Seafoam
 

What is seafoam, and is it worth running through gas tank. What will it do by adding to gas?


Thanks.

Seafoam (unless they have a new product) is most effective when fed through the intake, allegedly cleans out the combustion chambers, intake. I haven't used it on an MB, but it did help clean out the intake and plenum on my mitsubishi when I used it, but no real performance difference along with a ton of smoke when using it. I would guess that adding it to the gas would be advertised to clean injectors...but there is a lot of snake oil out there...

Redline,Moly and even Chevron's Techron
 

Do the job without the BallyHoo (Or Snake Oil).

"SeaFoam" is generated by an OnShore Breeze and shouldn't be introduced
into ANY engine.(Salt Water is the King of Corrosion)

Seafoam does a fairly credible job of removing intake build up, but as said, through the "hot soak" intake vacuum method rather than as a fuel tank additive.

Here you go: plus proof
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=279293&highlight=lsmalley+seafoam

Skip it. There are real fuel additives out there, there is no 'one can, fix all' type of stuff. Snake oil is good, but I would call it something on the terms of Horn Oil or Carburetor Belt. :)

Intake buildup can be rid of over time with just slightly more aggressive driving. i.e. going WOT and keeping it there on the freeway and other places where safe/legal when the motor is at full operating temp.

Regardless, we at least know that the seafoam can't hurt....but I still am a firm believer in it and my HC, CO, O2, & NO numbers reflect that after just a few days of failing my first smog without seafoam.

Do the same thing with water and save the $10.

will that work?

Yup, at least the cleaning of the intake. Grab an old toothbrush and start scrubbing. As long as you can put in the work its money in the bank

Provided a smoke show for me in the past. All it does, that I can figure, is just shock the carbon to come out of the chambers due to the variances in temperature.

As with the Seafoam, you have the very slowly induce it to avoid hydrolock.

I avoid this now and just run a car hard about once a week and it seems fine, even vehicles I own with horrid PCV systems clean up after a while with 'spirited' driving.

I agree, the same effect can be achieved by hand cleaning despite a bit more elbow grease. I'm not sure it is for shock as I'm not positive to the chemical formula (does it genuinely help carbon buildup?). If you introduce it too quickly I'm not sure hydrolock would be of primary concern since it is combustible, but the AFR would be all thrown off so you'd essentially be flooding the engine with fuel and not enough air since it is after the MAP/MAF sensor. An ITU really clears things up as well, and if you want a spotless plenum, carb cleaner plus a scrub brush will be the best bet.

I buy Seafoam once a year,to clean upper cylinder area.I insert a vacum line into the seafoam and let it slowly sip the can till all gone.I also change rpms while it running.
You can see it work if your cylinder area is dirty.There will be black smoke the first five minutes followed by white smoke(clean).

I've used it on my Volvos for years. It keeps the combustion chambers & valves free of carbon buildup. The water-based "Italian Tune-up" as described above works too but might not be as effective (I haven't seen the results of H2O method).

I have seen the results between Seafoamed & non-Seafoamed engines and the Seafoamed heads/pistons are VERY clean by comparison. If my intake is getting dirty, I use CRC Throttle Body Cleaner, it will do 3-4 intakes. I usually use about 1/2 can of Seafoam once a year, especially good if you have a beef w/your neighbor & the wind is blowing their way...

Seafoam may not have that great of an effect on a one owner, factory maintained car. Most often its the neglected beater that shows greatest improvement.