Seafoam

[thehstrybean]

I was browsing my local auto shop today when I stumbled across this stuff. I'd heard people talk about it all the time on jeepforum.com, but after today, I'm a believer. Added 1/2 to my gas tank (we'll see if that does anything, although I imagine it will) and half through the master brake cylinder vacuum line. Add it slowly so the car doesn't stall, then at the very end, stall the engine with the stuff. Wait 5 minutes, then crank it up. I had a ton of white smoke. I just got back from driving it pretty hard and it feels so much better. Throttle is really responsive. Just thought I'd share...

 

[Jahee]

Mileage, Year and Model?

 

[thehstrybean]

2001 Jeep Cherokee
106,000 miles

 

[Pacfanweb]

I'd be careful about sucking anything through a vacuum line as large as the brake booster. You could hydraulically lock the engine. Better to use a smaller line.

I've heard Seafoam is good stuff....but there's several other things that are just as good or better. Most of the shops around here use BG products. They are fantastic. ZV likes Chevron stuff...Techron, I think.
I don't know of any shops that use Seafoam, but I agree that there are some folks on Jeepforum that love it.

 

[kami333]

I used Seafoam on my cars this weekend. 93 Impreza with 190k and 00 Impreza with 130k. My gf was not amused that I didn't warn her about all the smoke. I poured in about half the can through the PCV valve tubing and a quarter into the oil and a quarter into the gas.

 

[kami333]

<double post>

 

[HiTek21]

There was a discussion on the acura forum I was on about seafoam. Its mixed reviews some people say its the greatest and some say it can harm your valve seals. I had to try it just to see for myself. I used it in my 93 Legend with 214k miles and to be honest I didn't see any benefit from it. I used 1/3 in the PCV valve and the rest in the gas tank. It did smoke like hell for about 5 minutes.

for fuel injection/system cleaners i'd stick to Techron or BG 44k

 

[steppinthrax]

Seafoam is used a lot by Saturn owners for freeing seized piston rings. They remove the spark plugs and pour equal portions into the chambers. You let it soak overnight and let the engine crank over blowing all of the excess out. Replace the spark plugs and let the engine run for a bit. Finally change the oil.

A lot of people said it works wonders and reduces the common oil consumption problem in many saturns. But I don't think it's good for the engine.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: kami333
I used Seafoam on my cars this weekend. 93 Impreza with 190k and 00 Impreza with 130k. My gf was not amused that I didn't warn her about all the smoke. I poured in about half the can through the PCV valve tubing and a quarter into the oil and a quarter into the gas.

You people pouring Seafoam into your crankcase do realize that when you add it to your oil, you're supposed to then run the car for a while... and then change the oil........... Right?

I have some left still, maybe I'll do an oil flush with the Focus just to help prepare for the synthetic switch.

 

[kami333]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Eli
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: kami333
I used Seafoam on my cars this weekend. 93 Impreza with 190k and 00 Impreza with 130k. My gf was not amused that I didn't warn her about all the smoke. I poured in about half the can through the PCV valve tubing and a quarter into the oil and a quarter into the gas.</end quote></div>You people pouring Seafoam into your crankcase do realize that when you add it to your oil, you're supposed to then run the car for a while... and then change the oil........... Right?

I have some left still, maybe I'll do an oil flush with the Focus just to help prepare for the synthetic switch.</end quote></div>

Yup, did just that.

Pour in oil, pour in gas, pour in crankcase and let engine die at the end. Wait 10min then run the car until all the smoke is gone then change the oil.

Had some fun running around the neighborhood looking like my car was on fire and changed the oil. There was a Hummer behind me who got "smoked", I don't think he was very amused I usually hate doing it myself but I didn't want to wait around plus I found some Castrol for $1 a quart when I went to get the Seafoam.

 

[steppinthrax]

I imagine there damage can occur becuase seafoam is a solvent and totally cleans the oil off the engine componets. It also breaks oil down in nearby components. I imagine the engine will be "oil-less" for a couple of seconds and that could cause considerble wear.

 

[kami333]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: steppinthrax
I imagine there damage can occur becuase seafoam is a solvent and totally cleans the oil off the engine componets. It also breaks oil down in nearby components. I imagine the engine will be "oil-less" for a couple of seconds and that could cause considerble wear.</end quote></div>

Maybe. Maybe not. But from everything I've read and experienced (done it about 6-8 times on 4 different cars), it does work to varying degrees. Personally, I imagine that you'd have to use a lot of Seafoam for that to happen (1 can is like what, 400ml vs 4-5quarts of oil and that's if you use the whole can in the crankcase), plus it's not like the oil is stationary. When I changed out the oil the consistency was no different than any other time.

 

[nakedfrog]

The people at turbobricks.com seem pretty happy with this stuff too. I still haven't used it, but I've been meaning to.

 

[eplebnista]

I've always been too worried about it causing damage to the engine to try it.

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

Originally posted by: eplebnista
I've always been too worried about it causing damage to the engine to try it.

No need to worry. In VW's we hook up a another vacuum hose to the throttle body and submerge it into a bottle with 1/3 a pint of Seafoam then start the car. Give the engine some throttle until the Seafoam as been sucked in. Wait 10 minutes or so then start the car up and then give it some gas. 1/3 of a pint of Seafoam will not harm your engine. Just don't pour it in, let the engine suck it in naturally.