I my case, checking the logbooks was meaningless because I had no experience or knowledge as to what to look far. So, I hired an experienced mechanic that I could trust to look at the logs and at the airplane. I also hired an experienced pilot to give me his assessment. I paid them so they would have an obligation to give their expert assessment rather than a off-hand opinion. We did a thorough study of four planes before we found one they both agreed was a good value.
If I had known more about airplanes and engines, perhaps the suggestion to review the logbooks would have made sense. In my case it didn't because I didn't know what I was looking at or what I should be looking for.
Unfortunately, in this forum, when one person says, "Yes, that is a good engine", another will given a half dozen examples of why it is bad, while a third will tell you it is illegal. Until you learn who is in tune with your way of doing things, then the information given in this forum can be confusing, baffling, or misleading.
That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. (Do I know what I'm talking about? You have no way of knowing.)
