Here is a good read on Cam-Guard. The information regarding the Rotax is in Black Bold.
FAQ
Q: What is CamGuard Aviation and why do I need it?
A: CamGuard Aviation is a supplemental oil additive package for piston aviation engine. Think of it as the additive package that should be in the oil. Customers have reported lower amounts of wear metals in their oil analysis and longer top end life. This results in lower engine operating cost and increased longevity.
CamGuard Aviation is a concentrated combination of 11 high-performance additives. It is a preventative product improving the performance of all aviation oils in the areas of:
Rust and corrosion protection
Wear protection
Deposit control
Seal conditioning
Two Pistons
Piston with CamGuard on the left, without on the right.
CamGuard offers advanced levels of protection to every engine. Infrequently used engines will benefit greatly from greater rust protection. More frequently used engines will benefit from reduced deposits. And all engines will benefit from superior anti-wear chemistry, reduced sludge and seal conditioning technology. This adds up to longer engine life and decreased maintenance costs.
Q: Can I use CamGuard Aviation in any type of aircraft engines?
A: CamGuard Aviation is safe to use and beneficial for all air and water-cooled aircraft engines including horizontally opposed, radial, V-type and in-line engines. It contains multi-metal corrosion inhibitors to specifically address the protection of the soft metals, copper, lead, tin, silver and magnesium.
Q: Will using CamGuard Aviation void the warranty provided by an engine shop or manufacturer?
A: The short answer is NO! CamGuard Aviation is an FAA accepted additive specifically formulated for approved aviation oils. It has been thoroughly tested. It is unlawful for a shop or manufacturer to discriminate against the use of acceptable products during the warranty period. While most shops or manufacturers haven’t had a reason to test CamGuard Aviation, this should not deter it’s use given the testing would simply duplicate the already existing FAA data.
Q: Will CamGuard Aviation work with any aviation oil?
A: CamGuard works with all conventional mineral based and semi-synthetic aviation oils.
Q: How much CamGuard Aviation do I use?
A: CamGuard Aviation is designed to be used at 5% or 1.6 ounces of CamGuard per quart of oil. One 16 ounce bottle of CamGuard Aviation treats 8-10 quarts of oil.
Q: Do I need to add additional CamGuard Aviation when I add oil?
A: Yes, you should add 1.5-2 ounces of CamGuard with each quart of makeup oil. Each bottle has an indicator strip on the side. The easy way to accomplish this addition is to add 1.5- 2 ounces to new quarts of oil, mark them CG and store them in the plane or hanger for future use.
Q: Can I use CamGuard Aviation in other engines? 2014 ALL 5 BOTTLES Sm
A: There are versions of CamGuard for other engines and applications. See FAQ question “Is there a difference in CamGuard formulations?”
Q: Is CamGuard Aviation like any other additives?
A: NO! Nein! Nada! Non! CamGuard is a complex formulation using proven additive technology. It is not just an additive diluted in baseoil and backed up with a slick marketing campaign or some historic mystical potion.
We present our data from both industry-standardized tests and in house testing along with our experimental procedures for comparison and evaluation.
Q: Are the additives in CamGuard Aviation found in any other oil?
A: NO! Some companies claim to have CamGuard technology in their oil or claim to have equivalent performance in their “improved” products. They do not! CamGuard utilizes the highest performance additives available. Commercial aviation oils, even the latest, formulated in the 1990’s, use antiquated technology from the 1970’s.
Q: Do I need to add CamGuard at every oil change?
A: Yes. It has to be in the engine to work. We do not make claims of one-time engine treatments.
Q: Can I use CamGuard Aviation in a high time engine?
A: Yes, CamGuard is valuable at any point in an engine’s life. When added to a high time engine, oil analysis may show an artificial increase in metals across the board for a few oil changes. This is normal. CamGuard does not clean engines, remove varnish or release sludge, but does allow them to clean themselves due to mechanical motions. The artificial increase in metals comes from extraction of the liquid phase of the lead sludge that is found in the low flow areas of the engine e.g. sump, crank, and prop hub.
Oil analysis may also initially show an increase in the insolubles, consisting mainly of fine carbon particles from pulverized piston ring deposits. This is due to the mechanical motions of the rings and valves cleaning up the existing carbon deposits in the ring grooves and valve guides and is extremely beneficial. After a couple of oil changes with CamGuard, a drop in oil consumption and increases in compressions are frequently reported as sticky parts become free to move again.
Q: What differences can I expect to see when I use CamGuard Aviation?
A: CamGuard is a preventative product; it prevents corrosion and deposits. It reduces wear, conditions seals as well as preventing their degradation. Regular oil analysis typically demonstrates a trend of reduced wear metals when using CamGuard . Iron levels are reduced due to both rust inhibition and wear protection. Reduced levels of copper are often reported due to better corrosion protection. Silicon levels are often reduced due to the protection of silicone gaskets and O-rings. Note that there are small amounts of calcium (70-85 PPM) when the correct amount of CamGuard is used.
Q: How often should I change my oil?
