I did a search and do not see much discussion on Seafoam. I have been using it for years but dont know if I am wasting my money or not. As mentioned on this website, I dont believe in adding it to oil, but I usually pour it in the gas tank and use it as a injector cleaner and eliminate any moisture in the tank before winter. I also pour it down the throttle body before a spark plug change and stall out the motor and let it sit. Then start it up and do the smoke screen. This is supposed to remove carbon, but who knows if it works. Anyone know of any tests? Thanks
Seafoam and all its uses?
- Thread starter wreckless123
- Start date
- Status
I've done it on multiple cars (see my sig, and others still) all with high mileage, usually through the brake boost line or the PCV.
Then shut it off and let it sit five minutes. But I usually don't get much smoke... a little, but nothing to set off any alarms. Maybe all my vehicles are sparkling clean?
The guys on the Mustang site rave over this procedure, but I've noticed that it doesn't take much to get them riled up.
Usually after I do this, I do notice a very slight improvement in smoothness, but it's hard to separate from the placebo effect.
Then shut it off and let it sit five minutes. But I usually don't get much smoke... a little, but nothing to set off any alarms. Maybe all my vehicles are sparkling clean?
The guys on the Mustang site rave over this procedure, but I've noticed that it doesn't take much to get them riled up.
Usually after I do this, I do notice a very slight improvement in smoothness, but it's hard to separate from the placebo effect.
It works a lot like steam decarbonizing but it safer because you don't have the ability to hydrolock your engine as SeaFoam burns.
That's what sucking it through the brake booster line, etc, does when you are doing the "smoke screen" procedure.
If you don't get any smoke there's nothing there to burn off, you may get a CEL from a misfire and it has been known to kill off marginal oxygen sensors.
That's what sucking it through the brake booster line, etc, does when you are doing the "smoke screen" procedure.
If you don't get any smoke there's nothing there to burn off, you may get a CEL from a misfire and it has been known to kill off marginal oxygen sensors.
Dated technology can still be useful, no doubt.
But why not use a modern combustion chamber, intake valve, fuel system cleaner? A bottle in the gas tank once or twice a year of Chevron Techron, Redline SI-1, or Gumout Regane is better.
I would rather use plain water to do a quick top end cleaning than Seafoam [through the intake].
But why not use a modern combustion chamber, intake valve, fuel system cleaner? A bottle in the gas tank once or twice a year of Chevron Techron, Redline SI-1, or Gumout Regane is better.
I would rather use plain water to do a quick top end cleaning than Seafoam [through the intake].
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Dated technology can still be useful, no doubt.
But why not use a modern combustion chamber, intake valve, fuel system cleaner? A bottle in the gas tank once or twice a year of Chevron Techron, Redline SI-1, or Gumout Regane is better.
I would rather use plain water to do a quick top end cleaning than Seafoam [through the intake].
Do you have any proof that what you say is accurate? I dont doubt you, I just want fact to convince me that one product is better then what I use.
Dated technology can still be useful, no doubt.
But why not use a modern combustion chamber, intake valve, fuel system cleaner? A bottle in the gas tank once or twice a year of Chevron Techron, Redline SI-1, or Gumout Regane is better.
I would rather use plain water to do a quick top end cleaning than Seafoam [through the intake].
Do you have any proof that what you say is accurate? I dont doubt you, I just want fact to convince me that one product is better then what I use.
The Techron I would say is a better/safer fuel system treatment but for decarbonizing an engine that is badly carboned up, water and SeaFoam do the same thing, but you trade that the water does not thin out your oil preventing one kind of potential damage, and trade it for that water does not combust so there is opprotunity to hydrolock your engine and cause damage.
If you SeaFoam it and don't get any smoke out when you suck it in through a vacuum line, just throw a bottle of Techron in the gas before each oil change and all should be well. An engine has to be in pretty dire straits before needing anything else.
If you SeaFoam it and don't get any smoke out when you suck it in through a vacuum line, just throw a bottle of Techron in the gas before each oil change and all should be well. An engine has to be in pretty dire straits before needing anything else.
I could dig up all sorts of proof, and I also draw from years of experience.
I am only giving my opinion. BTW, I have no interests {$} or agenda.
I am only giving my opinion. BTW, I have no interests {$} or agenda.
You aren't serious about the water?
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
I could dig up all sorts of proof, and I also draw from years of experience.
I am only giving my opinion. BTW, I have no interests {$} or agenda.
Is the Techron something I can get at a local autoparts store?
I could dig up all sorts of proof, and I also draw from years of experience.
I am only giving my opinion. BTW, I have no interests {$} or agenda.
Is the Techron something I can get at a local autoparts store?
Wal-mart carries Techron; it's a Chevron product.
You can hydrolock a piston with Sea-Foam (or with ANY liquid). It has nothing to do with being combustible. In these forums, I've read so many problems caused by sucking in Sea-Foam that I thought there was an epidemic...
