won't get into LOP or ROP here, rather I have a very simple question. In my primary instruction, I was taught to climb out, and lean until rougness, then richen a few turns. This of course was out of an airport at 680 MSL, and cruise altitudes were usually 4500-6500 MSL with practice maneuvering around 3500. I was tought NOT to lean during the climb, but rather to wait until cruise.

Now days, I operate out of 4500-6000 MSL airports, lean for max rpm during runup, and continue to lean for max rpm during the climb (if I'm going up to 8500, it helps to lean a squeak on the way up to keep that rpm up.)

Once at cruise of course, I use either the old roughness method, or if equipped, EGT to 75 degrees ROP. Or, if it's smokin hot outside, I just try to keep the oil temp from pegging to the right.

Anybody see any problem in leaning during the climb? Does my old instructor have need to smack me upside the head?

Zane-
I have an EDM-700FF in my plane. It has "lean find" mode. You push the button, start leaning, it runs rough and displays the first to peak and you screw in the mix 100 degrees(a couple turns). It runs smooth. So even with the instrumentation we are doing the same thing. I don't think you can hurt your engine by running too lean AT ALTITUDE. Normally asperated engines simply can't pump enough thin air to damage themselves.