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Seafoam works great

craig0ry

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 26, 2004
Messages
154
Location
Plainfield, IL
Corvette
1986 Red 4+3 Coupe
I'm usually not an impulse buyer of additives, but so many people recommended Seafoam to me that I gave it a shot. Now, I have used it on everything I own, from chainsaws to my 'vette to my dirtbike. While it is basically glorified carb cleaner - it really worked for me. I did this back in April and I am going to do it again to my 'Vette in a week or two when I get bored and need something to do :).

This is how I Seafoamed my '84.

I removed the air cleaner from the crossfire and dumped approximately half a can into each of the TBI's through a funnel while the car was running. You have to pace the flow, don't just dump it straight in. Then I shut off the car and dumped another 1/2 can into each TBI so it could sit (next time I will be using more here). Then I put something like a 1/4 of a can into the crankcase, and I dumped a full can into the gas tank.

Then I got in the car and tapped the starter just a hare a few times. I then let the car sit for several hours. Next time I will let it sit overnight at this point.

When I went to fire it up, I knew it wouldn't start right away. So I cranked, let it sit for a minute. Cranked, repeat... until she fired up. Beware, smoke will be immense at this point. I then took her out for a cruise and went on some errands, blowing plumes of smoke like I have never seen in my life.

The next step for me was changing the oil after maybe 400 or 500 miles. The Seafoam itself will not hurt anything in your engine, but all the crud it frees up could clog your oil filter over time. Just to be safe I changed it, rather than wait until my next "scheduled" oil change.

While I realize I probably could have got the same result without using so much seafoam, at $5 bucks can, I figured why not.

The biggest benefit came from pouring it in the TBI's. I really feel it got rid of a lot of carbon, and it removed the weird smell that occasionally came from my exhaust (probably was the cat starting to foul/clog). The car runs smoother and idles better. Any restored "power" is probably just in my head however, but it felt like I gained a little back. I did see a slight jump in gas mileage, my average went from 18 to the current 19.6, but there are too many other factors that can affect that for me to blame the Seafoam.

I am not sure it did anything in the crankcase and gas tank (I hoped it would clean the fuel filter and the lines a little bit), and if I had old seals I don't know that I would use it in the oil as it might remove some crud built up around them and cause small leaks.

Anyway, that's just how I did it, and I was wondering if anyone else had any luck with the Seafoam? I am tempted to buy their "Trans Tune" crap too for when I flush my ATF, after my experience with the regular Seafoam I figure it's worth a shot.
 
SeaFoam

CraigOry, Appreciate your article on Seafoam product, for I had never heard of this product pior to your thread. I know you spoke of some immediate improvement by using the products, but would you please keep me posted on your long term effect. I have been using a product called MortorKote and have really enjoyed this product for the engine.
 
I used the Seafoam treatment after reading many posts about it. I followed the instructions on the can and when I started the engine up, I was expecting to see big clouds of smoke but, there was no smoke at all.

I just said to myself, I guess the engine is already clean. My 89 Vette had 72,000 at the time and is well maintained. Even when I went to clean the Throttle body, there was hardly anything to clean off. :)
 
Hey, is this stuff for fuel injection's or will it work on my '76' I only have 43,000 on the engine but it is almost 30 years old. Would I run into issues of blowing somekind of gasket if I use this in my engine? I assume that I would just pour it down the carb, with the enging running.
 
I heard good things about "Sea Foam", but I looked aroud & couldn't find it.
AutoZone, Pep Boys, & Ecklers don't carry it.
 
Napa has it and I also, remember seeing it in the Mid America catalog.
 
I have a burning question.... You said that you dumped quite a bit into the TBI and let it sit... weren't you concerned about hydrostatic lockup later when you cranked the engine, or did I miss something in your procedure? Also, what kind of cleaner is in the seafoam? I never heard of it before, and was wondering if it is one of those bio-degradeable detergent things or a petroleum based solvent type cleaner. That would make a difference to those with late model fuel injection, especially the true FI C4s that had the fuel injectors that could be harmed by certain solvent type cleaners.
Sounds like it really cleaned things out for you though.

vettepilot
 
I have used sea foam many times . I have had engines that had valve guide problems which produced carbon buildup on the valves to the point of them not closing all the way. Pouring the sea foam down the carb. and letting them set for a few hrs. always cleans them off . They have gone from a miss to smooth as glass. I did a little search and found the sea foam website.

http://www.seafoamsales.com/products.htm

I have recommended it many times over the yrs. Seems as though it is a cure all. As long as it isn't mechanical failure.

found instructions for use on the site.

http://www.seafoamsales.com/motorTuneUpTechGas.htm
 
vettepilot said:
I have a burning question.... You said that you dumped quite a bit into the TBI and let it sit... weren't you concerned about hydrostatic lockup later when you cranked the engine, or did I miss something in your procedure? Also, what kind of cleaner is in the seafoam? I never heard of it before, and was wondering if it is one of those bio-degradeable detergent things or a petroleum based solvent type cleaner. That would make a difference to those with late model fuel injection, especially the true FI C4s that had the fuel injectors that could be harmed by certain solvent type cleaners.
Sounds like it really cleaned things out for you though.

vettepilot
Something about the seafoam acts as a lubricant. I do not fully understand it, but I have done this about 4 times now on the vette and I have not had one problem. I dumped about half a can down each TBI and let them sit for several hours. When I went to crank it it would turn and stop. I would wait a while, repeat, give it gas, wait a few minutes, repeat, and then she fires right up! I have not had a problem with my method. It is pointless however as you get the same cleaning power I am sure by dumping it in while the vehicle is running, and stalling it out with Seafoam. However on the Crossfire it is tough for me to stall the engine considering I have two TBI's, hence my lazy man's method.

Even the seafoam directions inform you to dump enough in the throttle to stall the vehicle out, so I think you are pretty safe doing it my way.
 
scav said:
I have recommended it many times over the yrs. Seems as though it is a cure all. As long as it isn't mechanical failure.
Exactly! Don't expect it to work a miracle and fix your car if something is broken. But if you have a sticky lifter/valve/whatever it works pretty well if you use the oil, gas, throttle method.

I use this crap in my boat, lawn mower, ATV, dirtbike, etc. etc.

It doesn't work miracles - but with periodical use it can do pretty damn good for ya.
 

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