seafoam

Mr.Baca · 09-28-2009, 10:18 PM

seafoam sort of scared of using it is there any big risks or is it reletivley safe and if it is a good idea how can i do it any advive would realy help thanks

espguitarist33 · 09-28-2009, 10:27 PM

i LOVE LOVE LOVE seafoam...i never put it in the oil or the gas tank but it does amazing wonders on the cylinders and valves i put my thumb on the brake booster line and make sure its only taking small bits of fluid in and then graudally more and more till its a full suck then kill the motor (call to guy sitting in the seat to kill so the stuff doesnt run out of the engine) i put like a half spraypaint can lid or so in....and let it set for like 5 or 10 minutes...dpending on the amount of smoke i'll do it again...my friend saw 3-5 mpg improvement on his ford taurus piece of junk and TONS of better response and smoother power ran like crap beforehand he said

esreveRBackwards · 09-30-2009, 12:40 PM

Anyone send me instructions on how to do this properly for an 89 n/a?

Quote:

Originally Posted by espguitarist33

i LOVE LOVE LOVE seafoam...i never put it in the oil or the gas tank but it does amazing wonders on the cylinders and valves i put my thumb on the brake booster line and make sure its only taking small bits of fluid in and then graudally more and more till its a full suck then kill the motor (call to guy sitting in the seat to kill so the stuff doesnt run out of the engine) i put like a half spraypaint can lid or so in....and let it set for like 5 or 10 minutes...dpending on the amount of smoke i'll do it again...my friend saw 3-5 mpg improvement on his ford taurus piece of junk and TONS of better response and smoother power ran like crap beforehand he said

espguitarist33 · 09-30-2009, 01:24 PM

pour seafoam into a little cup...maybe like 3/8ths of a can or something liek htat. pop off the breakbooster line at the bulkhead. thumb it up and have a buddy start the car. put thumb and line in seafoam and start letting it suck very slowly
keep allowing till it starts to bog and progressivly put more in till its a full suck and dies (if your worried alternate is to really bog it and have buddy turn off car) reattatch brake line...go do something for 10 mins and come out and start the car
cycle between mid revs and idle till its clear...optional is to do it again

toyotaspeed90 · 09-30-2009, 06:18 PM

I don't use it.....

working at an automotive shop... you learn that there are tons of gimmickie products to fix this, clean that..... I don't reccomend using any.

reason?

If seafoam is great at breaking oil & sludge down to clean parts like valves and rings....
1) where does the sludge go? it's still in there until you're able to get it all out
2) if it's powerful enough to essentially melt the sludge.... what about gaskets? If it's thin enough, can't it get through between passages and get into coolant systems?

if you put it in your fuel system.... if you unclog your fuel lines... where does it go? If particles are large enough that it's affecting your performance, then it's time for new lines. If you run it through, you run the risk of clogging the fuel line, the injectors, damaging the spittles, etc.

another good example is products that repair headgasket leaks when you pour it in your coolant..... so, you've just poured something into your cooling system and your engine that effectively reacts to coolant and heat to CLOSE UP SMALL PASSAGES..... this can and will affect all other coolant passages, water pump, radiator, etc.

If something is bad or broken.... fix it.

The ONLY thing I condone using through your oil system.... is running a bottle of dex3 ATF through your engine, running, for about 10 minutes prior to an oil change. Have a spare bottle of oil to dump straight through in order to get as much out as possible. Dex3 has enough detergents to help clean some systems up, but don't leave it in long enough and it won't affect your gaskets or unclog too big of things (which if you unstick something somewhere... it can clog another passage).

dirocyn · 10-02-2009, 10:03 AM

Seafoam isn't any thinner than gasoline, and that doesn't get into the coolant system. The gunk goes out the exhaust, and you just hope there aren't any chunks big enough to catch in an exhaust valve or plug up the catalytic converter. I've used it and not had problems, but I didn't get a lot of benefit either.

I don't put the stuff in my gas, because it's more likely to wash gunk through the fuel filter where it'll lodge in the injectors than it is to do anything else. AFTER replacing a fuel filter, I might consider a fuel injector cleaner. Most cars, most of the time--if the intake is dirty I'll clean it with carb cleaner (spray acetone) long before I'd consider sea foam, just because a spray can is easier--and it has the same benefits of cleaning intake valves and such.

I am also a fan of ATF as an oil flush, not worried about its effect on gaskets because it doesn't hurt transmission gaskets. I'd use it to unstick rings as well.

jsnod25 · 10-02-2009, 11:15 AM

i can understand the worry about the gaskets, but as far as where does it go? that would be out the exhaust system. Hence all the smoke that comes out as a result, and why your supposed to keep adding it untill the smoke is gone. It just comes out as carbon burn-off.

