So, you're curious about Seafoam?
- Thread starter TheFuzz
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Fuzz, great pics and write up. Funny enough, I was just looking for the how-to on this. I did my wife's 95 bmw (vacuum line) and it smoked for about 5 minutes. I don't know if it's just me (since I don't drive my wife's car on a daily basis), but I did feel a little more sensitivity on the gas pedal after doing it. I have another can and now that I know where to do it on the hundy, I will get it done next weekend for a little smoke screen for halloween. thanks again for the write up.
Call me a skeptic ...
- I am 100% sure that you are right not to add it to the engine oil. Doubt a little would hurt as it is a petroleum product and generally compatible with oil. Engine oil is designed to dilute, emulsify and isolate other liquid contaminates (water,coolant) in any case.
- The Material Safety Data Sheet (Seafoam MSDS) has some interesting info
- Contains only three ingredients ...
Pale oil = a clean oil heavier than diesel fuel.
Napatha = Coleman Fuel and charcoal lighter fluid
Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) = You guys know what alcohol is for!
- Lists as a Combustion Hazard - Irritating smoke and fumes
Why not make your own -
Homebrew Seafoam - Although I would use a two cycle oil in place of the Pale oil since it is designed to be burned.
a bit disappointing that there is only these 3 straightforward ingredients and no magic stuff...
I didn't see any effectiveness test with the homebrew -and little more than anecdotal for the OEM stuff for that matter- Anything more out there?
instead of seafoaming, we took apart my whole intake manifold while doing the starter and cleaned it out
- Thread starter
- #25
Thats really the best way to do it, IMO...doing a vacuum induction treatment isn't exactly a "thorough" cleaning, although it does seem to help to some degree.
FWIW, I'm pretty sure that Seafoam makes a "sprayable" version of their product now (not the Deep Creep penetrant stuff under their brand name, but actual aerosol-based Seafoam), I saw it at Checker the other day. That might be the stuff to use if you pull the manifold, just spray it on and let the whole thing soak. Hell, it might make the whole vacuum process easier...instead of dumping it into the vacuum line, just stick the hose in and spray. No experience with it but I'll try to pick up a can this week and see how it compares.
FWIW, I'm pretty sure that Seafoam makes a "sprayable" version of their product now (not the Deep Creep penetrant stuff under their brand name, but actual aerosol-based Seafoam), I saw it at Checker the other day. That might be the stuff to use if you pull the manifold, just spray it on and let the whole thing soak. Hell, it might make the whole vacuum process easier...instead of dumping it into the vacuum line, just stick the hose in and spray. No experience with it but I'll try to pick up a can this week and see how it compares.
Not arguing, just adding but MSDS sheets are only required to list "Hazardous Ingredients" not by any means all ingredients. It is possible or even likely that there are some non-hazardous surfactants or minerals that participate in the reactions and make the difference.
It is also possible that these are the only 3 ingredients but the MSDS doesn't tell us the whole story.
It is also possible that these are the only 3 ingredients but the MSDS doesn't tell us the whole story.
- Thread starter
- #27
I agree with this. While I do appreciate the legwork and research that NM did on the subject, I tend to agree more with my real-world results on other vehicles, which have largely been positive.
Also, maybe it's just me, but I prefer to use the manufactured version of Seafoam as opposed to a home-brew method. I can't see any real benefit of making your own unless you have alot of vehicles to treat (a fleet perhaps?) and it ends up being being cheaper making it in large quanities. $7 or $8 every six months isn't a big deal to me, and it would certainly cost more than that to make your own...right? (I'll admit I haven't read the link yet...Im at work)
At any rate, there will always be skeptics out there, and that is perfectly ok. This is kind of like the argument for throttle body spacers on fuel injected vehicles...we all know they are a waste of money (wait, we do agree on that right?
), but some people swear by them and will NOT be dissuaded even when faced with real-world data and testing (visit the Tahoe/Yukon forums for more on that). Its all good either way, and I always welcome other points of view. I'm just sharing my personal experiences with you guys and trying to help out those of you who'd like to give Seafoam a try. 
like this
removed the fuel lines and injectors and all rubber stuff and put it in the parts cleaner and scrubbed it down. New gasket on the halves and reinstalled. If we had more time I would've polished it out and then gotten it powdercoated black....to pretend to myself I had a TRD blower.
- Thread starter
- #31
Thats actually a very cool idea for a little "show" factor under the hood...I might look into that when I get around to replacing my starter. It's pretty far down on the list but I'm gonna do it before I give it a chance to crap out.
From the Seafoam Website FAQ
What is it about Sea Foam that makes it so safe to use?
Sea Foam is composed solely of three specially blended petroleum oils – each having specific functions such as lubricating, cleaning or moisture control. There are no other chemicals (not even color dyes) included in the formulation.
Sea Foam is composed solely of three specially blended petroleum oils – each having specific functions such as lubricating, cleaning or moisture control. There are no other chemicals (not even color dyes) included in the formulation.
Quite a few people swear that adding water in small amounts to the intake is a good cleaning method.
Ding, ding, ding...
Stop wasting time on snake oil and take the TB off and clean it correctly. It will take a nice leisurely afternoon on a weekend to do.
The smoke effect is fun....
Especially at rock concerts.
Did the TB as well, obviously.
But I thought it blew deposits off the entire intake system including the valves?
- Thread starter
- #36
It does. At least thats the rumor.
I've also heard the stories about using water. I'd never do it. Seafoam is combustible - water is not. I would imagine that using a combustible liquid is markedly safer than the old school mechanic dropping ice water into the carb to acheive the same effect.
Here we go. Look guys, nobody is saying that Seafoam or any other off the shelf product is a replacement for some elbow grease. It's not a miracle in a bottle, and it's effectiveness varies by vehicle - I don't know how well it's going to work on my LC. However, in my experience with other vehicles it does provide some measure of improvement to gas mileage - presumably by clearing some of the excess gunk out of the intake track and off of the valves. I would imagine that the people who see the most benefit from it would be those with a higher mileage vehicle that's never had a "dealership" induction cleaning service (which for all intents and purposes is the same thing) or one that wasn't particularly well maintained by the previous owners.
I still intend to pull the throttle body and clean it by hand, don't worry Beno.
Bottom line here - MY time isn't being wasted, thankyouverymuch. I think that it works to some degree, which I have seen on my personally owned vehicles. Some of you don't agree. Thats fine, I posted this thread as an instructional guide for those of us who are interested in giving it a try, not to start a "This stuff is the sh*t!" vs "This stuff is bullsh*t" thread.
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one way to look at this is:
- if the amount of smoke varies with each car, one could assume that the smoke is gunk, not the seafoam
- if there is gunk being burned off, something is getting cleaner, one might hope that this would be a good thing
- this would suggest that this not just snakeoil, although it may not make much difference in an absolute scale, conceivably. But if it does make some positive difference, even if small, and doesn't hurt anything, and you can afford it, why not...
- if the amount of smoke varies with each car, one could assume that the smoke is gunk, not the seafoam
- if there is gunk being burned off, something is getting cleaner, one might hope that this would be a good thing
- this would suggest that this not just snakeoil, although it may not make much difference in an absolute scale, conceivably. But if it does make some positive difference, even if small, and doesn't hurt anything, and you can afford it, why not...
- Thread starter
- #38
Well put. I have seen modest gains after using it with no negative effects. This is why I continue to use it.
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Sorry I even mentioned it! Hahah
im gonna do this tonight....i have a can of seafoam just sitting there. might as well use it. My LC only has 85K on it so i'd be curious to see how much it smokes