Hobbs meter
 

Many engines don't track their usage by mileage. Generators, tractors, airplane engines, etc. They usually track the engine usage for oil change and other maintenance purposes through the use of a "hobbs meter". It's just a way of tracking the engine running time. It comes on when the engine starts, and goes off when it stops.

Is there a way to reliably track engine run time through MS or TunerStudio? I would like to here that MS keeps an internal counter updated, because the engine can run even if TunerStudio, or another dashboard, isn't connected.

The MS is not connected to power when off, so there is no way to automatically save something like that.