Is Snap-On Automotive Thermal Imager Best for Technicians?
The difference between a mechanic and an auto technician is often debated heavily. One of the major differences in my opinion comes from the use of technology in order to complete the job.
With all due respect to mechanics, and I do mean that because I consider myself one- becoming a “technician” involves more technical training and the use of technology to solve complex problems that are arising more frequently as cars go from simple 12 volt systems to a myriad of sensors, modules and other electrical devices more in line with a space ship than the automobiles of the past.
One piece of diagnostic equipment that has gained traction with auto technicians is what’s called a thermal imaging device or infrared imaging device.
Several companies are making these imaging devices with the purpose of sensing and displaying changes in temperature and selling them at all different price points. In this post, I want to look at two specific brands- the Snap-On Automotive Thermal Imager and the Flir E5XT and try to conclude which one is the best or at least- the best for you.
How Does a Flir E5XT or Snap-On Thermal Elite Work?
If you are not familiar with how infrared cameras work, what IR cams or thermal imagers do is measure the energy of an object and then the device converts that measurement into an easy to decipher colorful display. In the image below, from Flir’s official Amazon store you can see how an IR thermal camera looks on screen.
As you can see, what a thermal camera does is essentially give you a colorful display of heat energy, friction, pressure changes and more in a nice little visual.
How does an IR camera like the Snap-On Automotive Thermal Imager Elite make a difference for automotive technicians though? What can you actually do with a tool like the Snap-On EETH310 Elite?
Auto Technician Uses for IR Thermal Imaging Cameras
If you aren’t sure how an infrared thermal imaging camera would be useful for working on cars, trucks or any other type of equipment- I’m going to help explain it to you. In this section, I’m going to propose some of the circumstances that an IR imaging camera could be very useful in an automotive repair shop and aid in the diagnosis and repair of everything from brakes to electrical problems. Here it goes.
1). Thermal Imaging Cameras for Automotive Wiring Diagnostic
One of the least noted, but maybe most important uses for an IR thermal camera in an automotive work shop comes in the form of wiring and electrical diagnostics. How does a thermal camera help with wiring diagnostics on cars, trucks, heavy equipment and even recreational vehicles?
If you know about electricity, you know that electrical resistance causes heat. With the main purpose of a thermal imaging camera being to detect energy (heat) and put the result on a display that’s easy to understand, they come in extremely clutch when looking for several issues on automotive systems.
Here are only some of the top issues a Snap-On IR thermal camera can help a mechanic find and fix quicker.
- Finding shorts in an automotive electrical system.
- Identifying sensors that are shorted internally.
- Finding bad modules that are heating up due to resistance.
- Some IR cameras like the Fluke E5XT even claim to be able to find shorts before they occur.
2). Find Plugged Catalytic Converter or Exhaust With Snap-On Thermal Imager Elite
One of the most common things mechanics use thermal imaging cameras for is to diagnose issues with the exhaust system like blockages and plugged catalytic converters. The cool thing about using an IR camera to diagnose a failed catalytic converter is you can do it on most vehicles without ever raising a lift.
Due to a thermal IR camera’s ability to essentially see through objects, it’s easy to find issues with the exhaust system using something like the Flir E5XT.
3). IR Cameras for Diagnosing Engine Issues
The next important reason that mechanics should buy an IR thermal camera is due to the ability to diagnose issues deep in the engine that you may not have been able to see or find without it.
Think about what actually happens when an engine cylinder misfire occurs. Without the same level of combustion present, the cylinder will likely have a lower heat signature making thermal cameras ideal for finding and repairing misfires.
4). Diagnosing Cooling System Problems With IR Camera
One of the final benefits of having an automotive thermal imaging camera for automotive technicians is the ability to help diagnose issues in the engines cooling system. Not sure if the thermostat is stuck? Run the thermal imager across the radiator hose. It will be easy to see whether the coolant is flowing freely or the t-stat is stuck with an IR camera.
Being able to see the changes in temperature throughout the cooling system can tell you how the radiator is functioning, how plugged up the engine water jackets are and how strong the water pump is circulating coolant through the system.
5). Finding Air Leaks With IR Cameras
The final benefit I’m going to mention here, even though there are endless ways a thermal image camera can help in the auto shop, is finding air leaks. Just think for a second, if you had a tractor and trailer with a very small air leak that you could not find with traditional methods like soapy water, etc.
Using an IR can to get a good look at the air system on the piece of equipment would likely show a subtle but measurable change in temperature due to the compressed air coming out of the lines and just the air displacement in general.
Every day auto techs are coming up with a new way to put IR cameras to work in diagnostics, so searching things like “what to use IR cams on in the auto shop” or “mechanic uses for thermal cameras” can also give you some good ideas. With the summer heat almost upon us, there are people using thermal cams to detect air in the A/C system. You name it, it’s being done. There are almost unlimited uses with these.
Snap-On Thermal Imager Elite or Flir E5XT for Automotive?
Now that we know why it’s important for mechanics to own an IR thermal camera, it’s time to take a look at two of the best ones on the market and decide which one is best for the automotive technician. Snap-On markets the TI Elite specifically to mechanics, but is it the best IR cam or is the Flir E5XT a better option for the price?
In order to decide which of the two thermal imaging cameras is the best deal, I will lay out some of the pros and cons, reviews and price of each company’s IR camera. I’m going to start with the Flir E5XT.
