Camguard Pros and Cons

Shempinator III

I't was recommended that I include Camguard in my next oil change.

I'm curious on the pros and cons.

Thanks

jacobsja

From what I read, there are no cons other than cost. Then again, cost is relative as we continually add oil to the engine based on its design.

Spoke with a few A&Ps and they all had positive comments on using CamGuard.

I bought into the idea and add CamGuard at each oil change. Saw in my logs that some of the previous owners added CamGuard which was one of the reasons I bought the current plane when its engine was 3/4 to TBO.

In reading the product label, am considering to start following the directions by dosing according to the recommendations and not dumping a whole bottle's worth of contents into the sump at once. Although, common practice is to just pour the whole bottle at each oil change.

One practice I now follow based on the product label is to store unused content at home and not in the hangar to keep the stuff in a more stable and regulated environment.

I recall reading notations that one of the engine manufacturers (Lycoming?) is good with adding CamGuard, but did not save any of those articles or interview notes. Then again, maybe my memory is only reading what it wants to know.

Lube manufacturers are playing catch-up by now including additives which match (mimic?) CamGuard's benefits to some blends of crankcase oil. In theory, the specific blend of oil should not need CamGuard. So that is telling about whether the industry sees a benefit beyond marketing.

For fun, I am now adding the automotive blend of CamGuard to my car under the thought that it won't hurt. Perhaps this is a belts and suspenders approach as I only use synthetic oil in the car.

planewrench

If you do a search on the site here you'll find some previous threads on cam guard. As well as av blend.. each has some positive qualities in their own right. Keep in mind that 15w50 already has a Lycoming anti-Scuff agent and new victory oil also has it for Lycoming engines in particular. In general over the decades I've always recommended cam guard for Continental engines and av blend for lycomings. Use no additives for any break-in hours. I've seen definitive results with av blend in Lycoming engines taking care of that little bit of burbal that shows up from time to time in flight.

Carl

Shempinator III

Thanks for the input. I'll be performing the oil change this week on my Continental TSIO-360-FcFB. the engine was converted from a TSIO-360-F model to an FB 600 hrs ago in 2009.

griff390

https://piperowner.org/talk/discussion/comment/1447512#Comment_1447512

Shemp;

Agree with everything stated above. There's some very good advice in those posts.

I have a friend who was a petroleum engineer. He had no financial connection to either company, but after analyzing the additives, he recommended CamGuard. Nothing bad about AvBlend, but I went with my friend's expert advice.

I've had excellent results with CamGuard added to my engine (Lycoming). My last engine went well over 2,200 hrs., and probably could have gone more.

My current formula for engine longevity is Phillips 66 Aero oil, add CamGuard, open the dipstick after every flight to let the steam out, and keep the Tannis heater plugged in all winter. My engine oil analysis confirms that it's working.

CamGuard has worked so well that we use it in all our flight school planes, and offer it to all our customers who have their oil changed with us.