How long does it take for Seafoam to work?
- Thread starter tommygunn
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gathermewool
Site Donor 2025
What are you trying to fix?
Probably the rest of the tank full. You may notice smoother idle but thats about it. I used it when I first got my Accord, but it made no difference. Just a bunch of smoke (I used through the intake). I would not recommend seafoam though, not unless you have a major carbon problem going on or something similar. Techron is my "drug of choice" now. It has smoothed out my idle a smidge, and I like to think it keep the fuel system clean. I use it as preventative maintenance before every other oil change, give or take.
I think seafoam is over priced. Its pale oil, naptha, and denatured alcohol. If you need a solvent, berrymans b-12 is stronger. Techron is a good detergent.
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Seafoam is too harsh and I would never put it in my car. Techron is the only additive I trust.
Originally Posted By: gathermewool
What are you trying to fix?
Possible bad fuel injector
I have P0305, cylinder #5 misfire. I switched the ignition coils, but the misfire didn't transfer, so it's not the coil. The plugs and wires aren't old enough to really be causing any issues. Bosch 4301 platinum plugs and NGK wires. About 20k on them.
What are you trying to fix?
Possible bad fuel injector
I have P0305, cylinder #5 misfire. I switched the ignition coils, but the misfire didn't transfer, so it's not the coil. The plugs and wires aren't old enough to really be causing any issues. Bosch 4301 platinum plugs and NGK wires. About 20k on them.
Switch the plugs around and see if the miss continues in the same cylinder of if it follows to the different cylinder.
Bosch 4301 doesn't look anything like a PK20TR11 or BKR6EKPB11 so to a simple guy like me it sounds like you're assuming a "wrong" part (the plugs) is suitable and that fairly new parts (plugs and wires) can't possibly have failed. New parts from any manufacturer can be defective right out of the box.
Regardless of any of that, a miss caused by a secondary ignition problem will tend to manifest differently than a miss caused by a problem with a port fuel injector. Either can show up at idle, but an injector problem is more likely to show up at idle. Add some load by powerbraking and your secondary ignition problem should walk up and bite you like a snake. Try a full throttle acceleration from a standing start a few times to see that at a particular engine speed the miss shows up and doesn't go away until you let up: more likely a fuel issue.
When does your misfire happen?
Also: GreeCguy has a very good point. Spark plugs that you already have [and also fuel injectors that you already have] can be moved from one cylinder to another
Regardless of any of that, a miss caused by a secondary ignition problem will tend to manifest differently than a miss caused by a problem with a port fuel injector. Either can show up at idle, but an injector problem is more likely to show up at idle. Add some load by powerbraking and your secondary ignition problem should walk up and bite you like a snake. Try a full throttle acceleration from a standing start a few times to see that at a particular engine speed the miss shows up and doesn't go away until you let up: more likely a fuel issue.
When does your misfire happen?
Also: GreeCguy has a very good point. Spark plugs that you already have [and also fuel injectors that you already have] can be moved from one cylinder to another
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I have had quality wires fail before. It happens, trade the wire out on that cyl and see if it moves.
Nine bucks for a tune up.............
Originally Posted By: CourierDriver
Nine bucks for a tune up.............
That would be my first inclination, too. It's a 96, you didn't say how many miles but there's 20k on the plugs, and how many on the wires? Every older vehicle I have owned was sensitive to worn ignition parts.
Nine bucks for a tune up.............
That would be my first inclination, too. It's a 96, you didn't say how many miles but there's 20k on the plugs, and how many on the wires? Every older vehicle I have owned was sensitive to worn ignition parts.
Originally Posted By: GreeCguy
Switch the plugs around and see if the miss continues in the same cylinder of if it follows to the different cylinder.
Yes! I'd also try switching the wire too.
Switch the plugs around and see if the miss continues in the same cylinder of if it follows to the different cylinder.
Yes! I'd also try switching the wire too.
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
...it worked almost immediately...it sucked $10 out of your wallet real quickly.
Very true.
...it worked almost immediately...it sucked $10 out of your wallet real quickly.
