Fluke 88V Deluxe Automotive Multimeter, Troubleshoot Problems on Conventional and Hybrid Vehicles, Measures Pulse Width, and Duty Cycle

Why it's worth it

The Fluke 88V Deluxe is the meter dealership technicians reach for when a diagnosis has to be right the first time. It combines pulse width, duty cycle and RPM with Fluke's accuracy and build, and it costs several times what our top pick does.

Fluke built this one for engine management specifically, and it shows. Pulse width measurement lets you check injector on-time right at the harness. Duty cycle quantifies PWM idle air valves and variable valve timing solenoids. The inductive RPM pickup reads engine speed off a plug wire with no scan tool involved. These aren't functions bolted onto a general-purpose meter — they're the reason this model exists.

The display is readable where you'll actually use it. The 88V has a large screen and a bright backlight, and published reviews consistently call it out as legible at arm's length in a dark engine bay. That sounds minor. It isn't. A dim display costs you time on every single reading, and time is the thing you're buying at this level.

From our review of 8 automotive multimeters, by Ben Carter, Tech Editor

What we like

• +Fluke built this one for engine management specifically, and it shows
• +The display is readable where you'll actually use it
• +Ten megohm input impedance keeps it off your data
• +Min/Max/Avg recording catches the fault you can't reproduce

What to know

• –The cost is the whole argument against it
• –It's CAT III, not CAT IV
• –It's big