Jackstand Queen · 10-02-2009, 11:24 AM

My take on Seafoam is that if your engine is so gummed up that it needs Seafoam . . . . . then gargling a Can O' Seafoam is often the last thing that tired engine does.

People who use Seafoam with good results seem to use it sparingly on good running engines as maintenance.

I agree with Toyspeed 90's take on the subject. He might agree with me that if your Throttle body is dirty, take it off and clean it by hand. If your intake manifold is gunked up and the TVIS is sticking, remove manifold and clean by hand.

toyotaspeed90 · 10-02-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirocyn

Seafoam isn't any thinner than gasoline, and that doesn't get into the coolant system. The gunk goes out the exhaust, and you just hope there aren't any chunks big enough to catch in an exhaust valve or plug up the catalytic converter. I've used it and not had problems, but I didn't get a lot of benefit either.

I don't put the stuff in my gas, because it's more likely to wash gunk through the fuel filter where it'll lodge in the injectors than it is to do anything else. AFTER replacing a fuel filter, I might consider a fuel injector cleaner. Most cars, most of the time--if the intake is dirty I'll clean it with carb cleaner (spray acetone) long before I'd consider sea foam, just because a spray can is easier--and it has the same benefits of cleaning intake valves and such.

I am also a fan of ATF as an oil flush, not worried about its effect on gaskets because it doesn't hurt transmission gaskets. I'd use it to unstick rings as well.

seafoam isn't any thinner than fuel, no... but fuel is naturally has it's own detergents (ever spilled gas on the floor and wiped it up?).... and if you run fuel rich enough it will get past your rings and thin your oil out... possibly causing a BHG or a spun bearing.....

Pilot · 10-03-2009, 05:07 PM

Historically I have always had a "raised eyebrow" view of additives. That said, I was having trouble with my Reatta automatic transmission, I would stop at a light and the transmission would act like it had been shifted into neutral and then eventually it would engage and go. Someone suggested a can of Seafoam in the transmission, well, why not give it a try. Over the course of two weeks, the transmission got better and better until the problem went away. So, I believe SeaFoam has some good qualities.

YellowJacket · 10-03-2009, 10:34 PM

Is it still in there? or did you drain and refill with fresh tranny fluid when it was allegedly fixed? I dont know that I would leave it there...

dunlop · 10-04-2009, 04:37 AM

It Works!!! I use it in all my bikes my DD and also da 3kgt.

The only thing that is bad about it.........is it works too good. If there is any kind of gunk blocking ANYTHING... it will clean it!! Thus causing leaks or whatever.

This will not stop me from using it every so often.

My neighbor luvz it. The have 5 diesels trucks and every 50k they will fill the fuel filter all the way up and let the truck run on just seafoam. Its good stuff.

Its a 100% petroleum product

enjoy these

You Tube

Mine didnt smoke anything like that one LOL

You Tube

Pilot · 10-04-2009, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YellowJacket

Is it still in there? or did you drain and refill with fresh tranny fluid when it was allegedly fixed? I dont know that I would leave it there...

The transmission had been recently flushed before I put the seafoam into the tranny and it had been in the tranny for about a year, with no noticeable problem, when I sold the car.

Wurtle38 · 02-04-2010, 10:39 PM

sea foam is good stuff, where does it go? it dissolves, and comes out with that white smoke. it's great for gas tanks if you have to leave the car for several months. it stabilizes the fuel. and in engines it just loosens up gunk. and if your parts are really bad sea foam works as a good cleaner when you do take out the parts to clean them. I use it every 3-6 months.
it's like brushing your teeth if you do it on a regular basis it keeps your teeth clean but if you wait till you have problems it's to late.
ATF is fine for cleaning the gunk out of the crank case but does nothing for the intake or injection system
as for the fuel filter, it's not going to eat the filter element so anything that fits through the filter will go through the injectors.

bassman54 · 02-05-2010, 11:03 AM

i like sea foam. using it as instructed (sucking it up through the vacuum line) will help remove carbon build up in the cylinders. in california, this can mean the difference between passing and failing smog.

using it this way will not clean your throttle body. it can be used as a solvent when you remove it to clean. they also make a spray version.

i also use it as a flush when changing oil.

brianbooth · 02-05-2010, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilot

Historically I have always had a "raised eyebrow" view of additives. That said, I was having trouble with my Reatta automatic transmission, I would stop at a light and the transmission would act like it had been shifted into neutral and then eventually it would engage and go. Someone suggested a can of Seafoam in the transmission, well, why not give it a try. Over the course of two weeks, the transmission got better and better until the problem went away. So, I believe SeaFoam has some good qualities.

That sounds like a sticky governor so yeah, I could see a detergent breaking that up. Also, if the Reatta didn't have an electronic shifter, then it was probably controlled by a cable that attached to your throttle. The AOD on my old ford van did the same thing after I swapped the engine and yep, turned out I just need to adjust the cable so the tranny would know that I was giving it gas instead of idling.

