Sea Foam?

[CarlsV6]

What are the benefits of using sea foam, anyone here done this on they're car? How did you apply it (oil, gas, etc?)

Did a search but couldn't really find anything useful. I'm thinking the vert could use a dose of it but kind of afraid lol 135k miles.

[mcb82gt]

I used it on my 96 chevy truck, 103K miles. I sucked 1/3 through pvc line,shut motor off and let set for 4 hrs. dumped 1/3 in the crankcase while it was sitting for the 4 hrs, dumped the last 1/3 in the fuel tank. It will smoke alot when running and first starting. I drove it for about 60 miles and then changed the oil to get it out of the crankcase. Worked well. Carb cars I believe you dump it slowly down the carb, but check out their website for sure.

[85 Notchback]

I used similar stuff from AC Delco, on my 2.3 that used to be in the mustang, I poured it down the car slowly, let it sit, then drove it. It will smoke tons for awhile.

[jpywell]

I feel its a gimmick. If you do regular oil changes and keep it clean then you should not have to use that stuff.

[rkbeck351]

I agree that if you keep your oil changed regularly, it's not needed in the oil. But I do use Sea Foam in the gas tank about once every other month to keep the fuel system clean. I use it in my 4.0L V6 Ranger and in my 5.4L Expedition. Advance Auto and Autozone carry it.

[Hooptie]

Well, with 4 liter Rangers they are notorious for bad carbon buildups, so no matter what you do, it'll need something.

[mcb82gt]

Damn sure in my Chevy, It is serviced very regularly with good oil and it will carbon up no matter what. Seafoam is not a gimick, the truck idles better, more responsive throttle. It works.

[rkbeck351]

My Ranger and the Expedition idle smoother and get a little better gas mileage after I use the Sea Foam. I think its a better fuel system cleaner than the cleaners like Gummout,STP, or similar products.

[Old_Timer]

Here's my 2 cents....

I wouldn't dump in the crankcase. It is not a good idea but I would use them to clean carbon build up on top of pistons and combustion chambers.

Be very careful when using that stuff in carburetor or EFI application. Use sparely because if you're not careful then you will hydraulically locked up a running motor. That stuff doesn't burn fast like gasoline. Most of the fluid will find their way into cylinders and burn slowly.

FYI...Pistons on most post 1995 Domestic and Foreign engine do go above block deck surface. That leaves you very little clearance and I've seen so many engine replacement because many Techs doesn't know what they're doing.

Here's the list of Ford engine that have pistons rises above block deck surface.

Modular.
4.0 OHV and SOHC.
2.5L
3.0L Vulcan and 24 V engine.

[Mike Croke]

If you knock all the carbon off the piston tops, you'll lose all that extra compression you've built up over the years. :D

[Old_Timer]

If you knock all the carbon off the piston tops, you'll lose all that extra compression you've built up over the years. :D


:lol: :lol:

at least you'll be able to use lower price 87 octane fuel from now on. ;)

[mcb82gt]

I think im going to turn my timing back to stock to run 87 gas again. This premium is getting rediculous and I doubt it will ever significantly decrease again. :evil: :evil: :evil:

[frankiesaysrelax]

[quote="Old_Timer"]
Be very careful when using that stuff in carburetor or EFI application. Use sparely because if you're not careful then you will hydraulically locked up a running motor. That stuff doesn't burn fast like gasoline. Most of the fluid will find their way into cylinders and burn slowly./quote]

The engine will stall out before you have to worry about hydro-locking it.

If you want to clean the combustion chambers H2O works great. It turns into steam and steam-cleans the combustion chamber. Works great and costs practically nothing.

[Old_Timer]

[quote=Old_Timer]
Be very careful when using that stuff in carburetor or EFI application. Use sparely because if you're not careful then you will hydraulically locked up a running motor. That stuff doesn't burn fast like gasoline. Most of the fluid will find their way into cylinders and burn slowly./quote]

The engine will stall out before you have to worry about hydro-locking it.
.


you think so! :lol: Then how come there is disclaimer on label and many Ford and GM Techs are replacing motors because customers or in-experience Techs hydraulic locked the motor. :!:

[ethangsmith]

I use it almost monthly in my 86 Capri. It is a 2.3L with 212,000 miles on it. I swear by the stuff. Just trickle it through the carburetor until you get about 1/3 the can through the motor then dump faster to stall the motor. THIS CAN NOT HYDROLOCK YOUR MOTOR- unless you somehow dump the entire can in there within a few seconds. Let the motor sit for about 5-10 minutes. Then turn the key and watch clouds of smoke and carbon exit the tailpipe. It makes my car run great. If you think you may need it, give it a shot. You really can't damage your motor unless you severely misuse it. Follow the directions carefully and you will see good results.

[frankiesaysrelax]

you think so! :lol: Then how come there is disclaimer on label and many Ford and GM Techs are replacing motors because customers or in-experience Techs hydraulic locked the motor. :!:

There are disclaimers on silica packs in pill bottles too. "Warning, do not eat". No accounting for some people's stupidity.

It would take a complete moron to to hydrolock an engine using this stuff. Of course, there is no shortage of those in this world. :roll:

[Old_Timer]

THIS CAN NOT HYDROLOCK YOUR MOTOR- .

Oh yes you can.

seriously I'm not making this up. That stuff does not burn fast. You will have residues left on each cylinder after the spark plugs fired. You keep adding more liquid gradually then residue will be increased.

Asks any engine builder or Domestic Engineering. They will tell you exactly same as I am telling you now.

FYI..You keep forgetting one important thing.......Most Domestic and Foriegn's [ post 1995 ] engines have positive deck clearance. That means pistons rises above the block deck surface.

or

If you have older motor then you may have a lot of carbon on top of pistons this may create positive deck clearance.

or

If you're rebuilding a stock motor or stroker motor or whatever then the deck clearance are always smaller than factory specs.



By the way...this is actual scenario. It is not the same as adding liquid to engine via carb or throttle body or using vacuum hose to drawed liquid into engine.
This example gives you an idea on how much space between top of piston and cylinder head.

99 Windstar with 3.8L engine came to shop for trans issue. Technician replaced the trans. Before removing the trans this Tech preferred to removed gigantic upper plastic intake plenum. He covered the lower intake holes with bath towel then he installed engine cradle....[ devise to hold the engine while removing front subframe and trans.]

After the job was done. He attempt to fired up the motor. It made a loud banging noise. 8O ....after thorough diagnosis...He took the heads off and found nearly perfect " sheet metal star washer" on top of piston. :oops: Star washer is approx .010" thick in normal shape.
No big deal...right??????? wrong......this sheet metal star washer bent the connecting rod and damge the piston. 8O 8O


The whole point of this.....It doesn't take much to Hydo locked the motor because loquid is not compressible.

I hope all of you understand that you have to take it very seriously. Don't assumed it is not going to happen to me!

[frankiesaysrelax]

The whole point of this.....It doesn't take much to Hydo locked the motor because loquid is not compressible.

No, liquid does not compress, but it has a place to go, the combustion chamber. Regardless of whatever the deck height is, the chamber would have to be completely filled with fluid in order to put the engine into true hydrostatic lock. For an in-depth explanation see.

http://www.prepsparkplugs.com/hydrofact.htm

Used properly, seafoam, marvel mystery oil, ATF, H2O, or whatever will not hydro-lock the engine unless you pour way too much in all at once. Possible yes, but stupidity is definitely a prerequisite. ;)

Old Timer is right though, don't think it can't happen to you. If you try this, be careful and READ AND FOLLOW the directions.

[ethangsmith]

Note that I did say to follow directions........... ;)