Flir E5XT Pro’s and Con’s
Pro’s of the Flir E5XT
- Flir’s E5XT has great image quality and accuracy utilizing the brands MSX® Image enhancement technology.
- Battery life is great with up to 4 hours of continuous run-time.
- The Flir E5XT is wi-fi capable allowing users to share photos and reports and access the Flir Tools Mobile App.
- Extended temperature range allows the E5XT to capture -20 degree Celsius all the way up to 400 degrees Celsius- the equivalent of 752 degrees Fahrenheit.
Flir E5XT Cons
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- No access to Flir Ignite Cloud, which is a secure cloud-based storage system for images and reports.
- Initial investment is considered large, with most places selling the Flir E5XT for around $1500. The best price I was able to find on it was on Amazon.
The above price will get you the wi-if version of the Flir E5XT. For quite a bit less (~$950), you can buy the version without Wi-Fi.
Snap-On Thermal Imager Elite Pro’s and Con’s
Obviously, Snap-On has a name for itself in automotive tools and equipment, so it’s hard for most brands to match up. I have found that when it comes to specialty and electronic tools, the company has competition from several other brands like Autel and Milwaukee and even EZ Red when it comes to neck lights.
Is it the case though, that Snap-On’s Thermal Imager Elite is the best IR camera for auto mechanics? Here are the pro’s and con’s of Snap-On’s diagnostic thermal imaging tool.
Snap-On Thermal Imager Elite Pro’s
- 4.3 inch LCD display with great image quality using a 480 x 272 pixel screen. You won’t be straining to see the Thermal Elite.
- Snap-On’s Thermal Imager Elite uses reference photos to compare a current part with a known good and failed part.
- Free storage using the Snap-On cloud service. This is a huge benefit as the photos can accumulate quickly and you may need them some day.
- Snap-On’s IR camera also claims a 4 hour continuous run-time and it’s easily rechargeable via USB-C.
Cons of the Snap-On EETH310 Elite
- Honestly, the biggest disadvantage that I could find for the Snap-On thermal imager is the price point. At over $2,000 the EETH310 is expensive compared to other options on the market.
- Auto techs can finance the price of a Thermal Imager from Snap-On with little to nothing down meaning very little initial investment.
Other IR Thermal Image Cameras for Auto Technicians
In this post, I wanted to mostly look at what auto techs needed IR cams for and maybe plant the seed so you can pick one up eventually. I chose two of the top-tier options, but there are hundreds more online and in stores from reputable brands that will cost significantly less. My favorite example is the Flir TG165-X.
Even still, there are several other thermal imaging cameras that deserve to be mentioned here. Below I’ll list a few of these budget friendly IR cameras and some of their features.
Fluke FLK-PTI120 Thermal Image Camera
Although the Fluke FLK PTi120 isn’t a lot cheaper than the Flir or Snap-On versions at ~$900, it is a beautifully designed and extremely high-quality camera. Fluke is well known in the trades for its best in class electrical tools and they continue that trend with the PTi120 pocket thermal imaging camera.
One of the main things to like about the PTi120 is the fact that it’s made to be fit into a pocket. Even with that feature, it sports a 3.5” LCD display with 10,800 pixels or 120 x 90. The PTi120 is not Wi-Fi capable, but can be directly synced to a desktop and appears to be compatible with Fluke’s SmartView IR™ Analysis software.
Autel Maxi IR100 Thermal Camera
If you spend any time here, you know I adore Autel tools as a brand and I’m always impressed with the quality of electrical diagnostic tools the company sells at such low price points. Here’s another example in the Autel Maxi IRT IR100 that sells on Amazon for less than $600! As you are going to see in the picture below, the Autel IR camera is stunning and at such a low price, irresistible.
Another cool thing about the Autel IR100 is the fact that it syncs data to its MaxiSys line of diagnostic scanners for even more in-depth diagnosis. With 320 x 240 infrared resolution, auto focus and -20 to 450 degree Celsius coverage, the IR100 might be the best thermal imager on this list to be honest and it’s 1/3 of the price!
Teslong 196 x 192P Thermal Camera
Last on this list and probably the most budget friendly thermal camera is the Teslong 196 x 192P accessory for android phones. To be clear, this thermal imager is not a stand alone device and requires an Android phone to use. At a low price point under $300 and using some technology you may already have it was worth a spot on this list.
If you don’t need a fancy trigger style infrared camera and you want to invest in a budget version, these Teslong products have a great reputation. Just look to my post on Teslong Borescopes and you will see that people speak highly of the brand, even though it is Chinese.
Conclusion- Buy the Thermal Camera That Fits Your Needs
In concluding this post, I’m going to say that it doesn’t matter so much who you buy a thermal IR camera from, as long as you buy one. I purchase tools based on the philosophy that higher price doesn’t always mean higher quality and it has worked out well for me. I tend to buy Snap-On alternatives in any situation that I can and so far I’ve only been let down a handful of times.
If you want to buy a thermal camera for the auto repair shop, do your research (hopefully this qualifies) and choose a product that meets your needs but isn’t going to cost $50 a week for five years. For what it’s worth, I strongly recommend the Autel IR100 talked about above. It’s your call though. What do you think?
Author- John Green
If you purchase through my website, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All posts are well researched and meant to find you better tools at a cheaper price.
