@captaindv, During the climb make sure you adjust the Mixture for Best Power (-100 degrees rich of peak on the EGT gauge), which should also be peak fuel flow on the fuel flow gauge... Set the Prop lever for 2450 - 2500 RPM, and set the Throttle so that the fuel flow gauge is at the upper end of the 75% power range. Continuously increase the Throttle as you climb to maintain the 75% power setting. Adjust the elevator trim to hold the nose just below the horizon during the climb, and adjust the rudder trim to keep the slip ball centered. Then, after leveling off at cruise altitude readjust the Mixture for peak EGT (Best Economy). Increase the Prop pitch for a cruise RPM of about 2300, and set the Throttle for 65% cruise power on the fuel flow gauge.
If you are flying solo, set the fuel lever to the Left tank and leave it there until the fuel level in that tank is at least 6 gallons less than the Right tank, which should balance the weight load and minimize the amount of constant aileron deflection required to keep the wings level.
The optimum cruise altitude will depend on the minimum required terrain clearance, the current weather conditions like cloud ceilings, and the wind speed and direction at cruise altitude. But, in general as your altitude increases the air density decreases, which results in increased True Air Speed and Ground Speed... In the U.S. any altitude above 18, 000 ft. is also considered controlled airspace which requires contacting ATC. Requesting Flight Following is actually a good thing to do at any cruise altitude, even in good VFR weather conditions.