Ghost · 02-05-2010, 04:13 PM

Seafoam is good. But if that gunk is keeping your motor together and you use it. You might discover new oil leaks.

Also remember to change your oil afterwards.

Joshy · 02-18-2010, 12:43 AM

Always liked using SeaFoam, not in the crank case or the fuel lines, but deffinately the lines. The smoke usually attracts a group of neighbors haha.

As for the question of "where does the nasty stuff go?" Yeah, like it has been stated before, out the exhaust, it is pretty disgusting. The smoke is the cover but i have had spatterings of black stuff on the ground behind the pipe before, nasty nasty stuff.

toyotaspeed90 · 02-18-2010, 03:11 PM

here's the problem.....

that black spattering is probably just unburned fuel (my s/c mr2 does the same thing on startup because it runs super rich... as will many boosted cars). Seafoam when it goes through the combustion chamber acts as a fuel... so you are essentially running super rich.

any carbon deposits that get unclogged -- will probably more likely get caught in the cat, and the white smoke is what comes out after passing through the platinum (which is the purpose of the cat). So, you might be dislodging a small amount of carbon but you're just depositing it into your cat.

09-28-2009, 10:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mr.Baca Cage Fighter Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 180 Thanks: 8 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	seafoam seafoam sort of scared of using it is there any big risks or is it reletivley safe and if it is a good idea how can i do it any advive would realy help thanks

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09-28-2009, 10:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
espguitarist33 Cage Fighter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: west chester PA Posts: 528 Thanks: 4 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	i LOVE LOVE LOVE seafoam...i never put it in the oil or the gas tank but it does amazing wonders on the cylinders and valves i put my thumb on the brake booster line and make sure its only taking small bits of fluid in and then graudally more and more till its a full suck then kill the motor (call to guy sitting in the seat to kill so the stuff doesnt run out of the engine) i put like a half spraypaint can lid or so in....and let it set for like 5 or 10 minutes...dpending on the amount of smoke i'll do it again...my friend saw 3-5 mpg improvement on his ford taurus piece of junk and TONS of better response and smoother power ran like crap beforehand he said

09-30-2009, 01:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
espguitarist33 Cage Fighter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: west chester PA Posts: 528 Thanks: 4 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	pour seafoam into a little cup...maybe like 3/8ths of a can or something liek htat. pop off the breakbooster line at the bulkhead. thumb it up and have a buddy start the car. put thumb and line in seafoam and start letting it suck very slowly keep allowing till it starts to bog and progressivly put more in till its a full suck and dies (if your worried alternate is to really bog it and have buddy turn off car) reattatch brake line...go do something for 10 mins and come out and start the car cycle between mid revs and idle till its clear...optional is to do it again

09-30-2009, 06:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
toyotaspeed90 No Skills Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 2,401 Thanks: 0 Thanked 148 Times in 143 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I don't use it..... working at an automotive shop... you learn that there are tons of gimmickie products to fix this, clean that..... I don't reccomend using any. reason? If seafoam is great at breaking oil & sludge down to clean parts like valves and rings.... 1) where does the sludge go? it's still in there until you're able to get it all out 2) if it's powerful enough to essentially melt the sludge.... what about gaskets? If it's thin enough, can't it get through between passages and get into coolant systems? if you put it in your fuel system.... if you unclog your fuel lines... where does it go? If particles are large enough that it's affecting your performance, then it's time for new lines. If you run it through, you run the risk of clogging the fuel line, the injectors, damaging the spittles, etc. another good example is products that repair headgasket leaks when you pour it in your coolant..... so, you've just poured something into your cooling system and your engine that effectively reacts to coolant and heat to CLOSE UP SMALL PASSAGES..... this can and will affect all other coolant passages, water pump, radiator, etc. If something is bad or broken.... fix it. The ONLY thing I condone using through your oil system.... is running a bottle of dex3 ATF through your engine, running, for about 10 minutes prior to an oil change. Have a spare bottle of oil to dump straight through in order to get as much out as possible. Dex3 has enough detergents to help clean some systems up, but don't leave it in long enough and it won't affect your gaskets or unclog too big of things (which if you unstick something somewhere... it can clog another passage).

