Seafoam Spray Treatment?

[bluec10]

Has anyone tried that Seafoam procedure involving spraying it into the intake, turning off the engine for 5 minutes, then restarting. They claim it will clean out the carbon. Does it? Is it safe for the engine?

[LakeAnna]

Seafoam is pretty good stuff that should work. I've used outboard engine tuner before and it works great. You can get either Mercury or whatever Evinrude has out and they both work great. My Dad said that the cheapest thing to use is transmission fluid??? He has done that on his old trucks before. Lots of smoke!!!

[JimKshortstep4x4]

I have tried using Seafoam to clean carbon off of cylinder heads as a cleaning method and the results were minimal even with scrubbing.

Jim

[mpotts64]

I run a quart of Marvel Mystery Oil through the gas tank about every 5th fill-up, works well.

[ctandc]

The best way to use seafoam is to do it the old fashion way.
Get the engine up to temp.
Now open the hood. Drizzle the seafoam into the carb, (air cleaner off of course) working the throttle linkage with your hand to keep it running. When you get close to using half a can, dump more in until the engine dies.

You can also do this using a full time vacuum hose from the engine, using the hose like a straw.

Let it sit for a good while.

Go back out, crank it up and go for a ride. Charge your neighbors for the mosquito treatment you’ll be doing. It will smoke like a freight train, then clear up.

I’ve done this a thousand time it seems.

To be fair, we used to do the same thing with ATF or water.

Seafoam straight out of the bottle at room temp won’t clean carbon. That’s not what it was designed to do.

Good luck.

[Willys47]

the best thing that I have seen to clean a cylinder of carbon is water. Any time I have seen a motor taken apart because of a failed head gasket were water has enterd the cylinder the piston is as clean as can be. why not just pour some water in a running motor to steam clean it. a little water injection may do the trick.

[John Fabris]

second vote for Water. cheap and it works, key is to dribble in in slowly. dump is all in at one and you can cause a hydraulic lockup of your engine and more then likely hurt head gasket or rod bearing....

[fakerwade]

GM used to sell their "top engine cleaner" through their parts dept. ,,I don't know if they still do or not,,, stuff works very well. I've also mixed water and dexron (sort of mix together, water and oil don't mix well together) and poor that into engine keeping it at 2000 rpm, usually run about 2 quarts through without killing the engine. Smokes like crazy but works pretty well also. Whatever you choose to do please be sure to wear eye goggles, if the engine back fires it could spew hot caustic fluids back into your eyes. I've had this happen,,,,no fun. Hope this helps.

[cdowns]

i used to use seafoam on a regular basis every oil change found that berrymans gas treatment worked ALOT better at about 1/4 the price so that's what i use to keep my injectors clean and sensors functioning properly

[jover]

We swear by the seafoam products over the last year. They are pricy but let me tell You so are carburetor's that this ethanol gas ruins. We have 1986 K20 that seems to do way too much sitting and this new gas has ruined 2 carbs over the last year until we hit on seafoam, now after putting new 600cfm on it, we religiously run a can of seafoam through motor via gas tank, and it has really solved problem. They also have a product by Lucas that You can pick up at any parts store or even I've seen it at walmart, and it is a stabilizer, which we also use in lawnmower, chainsaw, leaf blower etc... it also has seemed to straighten out problem. This new gas is brutal on engines and any type of rubber as it eats right through it. We are up here in central NY and can't tell You all the problems with it. Now our 68 stepside w/388 and dynoed at 517hp, my hubby won't take any chances on and has opted to run straight Cam 2 which this truck loves and with the 12.5 compression its not a problem, just on the wallet $7.80/gallon.

[c1069]

I recommend you B12 Chemtool combustion cleaner. Those products work great.

[kcsa75]

A while back my neighbor gave me a can of Amsoil Power Foam. I was having problems with a sticky choke on my Quadrajet. I'd already probably sprayed three or four cans of carb cleaner on/through this thing, so I decided it couldn't hurt.
Directions say to warm up the engine, then spray the whole can in and around the carb. Let it sit for 10 minutes then go for a drive.
After a few minutes of coughing and spitting with black smoke coming out the tailpipe, I took it out on the freeway and the difference was night and day.
I've got find an Amsoil guy in my neighborhood cause I'm sold on this stuff.
http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/apf.aspx

[kevmcrae]

I've used the seafoam for many years on everything from my lawn tractor, boat, cars, and my 71. I can't say if the pistons are cleaner as I haven't taken anything apart. But I can tell a difference in idle afterwards. If there was a shake and shimmy....it goes away. I always use the quarts and through a vacuume line.
I also use it to winterize my mower and boat. As for the ethanol issue some have mentioned, I use only premium fuel that doesn't contain and ethanol in everything except my new cars. Little more $ per gallon, but don't have any deterioration issues in mower, 4 wheeler, snowcat, weed eater, or my 71 chevy.

[bowtiecharlie]

Ive used "tec" top engine cleaner from gm with great results!! Just follow the directions, and it will clean out the top end well and everthing else. When I use it I warm up the engine 20 mins, and pour it down the carb slowly 1st and then choke out the motor when you dump the rest in. I let it sit overnight and in the morning I fire it up and blast it down the road @ 10 mins or when the smoking stops. And then you better change the oil and filter, because all the "tec" washes the rings and walls of the clys, and heads south into the oil pan. Then take it for another normal ride