A: In aircraft, we recommend 25-30 hours with a minimum of four times per year using 5% CamGuard with each oil change. If the engine will sit idle for any length of time, we recommend fresh oil and 5% CamGuard. Be sure to run the engine to circulate the clean oil and check for leaks before letting the aircraft sit.
Q: Is CamGuard Aviation helpful as a long-term preservative?
A: CamGuard Aviation is useful as part of a preservation program. It can be used as a pickling or preservative oil at a concentration up to 10% in fresh oil. Be sure to run the engine with the fresh oil and CamGuard to circulate and follow any other manufacturer’s recommendations for long-term storage such as installing dehydrator plugs or sealing the intake and exhaust.
Q: Does CamGuard Aviation treat the metal?
A: The additives in CamGuard Aviation react with various metals in the engine. Rust and corrosion inhibitors form a continuous layer on metals blocking water and preventing acidic attack. Anti-wear components form sacrificial anti-wear films at cam/lifter interface.
Q: Will CamGuard Aviation reduce my oil consumption?
A: It may, but it entirely depends on the reason for the increase in consumption. If the rings or the valve guides are worn then you will not see any decease in oil consumption. However, if your oil consumption has recently increased and it is due to oil-control ring deposits, then the use of CamGuard Aviation can help free up sticky rings and return consumption back to normal.
Q: Will CamGuard Aviation affect my Continental starter adapter or clutches in other engines?
A: There are no friction modifiers in CamGuard Aviation. This is intentional because of the friction fit Continental starter adapters and internal clutches used by Rotax and Merlin engines. A slipping starter adapter is a sign of wear on the internal components of the adapter. By preventing the wear of these components, CamGuard Aviation will prolong the life of Continental starter adapters.
Q: Does CamGuard Aviation have a shelf life?
A: Because of FAA regulations, CamGuard Aviation has an arbitrary shelf life of three years and is indicated by the use date on the bottle. After the use by date, the contents can be visually inspected and if there is no separation or solids present the product is considered good for another 12 months. This inspection/qualification can continue indefinitely.
Q: Is There a Difference in CamGuard Formulations?
A: Yes, there are differences in the CamGuard formulations. There are BIG differences between CamGuard Aviation and Automotive, HD, Marine and Small Engine. And there are significant differences between the Automotive, HD, Marine and Small Engine.
You should select the CamGuard product according to the type of oil going into the engine.
Each version of CamGuard enhances a particular type of oil formulation and we are expecting certain additives to be present in the starting oil.
CamGuard Aviation, Automotive, HD and Marine are all designed for use at 5% (1.6 ounces per quart of oil). CamGuard Small Engine is added at 3% (1 ounce per quart of oil).
CamGuard Aviation is designed to supplement ashless dispersant (AD) aircraft oils. It provides vastly superior corrosion protection compared to anything on the market. CamGuard Aviation is also the only aviation product that contains deposit control chemistry to keep engines clean through their life. CamGuard’s blend of anti-wear additives provide dry surface anti-scuff protection as well as providing excellent anti-wear performance over the wide operating temperature range of aircraft engines. Think of CamGuard Aviation as the additive package that should be in the aircraft’s oil.
CamGuard Automotive enhances passenger car oils with supplemental antiwear, deposit control, friction modifiers and of course, rust and corrosion protection. CamGuard Automotive enhances current, reduced ZDDP “zinc”, oils providing exceptional improvements in wear over the oil alone. It is especially beneficial for older and high performance engines. Specific antioxidants in CamGuard Automotive target and reduce deposits from both fuel dilution and oil oxidation. CamGuard Automotive contains two friction modifiers, to cover wide temperature and load ranges, increasing power and maximize fuel savings.
CamGuard HD fortifies diesel oils and provides enhanced wear protection in the face of high soot loadings and high levels of NOx using the latest non-phosphorus anti-wear chemistry. It also utilizes micron fluid film technology to prevent cylinder scuffing and bearing wear when using lower viscosity oils. It is excellent for newer “high EGR” engines that are so hard on lubricants but it also excels when used in older engine technology confined to using the latest motor oils. The HD formulation utilizes multiple friction modifiers that reduce operating temperatures and provide a measurable increase in fuel economy. It also utilizes a new anti-oxidant “complex” to prevent fuel related varnish and hard carbon deposits.
The CamGuard Marine formulation offers similar performance gains to that of CamGuard Automotive, but is optimized for cooler running gasoline engines found in marine applications. It provides excellent wear protection, deposit prevention as well as rust and corrosion control. It also includes technology to prevent soft sludge formation that causes rust throughout the engine.
Also, CamGuard Marine contains friction modifiers for improved fuel economy that are specifically selected for these overcooled engine applications.
CamGuard Small Engine is balanced for the smaller sumps and higher stresses of commercial, 4-stroke small engine power equipment. It prevents both cylinder and valve-train wear even in the most demanding applications. It also works equally well in high temperature air-cooled or water-cooled engines. Fresh oil and CamGuard before off-season storage will ensure longer engine life.
WARNING: CamGuard Automotive, Marine or Small Engine should never be added to air-cooled aircraft engines, designed to use ashless dispersant (AD) oils. This is because they have a metallic content that can form metal oxide combustion chamber deposits, which can lead to preignition and catastrophic engine failure.
