Seafoam anyone?

[nhbilly]

ever used it guys? heard good things about it?

I bought a bottle hope it it boost my mileage up a little. Not that ~29 mpg with A/C and in SoCal is that bad. - 98 Honda Civic EX 5spd 4dr


-nhbilly

[bachviet]

I never use it before I heard good reviews about it.

[nhbilly]

I guess I'll let you guys know if I kill my engine or not..

[Bires]

Know lots about it. You do NOT want to do this! Actually, you do want it done, but have someone else do it.

It's like seeing surgery on a loved one. You have to run this stuff through your breather vacuum line and then redline your engine. It will sputter, then spew tons of white smoke out for about 5 minutes. (That's the particulate carbon and other crap coming out of your crankcase.)

BTW:

You are supposed to use 1/3 into your gas tank, 1/3 through your vac line, and 1/3 into your oil, but only while doing the carbon flush. You need to change your oil immediately afterward, since your oil will have very dangerous chemicals in it that you do not want in your crankcase for more than a few minutes.(kinda like bathing in bleach)

[nhbilly]

Know lots about it. You do NOT want to do this! Actually, you do want it done, but have someone else do it.

It's like seeing surgery on a loved one. You have to run this stuff through your breather vacuum line and then redline your engine. It will sputter, then spew tons of white smoke out for about 5 minutes. (That's the particulate carbon and other crap coming out of your crankcase.)

BTW:

You are supposed to use 1/3 into your gas tank, 1/3 through your vac line, and 1/3 into your oil, but only while doing the carbon flush. You need to change your oil immediately afterward, since your oil will have very dangerous chemicals in it that you do not want in your crankcase for more than a few minutes.(kinda like bathing in bleach)

hmmmmm :gle:

[nhbilly]

that was a lil scary, engine was sputtering when sucking in the Seafoam...........but dang my car seems a hell alot smoother.
beside I've been using synthetic oil since I bought it brand spaking new.

only a lil smokey but

http://www.headline-hair.com/seafoam/seafoam00.JPG

Smoke Screen

http://www.headline-hair.com/seafoam/seafoam01.JPG :dead:

I think i smoked out a few pedestrian :disa:

[PrObLy]

I hear a lot of people actually end up putting half into the intake manifold (through vac line) and theo ther half in the gas tank, choosing to not put any directly into the oil.

What did you end up doing?

I think this is something I might do as my car's up at about 102k and probably has a lot of carbon/crap buildup.

I run fuel injector/fuel system cleaner through my tank a few times a year (at a dollar or two a bottle, better safe than sorry) so maybe this stuff can do some cleaning through the engine itself.

[mechmike0034]

All you need is a bottle of Techron in the tank twice a year.

[johnnymk]

I recently rebuilt a Ford 5.0 which supposedly had 50,000 miles on it. I couldn't believe the carbon deposits: on the top of the pistons, the combustion chambers, inside the runners of the intake manifold.

I spent hours and hours cleaning everything. I doubt that any additive could have gotten rid of all that carbon, but who knows.

[nhbilly]

I hear a lot of people actually end up putting half into the intake manifold (through vac line) and theo ther half in the gas tank, choosing to not put any directly into the oil.

What did you end up doing?

I think this is something I might do as my car's up at about 102k and probably has a lot of carbon/crap buildup.

I run fuel injector/fuel system cleaner through my tank a few times a year (at a dollar or two a bottle, better safe than sorry) so maybe this stuff can do some cleaning through the engine itself.

had the car sucked in about half a can into the vacum line, still have the other half to pour into the tank. FYI pour in a GLASS cup for measuring purpose. let the car suck the stuff in SLOWLY or better yet have someone hold the rpm at 1500. i'm waiting to fill up my tank that's why i still have the other half. all said and done. i notice that it was smoother and with my A/C on my rpm didn't dip up and down to compensate for the on and off cycle of the A/C.

[Bires]

nhbilly: what would you rather be doing?


So, you had someone else on the pedal in car when you put the sf through?

[nhbilly]

nhbilly: what would you rather be doing?


So, you had someone else on the pedal in car when you put the sf through?


i had my gf hold the gas pedal down but she couldn't keep it stead so I just reached over and did it myself, beside I was already in the engine bay, mind as well. don't really need 2 person to do it :eek3:
But it would be smart if you take a look behind the car so you won't get smoked out. I caught a wiff of the smoke and it was BAD.


-nhbilly

[Nanotech9]

had a mechanic just run something like this through my G/F's car... i guess hte pcv valve was letting a lof of oil through into the injectors???

anyway, he had a valve on a measuring container that he opened up slowly.