10-02-2009, 10:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
dirocyn Cage Fighter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 1,177 Thanks: 14 Thanked 110 Times in 108 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Seafoam isn't any thinner than gasoline, and that doesn't get into the coolant system. The gunk goes out the exhaust, and you just hope there aren't any chunks big enough to catch in an exhaust valve or plug up the catalytic converter. I've used it and not had problems, but I didn't get a lot of benefit either. I don't put the stuff in my gas, because it's more likely to wash gunk through the fuel filter where it'll lodge in the injectors than it is to do anything else. AFTER replacing a fuel filter, I might consider a fuel injector cleaner. Most cars, most of the time--if the intake is dirty I'll clean it with carb cleaner (spray acetone) long before I'd consider sea foam, just because a spray can is easier--and it has the same benefits of cleaning intake valves and such. I am also a fan of ATF as an oil flush, not worried about its effect on gaskets because it doesn't hurt transmission gaskets. I'd use it to unstick rings as well.

10-02-2009, 11:15 AM	#7 (permalink)
jsnod25 How did this get changed? Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Va beach, va Posts: 133 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	i can understand the worry about the gaskets, but as far as where does it go? that would be out the exhaust system. Hence all the smoke that comes out as a result, and why your supposed to keep adding it untill the smoke is gone. It just comes out as carbon burn-off.

10-02-2009, 11:24 AM	#8 (permalink)
Jackstand Queen Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 840 Thanks: 75 Thanked 64 Times in 60 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	My take on Seafoam is that if your engine is so gummed up that it needs Seafoam . . . . . then gargling a Can O' Seafoam is often the last thing that tired engine does. People who use Seafoam with good results seem to use it sparingly on good running engines as maintenance. I agree with Toyspeed 90's take on the subject. He might agree with me that if your Throttle body is dirty, take it off and clean it by hand. If your intake manifold is gunked up and the TVIS is sticking, remove manifold and clean by hand.

10-03-2009, 05:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
Pilot Master MotorcycleMechanic Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 81 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Historically I have always had a "raised eyebrow" view of additives. That said, I was having trouble with my Reatta automatic transmission, I would stop at a light and the transmission would act like it had been shifted into neutral and then eventually it would engage and go. Someone suggested a can of Seafoam in the transmission, well, why not give it a try. Over the course of two weeks, the transmission got better and better until the problem went away. So, I believe SeaFoam has some good qualities.

10-03-2009, 10:34 PM	#11 (permalink)
YellowJacket 1985 16v NA 6-speed Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 415 Thanks: 8 Thanked 31 Times in 24 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Is it still in there? or did you drain and refill with fresh tranny fluid when it was allegedly fixed? I dont know that I would leave it there...

02-04-2010, 10:39 PM	#14 (permalink)
Wurtle38 No Skills Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Alamogordo, NM Posts: 38 Thanks: 8 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	sea foam is good stuff, where does it go? it dissolves, and comes out with that white smoke. it's great for gas tanks if you have to leave the car for several months. it stabilizes the fuel. and in engines it just loosens up gunk. and if your parts are really bad sea foam works as a good cleaner when you do take out the parts to clean them. I use it every 3-6 months. it's like brushing your teeth if you do it on a regular basis it keeps your teeth clean but if you wait till you have problems it's to late. ATF is fine for cleaning the gunk out of the crank case but does nothing for the intake or injection system as for the fuel filter, it's not going to eat the filter element so anything that fits through the filter will go through the injectors.

02-05-2010, 11:03 AM	#15 (permalink)
bassman54 Ol' School Skills Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: So Cal Posts: 184 Thanks: 15 Thanked 16 Times in 15 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	i like sea foam. using it as instructed (sucking it up through the vacuum line) will help remove carbon build up in the cylinders. in california, this can mean the difference between passing and failing smog. using it this way will not clean your throttle body. it can be used as a solvent when you remove it to clean. they also make a spray version. i also use it as a flush when changing oil.

02-05-2010, 04:13 PM	#17 (permalink)
Ghost Cage Fighter Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 181 Thanks: 13 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Seafoam is good. But if that gunk is keeping your motor together and you use it. You might discover new oil leaks. Also remember to change your oil afterwards.

02-18-2010, 12:43 AM	#18 (permalink)
Joshy No Skills Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 29 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Always liked using SeaFoam, not in the crank case or the fuel lines, but deffinately the lines. The smoke usually attracts a group of neighbors haha. As for the question of "where does the nasty stuff go?" Yeah, like it has been stated before, out the exhaust, it is pretty disgusting. The smoke is the cover but i have had spatterings of black stuff on the ground behind the pipe before, nasty nasty stuff.

02-18-2010, 03:11 PM	#19 (permalink)
toyotaspeed90 No Skills Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 2,401 Thanks: 0 Thanked 148 Times in 143 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	here's the problem..... that black spattering is probably just unburned fuel (my s/c mr2 does the same thing on startup because it runs super rich... as will many boosted cars). Seafoam when it goes through the combustion chamber acts as a fuel... so you are essentially running super rich. any carbon deposits that get unclogged -- will probably more likely get caught in the cat, and the white smoke is what comes out after passing through the platinum (which is the purpose of the cat). So, you might be dislodging a small amount of carbon but you're just depositing it into your cat.