Seafoam Cleaning

Christopher Woolard

Christopher Woolard

Test Drive
Location
Williamsburg, VA
I did an nice Seafoam cleaning of the intake/upper engine assembly today. Poured a little over half the bottle into the gas tank. Pulled a vacuum hose right after the throttle body and slowly pulled Seafoam into it. After it was pulled in, I let it sit for about 45 minutes. Upon start up she idled a bit rough and I subsequently sprayed my yard for mosquitoes!!!!!!!!!!! LOL The smoke ROLLED out of the exhaust like mad. After she idled for a bit, I gingerly drove around town. Once the smoke dissipated to barely anything, we took a trip on the interstate. Very Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gained just a bit more MPG according to my UltraGauge. Idles like a kitten and runs like a top!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Silver dude

Silver dude

Sliders
Founding Member
Location
machesney park IL
I was a skeptic I disassembled the intake before and after a treatment to visualize the difference. I don't know how but It really does work. Upper intake was spotless after 1/4 bottle.
 
Roadwarrior

Roadwarrior

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Probably in class..
Silver dude said:
I was a skeptic I disassembled the intake before and after a treatment to visualize the difference. I don't know how but It really does work. Upper intake was spotless after 1/4 bottle.
Click to expand...

What are your or other gear head's (using the term nicely) opinions on this product. I wonder about how if keeping it TOO clean is worse than letting it stay a bit gunky. What if you had a crack in your block? Would you not then be exposing that weakness to more pressure?

I ask because my dad told me something like that and I believed it, just want to know what is the general consensus was on this subject.
 
granitex

granitex

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
Columbus OH
Roadwarrior said:
What are your or other gear head's (using the term nicely) opinions on this product. I wonder about how if keeping it TOO clean is worse than letting it stay a bit gunky. What if you had a crack in your block? Would you not then be exposing that weakness to more pressure?

I ask because my dad told me something like that and I believed it, just want to know what is the general consensus was on this subject.
Click to expand...

There is no such thing as too clean...

I would go as far as to pull the throttle body so that you can clean it very well, from the back, you would be amazed at a;; of the carbon that will accumulate back there. All of the recirculated crank case fumes end up there before they get sent down the intake valves.
 
Silver dude

Silver dude

Sliders
Founding Member
Location
machesney park IL
Yeah the only thing that slightly concerns me is... where does it all go?

Sure out the exhaust. But, does it remove the oil film off the piston sleeves in the process? Does it migrate into the engine oil? It appears as though it may not burn as its white smoke out the exhaust.

Though seafoam is likely a light oil with detergents. As it mentions it is safe to pour in the crankcase as well.

The reason you get a bulk of carbon is usually short trips. Say work is only 5 miles away. The engine oil never gets to full opperating temp to where it can burn off the moisture trapped in the oil. Which creates sludge over time.

I've used seafoam with much success and would recommend it well over other products as I know several friends and mechanics who have used the product like a tool. We use a similar product for Ford 6.0 Powerstrokes here at work that allows use to clear the EGR's without having to physically remove the intake. Chemicals can be successful tools.

Ben
 
Xterraforce

Xterraforce

<img src="http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u7/ra
Founding Member
Location
Signal Mtn., TN
I don't think the the smoke is actually the Seafoam. If you use it in an engine without much carbon buildup there's hardly any smoke at all. Maybe it's the combination of Seafoam and dissolved carbon that makes the smoke. Whatever it is, the amount of carbon buildup and smoke seem to go hand in hand. We Seafoamed a friend's Toyota for the first time at just over 300,000 miles. I thought it never would stop smoking. We drove it all around his neighborhood, took it for a fast pass on the freeway for around ten miles and he said it was still smoking half way to work the next day.
 
Edodrian

Edodrian

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Nitro, WV
I will use it and it does do wonders.

If you DO put it in with the oil...

Don't leave it in there very long I've seen it wipe out a few engines.


I personally will not put it in the crankcase. And if I am planning on seafoaming my engine, a oil change is right after I am done.