Anyway, I like Fuel Power 60 in EVERY tank for keeping things clean. Not trying any gunk-be-gone-in-a-can.
Anyway, I like Fuel Power 60 in EVERY tank for keeping things clean. Not trying any gunk-be-gone-in-a-can.
Originally Posted By: Tosh
You can hydrolock a piston with Sea-Foam (or with ANY liquid). It has nothing to do with being combustible. In these forums, I've read so many problems caused by sucking in Sea-Foam that I thought there was an epidemic...
I second that. I've hydrolocked with Berryman Chemtool and that's a LOT more combustable than Seafoam.
You can hydrolock a piston with Sea-Foam (or with ANY liquid). It has nothing to do with being combustible. In these forums, I've read so many problems caused by sucking in Sea-Foam that I thought there was an epidemic...
I second that. I've hydrolocked with Berryman Chemtool and that's a LOT more combustable than Seafoam.
I have two bottles of Seafoam in my garage right now but I have been too scared to use it.
It seems I only read good things about it until I bought it, now that I have it sitting in my garage, I keep coming accross negative feedback. I'm now confused
It seems I only read good things about it until I bought it, now that I have it sitting in my garage, I keep coming accross negative feedback. I'm now confused
Originally Posted By: Tosh
You can hydrolock a piston with Sea-Foam (or with ANY liquid). It has nothing to do with being combustible. In these forums, I've read so many problems caused by sucking in Sea-Foam that I thought there was an epidemic...
Anyway, I like Fuel Power 60 in EVERY tank for keeping things clean. Not trying any gunk-be-gone-in-a-can.
Thats why I dont suck anything.
You can hydrolock a piston with Sea-Foam (or with ANY liquid). It has nothing to do with being combustible. In these forums, I've read so many problems caused by sucking in Sea-Foam that I thought there was an epidemic...
Anyway, I like Fuel Power 60 in EVERY tank for keeping things clean. Not trying any gunk-be-gone-in-a-can.
Thats why I dont suck anything.
I have used Seafoam and other similar cleaners thru the vacuum intake on various cars with no problems using a drip bottle feeder designed for that purpose. It eliminates or greatly reduces the hydrolock risk. The tube has a valve that lets in a measured amount of air and a knob to control fluid flow rate. I have seen the same device used at my local quick lube place for a $70 fuel induction service. A web vendor called Carfood dot net has them along with many chemicals for cleaning intake systems and other useful information. They almost give them away if you buy some intake cleaner.
I ran it (actually GM Top Engine Cleaner, but effectively the same product) in my old Monte Carlo twice, once soon after I bought it (used) and again about 60K miles later. The first time I ran it the smoke cloud was epic, and it did seem to smooth out the idle and improve gas mileage. The second time there was very little smoke and I didn't notice any difference. Plugs and oil were replaced both times immediately following treatment.
I attribute the lack of smoke (and thus carbon) to my driving style. I commonly run all of my cars to the redline and I think this keeps the engine clean and running well. When I had the 3.1L in the old Monte apart at 193K to do the intake gaskets, the valves were sparkling clean and the rest of the (visible) engine internals were in excellent condition. Sold it with 195K still running great.
I'll be doing the Seafoam treatment on my recently purchased Jeep Cherokee soon, and I expect to get another epic smoke cloud out of it.
I attribute the lack of smoke (and thus carbon) to my driving style. I commonly run all of my cars to the redline and I think this keeps the engine clean and running well. When I had the 3.1L in the old Monte apart at 193K to do the intake gaskets, the valves were sparkling clean and the rest of the (visible) engine internals were in excellent condition. Sold it with 195K still running great.
I'll be doing the Seafoam treatment on my recently purchased Jeep Cherokee soon, and I expect to get another epic smoke cloud out of it.
Check these threads. There are many others too. In the first thread, note the pics and comments about water cleaning.
Seafoam thread with pictures
Another Seafoam thread with pics
Seafoam thread with pictures
Another Seafoam thread with pics
Last edited:
Isn't Seafoam kind of expensive compared with similar products? Could you just fizz in some MMO instead?
Originally Posted By: Louie's gone fishing
Isn't Seafoam kind of expensive compared with similar products? Could you just fizz in some MMO instead?
All I run is MMO thru the tank nowdays. There for a time all I did was Seafoam treatments then the MMO and Seafoam at the same time but with numerous vehicles if I did the MMO treatment first I never got a smoke cloud. I always hated messing with Seafoam anyways.
Isn't Seafoam kind of expensive compared with similar products? Could you just fizz in some MMO instead?
All I run is MMO thru the tank nowdays. There for a time all I did was Seafoam treatments then the MMO and Seafoam at the same time but with numerous vehicles if I did the MMO treatment first I never got a smoke cloud. I always hated messing with Seafoam anyways.
$6 a can. That's not expensive compared to any other additive.
- Status