Question to Mechmike... i rebuild my motor last year at nearly 200k miles. I didnt replace the injectors, but i had them out - they didnt have any visible deposits or buildup at the spray end, but i have no idea if stuff can build up inside them or not...

can it?

I was thinking about running this stuff through my BMW... which, i cant remember it having a PCV valve at all lol.

[nhbilly]

had a mechanic just run something like this through my G/F's car... i guess hte pcv valve was letting a lof of oil through into the injectors???

anyway, he had a valve on a measuring container that he opened up slowly.

Question to Mechmike... i rebuild my motor last year at nearly 200k miles. I didnt replace the injectors, but i had them out - they didnt have any visible deposits or buildup at the spray end, but i have no idea if stuff can build up inside them or not...

can it?

I was thinking about running this stuff through my BMW... which, i cant remember it having a PCV valve at all lol.



pour the juice into the gas tank. i'm sure seafoam would take the gunk out, i just pour the other half into my gas tank.

the process which i did would only take care of the valve deposit and maybe the head deposit??????


updates......my car seem, pulls all the way to redline like it was new. almost 90k miles on it and I still drive it hard.

[Bires]

'cause it's a Honda. When you get to 300k, then you can be surprised. :)

[mechmike0034]

Question to Mechmike... i rebuild my motor last year at nearly 200k miles. I didnt replace the injectors, but i had them out - they didnt have any visible deposits or buildup at the spray end, but i have no idea if stuff can build up inside them or not... can it?

Yep!

There are fine screens in the injector inlets that can clog. Deposits can also form inside the injector itself. More details here:

http://www.lindertech.com/injinfo1.pdf

I am personally a believer in MotorVac as an alternative to "off-the-car" cleaning. It is probably the next best thing and actually cleans combustion chambers/valves/intake runners as well as the injectors:

http://www.theautochannel.com/mania/repair/motorvac.html

Sucking a chemical through a vacuum line can be done, but it is also a very easy way to hydrolock an engine if you aren't careful.

In the carb days, we used to cure ping/rattle complaints by setting the carb on the fast idle cam and then "thumb-metering" a Coke bottle full of tap water into the top of the carb with the engine running at 1500 RPM or so. The steam produced did a good job of loosening/removing combustion chamber deposits...

[kimchicowboy]

All you need is a bottle of Techron in the tank twice a year.
what exactly does techron do? same thing as seafoam? clean out the engine? i'm guessing i can pick up a bottle at my local chevron, huh? how much would it cost? thanks! :)

[brainsmile]

yeah... seems like less work

[InfiniteNothing]

what exactly does techron do? same thing as seafoam? clean out the engine? i'm guessing i can pick up a bottle at my local chevron, huh? how much would it cost? thanks! :)

You can pick it up at any auto store. I think it costs about $15 for the small size and $20 for the big. A look on Froogle (http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=techron&hl=en&lr=&tab=wf&scoring=p) reveals prices from $6-$20

[mechmike0034]

what exactly does techron do? same thing as seafoam? clean out the engine? i'm guessing i can pick up a bottle at my local chevron, huh? how much would it cost? thanks! :)

http://www.chevron.com/products/prodserv/nafl/auto/content/fueladd.shtm

This product is the only consumer-available pour-in-the-tank fuel system cleaner I have ever used that works and does exactly what it says it does.

If you go into a GM dealer and buy a bottle of GM fuel system detergent, what you get is a bottle of Techron concentrate with a GM label and part number on it.

Any auto parts store will carry it. Run two bottles (one each in two consecutive tankfuls of gas) for the best results.

[tupacboy]

hi guys... did a search on seafoam and got this thread.. my dad owns a 99 avalon... is it safe to use on it? (sorry i'm not very good with cars) also, please advise which line is the brake boast vaccum line... i think its the top hose on the first picture...

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/tupacboy/DSC07787.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/tupacboy/DSC07786.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/tupacboy/DSC07785.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/tupacboy/DSC07784.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/tupacboy/DSC07783.jpg

thanks for your help in advance.

[MrGreg]

Techron stuff

Would you still suggest doing this even if the only gas that has ever been in the car is from Chevron?

[mechmike0034]

MrGreg and Tupacboy:

What are y'all trying to fix?

Is there a problem with your respective vehicles you're trying to address, or is this something that "sounds like a good idea"?

You need to be extremely careful about metering any liquid into a running engine via the intake or a vacuum line.

LIQUIDS DO NOT COMPRESS!

If enough liquid enters a cylinder while the engine is running you will destroy the engine! I've seen bent valves, bent connecting rods, and broken pistons due to liquid ingestion.