Originally Posted By: Kuato
Originally Posted By: CourierDriver
Nine bucks for a tune up.............
That would be my first inclination, too. It's a 96, you didn't say how many miles but there's 20k on the plugs, and how many on the wires? Every older vehicle I have owned was sensitive to worn ignition parts.
The wires were replaced at the same time as the plugs. 20k on the plugs, 20k on the wires, 200k on the car.
@yonyon
no I cannot just switch the plugs and wires like I did with the coils because getting to the back of the engine is impossible without taking apart most of the engine. Remember that bank 1, the odd cylinder numbers, is the back of the engine! Transverse V6's are evil. (this engine only has three coils, one on each of the front cylinders, 2/4/6)
The misfire shows up at idle; it is constant, all the time, misfire. When I accelerate from a stop, it's rough. It does go away when I let up, coasting, cruising, etc.
Once the car is warmed up, and I get to my destination, and the car is in park, I hit the gas. Below 2500 rpm or so, it misfires and is rough. Above 2500 rpm, it is smooth.
Originally Posted By: CourierDriver
Nine bucks for a tune up.............
That would be my first inclination, too. It's a 96, you didn't say how many miles but there's 20k on the plugs, and how many on the wires? Every older vehicle I have owned was sensitive to worn ignition parts.
The wires were replaced at the same time as the plugs. 20k on the plugs, 20k on the wires, 200k on the car.
@yonyon
no I cannot just switch the plugs and wires like I did with the coils because getting to the back of the engine is impossible without taking apart most of the engine. Remember that bank 1, the odd cylinder numbers, is the back of the engine! Transverse V6's are evil. (this engine only has three coils, one on each of the front cylinders, 2/4/6)
The misfire shows up at idle; it is constant, all the time, misfire. When I accelerate from a stop, it's rough. It does go away when I let up, coasting, cruising, etc.
Once the car is warmed up, and I get to my destination, and the car is in park, I hit the gas. Below 2500 rpm or so, it misfires and is rough. Above 2500 rpm, it is smooth.
So you are going to complain about seafoam not fixing a problem you can't confirm? 20k on wires does not rule out failure. On older cars like my olds , i change wires about 30k. I have found Napa belden wires as good as any.
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Would plug and wire failures depend on temperature? The factory schedule is 60k on them anyway.
Today, it's much warmer than it has been earlier in the week, and now I have NO symptoms whatsoever.
Wouldn't a fuel problem be more variable with temperature than a bad spark plug?
Yes, I'm more likely to suspect something that's been in the car for 18 years and 200k than something that's been in the car for 2 years and 20k.
Today, it's much warmer than it has been earlier in the week, and now I have NO symptoms whatsoever.
Wouldn't a fuel problem be more variable with temperature than a bad spark plug?
Yes, I'm more likely to suspect something that's been in the car for 18 years and 200k than something that's been in the car for 2 years and 20k.
Originally Posted By: tommygunn
Wouldn't a fuel problem be more variable with temperature than a bad spark plug?
Yes, I'm more likely to suspect something that's been in the car for 18 years and 200k than something that's been in the car for 2 years and 20k.
Yes.
As others have said, Seafoam isn't the best fuel additive out there. That would be Techron. Seafoam might be ok for other things (I say might because I ended up with a clogged-up EGR system and a buddy of mine ended up with a completely clogged catalytic converter, both about 2000-3000 miles after a vacuum line Seafoam treatment) but as far as fuel treatment you could do better for the money.
Wouldn't a fuel problem be more variable with temperature than a bad spark plug?
Yes, I'm more likely to suspect something that's been in the car for 18 years and 200k than something that's been in the car for 2 years and 20k.
Yes.
As others have said, Seafoam isn't the best fuel additive out there. That would be Techron. Seafoam might be ok for other things (I say might because I ended up with a clogged-up EGR system and a buddy of mine ended up with a completely clogged catalytic converter, both about 2000-3000 miles after a vacuum line Seafoam treatment) but as far as fuel treatment you could do better for the money.
Seafoam never did anything for me. If you are trying to clean your fuel system, then I would recommend Redline SI-1...
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