abby_fisher•6d agoProlific Poster

That $200 borescope I put off buying finally paid for itself in one inspection

I used to think spending $200 on a borescope was a waste when I had a good flashlight and a small mirror. Then last month I had a Cessna 172 with a weird oil leak that we couldn't find from the outside. After an hour of digging around the accessory case, I borrowed a coworker's borescope and spotted a cracked oil line tucked behind the alternator bracket in about three minutes. I ordered my own that same day and have already used it on two other engine checks that would have taken twice as long without it. The brand I got is a Teslong with an articulating tip, which cost me $195 on Amazon. Has anyone else found a borescope that changed how you approach certain inspections?

3 comments

3 Comments

mason_murray85d ago

I have a Teslong too and I think they're fine for the money but I don't agree that a borescope changes the whole game. The $200 price tag is steep for something most mechanics use maybe five times a year. I have a cheap $40 one from Harbor Freight and it's gotten the job done on every oil leak and cylinder inspection I've thrown at it. The picture quality is a little worse but it still shows cracks and debris clearly. I see guys buying these expensive models and then they sit in the drawer for months. Unless you're doing engine teardowns every week I don't see the point in spending that much.

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faithpatel5d ago

Stop right there, I mean, I get what you're saying but a $40 Harbor Freight scope is decent for spotting big stuff. I used one on a water heater leak in a crawlspace and the image was fuzzy but I found the crack. But for finding hairline cracks in a cast iron waste line or inspecting a sewer lateral, you kinda need the clearer picture. Idk, maybe it's just me but when you're trying to spot a tiny pinhole leak in a copper pipe, the cheap ones can leave you guessing.

zarat375d ago

Yeah but Harbor Freight doesn't really sell a $40 borescope, those start at like $60 or $70 last time I checked. I mean, I get what you're saying about expensive ones collecting dust though, that part's totally fair.