Help me understand Seafoam

[thescreensavers]

Heya, I do not want to get into any arguments on whats better, this post is just so I can understand this product better

Seafoam in the Gas is equal to MMO/Redline Si-1
Seafoam in the Oil is equal to MMO/Auto RX

But Seafoam in the Vacuum line? What exactly does Putting solvents in the vacuum line do?

And In theory

Using Good gas - no need for these products but they cant hurt
Using in the Oil - Definitely no need if you use good quality oil.
Using it in the Vacuum line?

 

[Donald]

Forget about MMO anywhere. If you want to clean things in the cylinder and related areas use a POA cleaner such as Techron or Gumout Regaine (not the other Gumout products).

Don't use anything in the oil except Auto-Rx.

 

[thescreensavers]

Originally Posted By: Donald
Forget about MMO anywhere. If you want to clean things in the cylinder and related areas use a POA cleaner such as Techron or Gumout Regaine (not the other Gumout products).

Don't use anything in the oil except Auto-Rx.


sigh... Please read the OP.

 

[Rooy]

Seafoam sucked into the vacuum line while running is supposed to clean carbon from the combustion chambers.

 

[thescreensavers]

^ Doesn't mmo/Redline Si-1 type things already do that when put into the fuel?

 

[Slippery_Pete]

MMO and SL-1 are not in the same class in terms of fuel additives.

MMO is for an every tank additive while the SL-1 is a once and a while super cleaner.

MMO would be a good maintence thing in the fuel after you used a super cleaner like Sl-1, Regane, seafoam Etc.

I've noticed a bigger difference after using the regane that the seafoam FWIW.

 

[Oregoonian]

Originally Posted By: Slippery_Pete
MMO and SL-1 are not in the same class in terms of fuel additives.

MMO is for an every tank additive while the SL-1 is a once and a while super cleaner.

MMO would be a good maintence thing in the fuel after you used a super cleaner like Sl-1, Regane, seafoam Etc.

I've noticed a bigger difference after using the regane that the seafoam FWIW.

SL-1 is not just a 'once in a while' super cleaner.

I use a matainance dose every fill-up....1.5 to 2 oz. per fill-up (10 to 13 gal.). It works great.
_____________________________
03'Ford Focus (2.3L) / 92K
M1 5w20EP / 10,000 mile OCI's
Filter: Mobil EP / Redline Sl-1

 

[bepperb]

Seafoam via a vacuum line could also clean out some junk in the intake tract from the PCV and EGR outlets on that wouldn't otherwise ever get clean. On a DI engine it would also wash everything from the valve stems.

I doubt it does much in gas, without PEA or anything more than what E10 probably has as far as solvency.

 

[Slippery_Pete]

Originally Posted By: Oregoonian
Originally Posted By: Slippery_Pete
MMO and SL-1 are not in the same class in terms of fuel additives.

MMO is for an every tank additive while the SL-1 is a once and a while super cleaner.

MMO would be a good maintence thing in the fuel after you used a super cleaner like Sl-1, Regane, seafoam Etc.

I've noticed a bigger difference after using the regane that the seafoam FWIW.

SL-1 is not just a 'once in a while' super cleaner.

I use a matainance dose every fill-up....1.5 to 2 oz. per fill-up (10 to 13 gal.). It works great.

Sure, but you wouldn't use a large dose of MMO to "zap" a lot of gunk at once.

 

[thescreensavers]

Originally Posted By: bepperb
Seafoam via a vacuum line could also clean out some junk in the intake tract from the PCV and EGR outlets on that wouldn't otherwise ever get clean. On a DI engine it would also wash everything from the valve stems.

I doubt it does much in gas, without PEA or anything more than what E10 probably has as far as solvency.


Is there any other products that go through the vacuum line or is Seafoam the only thing?

Also the smoke that you see in video's that people get with seafoam when using in the vacuum, is that the seafoam it self burning up? or what?

 

[punisher]

Originally Posted By: thescreensavers

Is there any other products that go through the vacuum line or is Seafoam the only thing?

Also the smoke that you see in video's that people get with seafoam when using in the vacuum, is that the seafoam it self burning up? or what?


Numerous top end cleaners are fed through a vac line. We used Ford top end cleaners to remove combustion chamber/piston carbon from Mazda powered vehicles on a regular basis.

Yes, the smoke is from the solvents burning/vaporising.

Seafoam is one of those products (like MMO) that I can't really see what all the fuss is about. There are other products that do the job better (top end cleaner/fuel stabilizer).

 

[Benzadmiral]

Can you use Seafoam as a throttle body cleaner? Not necessarily spraying it in there, but wiping the soft deposits with a clean rag that has the Seafoam on it?

 

[mechtech2]

Seafoam and MMO are not interchangeable products.
Separate sauces for separate needs.
Seafoam is an old fashioned solvent.
I never recommend it, as there are better alternatives nowadays.
MMO is good in the fuel every tank for a bit of cleaning, and keeping things clean. But mostly for lubrication of the pump and injectors. Especially with our modern alcohol infused gasoline.
In tank cleaners like SI-1 ,Chevron Techron, or Gumout Regane are very good for a more aggressive cleaning of injectors , valves, and combustion chambers.

Dumping seafoam in the vacuum line will create smoke out the exhaust and make you think you did something valuable.

 

[sleddriver]

Originally Posted By: thescreensavers
Seafoam in the Gas is equal to MMO/Redline Si-1


No, no, no! Seafoam isn't even in the same category as Si-1!

 

[GMBoy]

Well, just my spin on things... I use Redline or Techron just before an oil change for clean up. I may add an occasional maintenance dose here and there, but I use Top Tier fuel so it's not quite as needed. I will use either Seafoam or GM top engine cleaner (forgot the new name) to clean the intake system thru the vac line and/or intake about every 20k miles. In my 6.0L Sierra Denali, I always notice a difference after Seafoam/top end cleaner because this engine somehow develops carbon over use. Immediately after use I have to reset the fuel trim via my Tech 2. Otherwise, it will take roughly 10 miles for the truck to stabilize so something is being cleaned out there. I don't notice any improvements with the other vehicles, except the old CJ7 which responds well to the cleaning, too.

 

[Kaie]

Would it matter which vacuum line you spray the stuff in?

How much do you spray? Do you spray in the line, button it back up then turn the vehicle on or spray it in the lines while the vehicle is running?

 

[glum]

If you want to use Sea Foam, there may not be a need to put it through a vacuum line at all. I can't tell from the manufacturer site, since they contradict themselves:

Quote:
In some cases, in engines where carbon deposit build-up is severe, it requires a more aggressive application of Sea Foam. By directly pouring Sea Foam ... into the main manifold vacuum line that serves all cylinders, stubborn carbon and varnish deposits are soaked in pure Sea Foam, and are more effectively removed from cylinders, valves, pistons and rings.


But on the same page, they say:

Quote:
[R]outinely adding Sea Foam Motor Treatment to your fuel tank according to the instructions will give you the same benefits as the induction method ... it just takes a little longer to see the results.

http://www.seafoamsales.com/gasoline-engine-faqs.html

Maybe they're saying that if the engine is filthy, you may need to use the induction method, but for routine use, the fuel method is just as good.

I used Sea Foam in one of my cars recently (through the fuel tank, not a vacuum line), and it helped reduce the rough idle very noticeably.