Run name-brand gas (not no-name) and a bottle of Techron twice a year and you'll be fine.

[tupacboy]

Hi Mike,

My dad's car idles pretty hard. He has 128k on it... only has done oil changes basically and uses the cheap stuff with gas and only once in a while uses the midgrade.

Should I just techron it then?

Thanks

[mechmike0034]

I'd find out why it idles funny. Eliminate vacuum leaks, dirty air filter or MAF, etc. first.

You can't fix the problem if you don't know what's causing the problem. I'm not trying to be a jerk, but if you aren't very good with cars (as you mentioned) you need to take it to someone who is.

Be more specific about your location and i'll find you a trustworthy shop if you'd like...

[MrGreg]

MrGreg and Tupacboy:

What are y'all trying to fix?

I should have been more clear. I've got an 05 WRX and have never had any issues with it. I only use Chevron Supreme gas. Do you think it is worthwile to do a (twice?) yearly techron treatment in the gas tank?

My perspective is more preventative than trying to fix an existing problem.

[tupacboy]

I'd find out why it idles funny. Eliminate vacuum leaks, dirty air filter or MAF, etc. first.

You can't fix the problem if you don't know what's causing the problem. I'm not trying to be a jerk, but if you aren't very good with cars (as you mentioned) you need to take it to someone who is.

Be more specific about your location and i'll find you a trustworthy shop if you'd like...


Hi Mike,

I know your input is only for my benefit :) ALWAYS APPRECIATED!

I did replace the air filter and the MAF is pretty new... about 10k miles on with the new MAF. Don't know how to check the vacuum lines. Car runs fine after it warms up a bit. I thought I try seafoam for the kick of it... lol... Read about it on multiple forums with no real complaints anywhere so I thought I give it a shot. :) The guys at car quest swears by it. But from you, it sounds like I should try back to back fillups with techron first. I trust you more then I trust them :)

[mechmike0034]

My perspective is more preventative than trying to fix an existing problem.

I don't think you'd see any benefit to adding additional Techron.

You DO get on it now and again, right? Seriously, you need to boost it on a regular basis. We wouldn't want the boost control sticking, so go full-bore in the lower gear(s) to exercise it regularly.

[mechmike0034]

But from you, it sounds like I should try back to back fillups with techron first. I trust you more then I trust them :)

Fill it up with good-quality regular gas, add a bottle of Techron, run it a couple of days to let the Techron begin to work, and then drive in a spirited manner in the lower gears to help blow some of the accumulated carbon and crud out.

In the pre-politically correct days, we called that "an Italian Tune-Up".

My wife's first Saab exhibited similar symptoms. She never ran it above 3000 RPM. All I ever had to do was take it out on the highway and run the living shizz out of it for ten or fifteen minutes and it would run great for a few months.

Don't blow yer Dad's car up, though, or get a ticket...

[hoey222]

it sounds like they are using the seafoam to clean the intake. i think it's called the butterfly. once the gunk is out of the valve it runs a lot smoother because the butterfly valve moves more freely.

I've done that with carb cleaner on my cars. it's a good cleaning - i try to do it once a year.

[MrGreg]

You DO get on it now and again, right? Seriously, you need to boost it on a regular basis. We wouldn't want the boost control sticking, so go full-bore in the lower gear(s) to exercise it regularly.

That won't be a problem.

[mechmike0034]

it sounds like they are using the seafoam to clean the intake. i think it's called the butterfly. once the gunk is out of the valve it runs a lot smoother because the butterfly valve moves more freely.

I've done that with carb cleaner on my cars. it's a good cleaning - i try to do it once a year.

You can clean the throttle plate with some spray carb cleaner and an old toothbrush (except for the coated Ford throttle bodies that are marked "do not clean")

This can help idle quality, but it doesn't clean anything downstream.

SnapOn makes a Motorvac induction/injection cleaning machine that, when used properly by trained personnel, does a real good job.

[nhbilly]

I've used seafoam on my wife 94 camry V6 - let the engine sucked in the seafoam via the break booster line I think. Boy was it smoking.

My wife drove the car from OC to Santa Monica for 3 years - work and school and always avg. 21-22mpg even in traffic. Oh yeah one of the O2 sensor took a sh!t after the smoking but car drives fine and occasionally I would rev the $h!t out of it just to make sure it's clean. The car odometer is almost at 170,000 miles :-).


I've also used it on my Civic - but didn't really need too due to the fact that my car gets red-line every other day. I have about 110,000 on the odometer - 98 Honda Civic ex 5spd.