Sea foam in the crank case?

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Bella1992

Bella1992

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Mar 22, 2009
Threads
65
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633
Location
Gilbert AZ
Has anyone used seafoam to clean the insides of their engine?
ImageUploadedByIH8MUD Forum1416275644.174433.webp
 
I did, but only left it in a 100 miles or so. Fixed my startup rattle. Oil came out super dirty and thin when I drained it. The thin part is why I wouldn't leave it in very long.
 
I used it in a old 98 Gmc work truck that had at least one ticking lifter. Drained about a quart of the old oil out and replaced with a full can of Seafoam. After about 30 sec the noise went away. Ran it about 10 miles to get it nice and warm and drained the oil. Boy it was watery and nasty. Put new oil in and it never made another noise. Sold it about a 10K miles later. I wouldn't run the motor very long with it in.
 
I've done it to a few vehicles. All times I ran it about 50-100 miles max and drained. I do it about once a year.
 
richardlillard1 said:
Basically, you want a good detergent. I'm a fan of this stuff.

http://m.costco.com/Kirkland-Signature™-Ultra-Clean-Laundry-Detergent-120-Pacs.product.100116682.html

Also, I've heard that if the truck starts smoking, you can help it by shoving some cold turkey in the oil fill.
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It's silly snarky answers like this one that cause newbies to hurt their engines. I read one thread on a different forum where a member told some poor kid to drain the oil and run the garden hose through the oil inlet with the drain plug out. Of course he ruined his engine. If you're going to be cute, at least warn the newbies. People come here for sound advice, and although I can appreciate the humor, I think we need to recognize it could hurt someone.

Muddy1
 
I have used Seafoam in the crankcase before, in a similar manner to the others. What symptoms are you experiencing? For mine, it was a ticking lifter, and yes it did seem to fix it.

Muddy1
 
I had it done on an old Acura I owned. I've always been to chicken to put it anywhere other than the gas tank, but it made that little Acura burn rubber. I've wanted to do it on the Cruiser for all the clatter I get when hot. If I don't run 93, it sounds like it could blow any minute.
 
No issues or symptoms I Just recently cleaned my injectors with a can of sea foam in my gas tank. While purchasing it, the representative suggested I put some in my crankcase as well. It's Called the old AutoZone upsell.
 
bruss95 said:
I had it done on an old Acura I owned. I've always been to chicken to put it anywhere other than the gas tank, but it made that little Acura burn rubber. I've wanted to do it on the Cruiser for all the clatter I get when hot. If I don't run 93, it sounds like it could blow any minute.
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If that's true, Timing needs to be retarded some, maybe valves are too tight too. Removing carbon is usually a good thing, but sometimes crud collected around seals would be better staying in place.
 
I ran a full can of seafoam in my oil for 1000mi, helped a lot. Truck runs much smoother now.

The best way to do it is 1/3 through the intake, 1/3 in the gas tank and 1/3rd in the crank. I did this three times (there was a killer deal on seafoam here a while back) then drained and filled the oil (replacing filter of course) then I put another can into the crank for extended cleaning and I treated each fillup for 1000 miles. There was a noticeable gain in power if its enough to notice it would have to be 15or so hp/tq. The truck idles smoother and I'm touching 16mpg now.
 
Muddy1 said:
It's silly snarky answers like this one that cause newbies to hurt their engines. I read one thread on a different forum where a member told some poor kid to drain the oil and run the garden hose through the oil inlet with the drain plug out. Of course he ruined his engine. If you're going to be cute, at least warn the newbies. People come here for sound advice, and although I can appreciate the humor, I think we need to recognize it could hurt someone.

Muddy1
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I really doubt anyone that stupid would live long enough to get a license, so I have doubts about how damaging this could be. :rolleyes: Can you post a link to the story you referenced where someone flushed their motor with a garden hose? That is a must read.
I think Sea Foam is basically a solvent and most any engine flush would produce similar results.
 
Wait, you're not supposed to flush the engine with a garden hose????? :slap:

::slowly backs out of room, runs to garage::
 
I prefer Marvel Mystery Oil.....and for something to run through the gas to clean injectors use BC Chemtool. Put a whole can in a 1/2 or 1/4 tank of gas. Improvement is night and day, especially on DI cars.
 
Funner said:
...Can you post a link to the story you referenced where someone flushed their motor with a garden hose? ...
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The one where the guy put the NOs energy drink in the tank of his motorcycle is better, though...

And methinks you actually don't want a detergent - you'd rather want a solvent to clean out crud from the crankcase. The concern I've heard is that such a treatment may only partially solubilize such deposits, and chunks of crud that remain may come loose later after the flush, and then clog oil passages.
 
I would try a quart of ATF in the crank case first for couple of hundreds of mile.

Although I did try seafoam in my vacuum hose and tank but didn't see much difference besides smoking out the area's Mosquitos.
 
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