Sent from my SPH-L720
 
CrazySteve911

CrazySteve911

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Loris, SC
So what would the ratio be if youre planning to throw it into the oil? 1/3 in the vacuum, 1/3 in tank and 1/3 in oil?

And like, 25 miles or so and then change oil?
 
Silver dude

Silver dude

Sliders
Founding Member
Location
machesney park IL
How I personally do it.

Take one can of Seafoam.

Install a little funnel on the brake booster line or other vacuum line. (Sometimes I'll use multiple lines to get full coverage within the intake)

Gently dip the contents of the bottle in as the engine sort of chugs.

Once I get about 1/4 bottle down I key off the engine.

Then I remove the intake hose. Take Berrymans B12 or Seafoam Deep Creep. Spray the throttle body butterfly down. Rock the butterfly back and spray the inside of the plenum.

Reassemble the intake let it soak and dissolve the carbon and sticky film within the intake.

Rest of the can of Seafoam I just dump in the fuel tank. I don't like adding anything to the crankcase. With the Synthetic oils I use I find the engine to run plenty clean.

5 minutes pass I start it up and let it idle outside the garage smoking the whole neighborhood.

Wait till smoke goes away.

Change the engine oil.
 
Muadeeb

Muadeeb

Nissan al Gaib
Admin
Location
Dallas
I think it's personal preference. I've never put it in my oil and have never worried about quickly changing it after. The only way it would get from the intake to the oil is by getting around the piston rings. If enough Seafoam is getting through there, then you have a large leak and have other things to worry about. Since the rings physically scrape the sides of the bore, only minute parts of the Seafoam should migrate from the combustion side to the lubrication side of the rings.

But, it's your engine, do what you want.

Sent via wild ferrets on crack
 
Silver dude

Silver dude

Sliders
Founding Member
Location
machesney park IL
Yeah for me when doing maintenance I like to just get on a roll of doing things. Changing oil may not be nessisary but feels good knowing the top and bottom of the engine is clean.
 
Muadeeb

Muadeeb

Nissan al Gaib
Admin
Location
Dallas
On the left of the engine bay, you'll find the Evap purge valve (has the green cap on one hose). Pull the hose from the valve that goes to the intake and you'll hit most every cylinder that way.

Sent via wild ferrets on crack
 
CrazySteve911

CrazySteve911

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Loris, SC
Figured it out. I think. I saw smoke, engine puttered, saw my exhaust leak even pour out some smoke (no bueno), ran it till no smoke, then changed oil. Felt pretty good about it.
 
mantree

mantree

Wheeling
Location
Fort Collins
Xterraforce said:
I don't think the the smoke is actually the Seafoam. If you use it in an engine without much carbon buildup there's hardly any smoke at all. Maybe it's the combination of Seafoam and dissolved carbon that makes the smoke. Whatever it is, the amount of carbon buildup and smoke seem to go hand in hand. We Seafoamed a friend's Toyota for the first time at just over 300,000 miles. I thought it never would stop smoking. We drove it all around his neighborhood, took it for a fast pass on the freeway for around ten miles and he said it was still smoking half way to work the next day.
Click to expand...
When I did my 90 4runner (rip) last year the thing put out so much smoke someone called the fire department

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
BEEFY

BEEFY

I Smile when Gasoline Can Freeze
Location
Prince George, BC, Canada
Did the seafoam before a trail run this weekend. And it made a noticeable difference. Was able to grab second gear on a couple climbs that previously I could not.
 
Riz98

Riz98

Test Drive
Location
lemoore, ca
Within the next couple days I'll be using the Seafoam. Heading to Vegas for the CANVAS meet on the 14th so a couple mpg's back will be nice and also a little power restored for some of the hills will be helpful.
 
Riz98

Riz98

Test Drive
Location
lemoore, ca
So my first full tank of gas after using Seafoam cruising on the highway with a roof top bag got me 17.5 mpg!!! Best mileage I have gotten yet seeing I usually get 14 to 15 if I am lucky.
 
mantree

mantree

Wheeling
Location
Fort Collins
I'm still getting 15 to 16 but I think I flushed **** in to the iacv when I cleened the throttle plate

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
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