YOUR opinion on Seafoam.....use it or don't waste the $?

TomsNeon · Post by **TomsNeon** » Wed Oct 31, 2012 11:22 am

I have read both pros and cons on using seafoam so I need a general consensus on this stuff. Is it worth using or will it make the engine worse? I heard it breaks down the oil, it clogs the fuel filter and pump so what is the real deal?? My Neon is at 199K, my wife's Caravan is at 183K so both are old, have a lot of miles and I don't want to kill them off before their due to go on their own so to speak. Opinions please, both good and bad. Thank you in advance!!

2005.Neon.SXT · Post by **2005.Neon.SXT** » Wed Oct 31, 2012 11:50 am

I've only done seafoam once, last year, and haven't seen any negative side effects. Can't remember if I noticed any positive gains. It did smoke. A lot lol. I'll see if I can find the link.

**EDIT**

viewtopic.php?t=57930&highlight=seafoam

Post by **occasional demons** » Wed Oct 31, 2012 12:41 pm

Yep, pour it into the intake manifold via a vacuum hose.

It also comes in an aerosol can, but you may need to go to a real parts store for that. The aerosol is easier to control.

We generally tend to shy away from adding it to the oil. Adding to a tank of fuel, or the vacuum line method. Let it soak for a few hours if you have the time. You want to get it in there heavy enough that the engine barely keeps running, so it can soak the exhaust valves/ports as much as possible. That is where the bulk of most carbon build up will be, besides the combustion chamber.

The intake valve stay pretty clean on these. Between the oil from the PCV, and fuel being sprayed at them, they don't generally get dirty, unless you run without an air filter. Or have EGR, which is a rare 2000 model year thing.

TomsNeon · Post by **TomsNeon** » Wed Oct 31, 2012 12:45 pm

Thank you sir!

dvon17 · Post by **dvon17** » Thu Nov 01, 2012 12:21 am

I've done it, twice. A little in the gas and the rest through the intake. Second time I changed my plugs right after... got a decent increase in gas mileage. As far as any power increase? Eeeeh, its a ATX SOHC so I honestly couldn't tell lol.

gtownv6 · Post by **gtownv6** » Thu Nov 01, 2012 12:43 am

I don't think you will get a power increase from it unless your rings were seized to start with, it is good for preventative maintenance though. Just make sure you're outside when you do it.

fontes59 · Post by **fontes59** » Thu Nov 01, 2012 1:18 pm

i did this past summer great way to piss off the neighbourhood , i smoked out my buddys street , so i you dont like your neighbours and they complain alot do it on a nice summer day when everyone is outside enjoying the weather lol

gcretro · Post by **gcretro** » Fri Nov 02, 2012 11:38 pm

occasional demons wrote: You want to get it in there heavy enough that the engine barely keeps running, so it can soak the exhaust valves/ports as much as possible.

Seafoam says use only 1/3 of the can - are you saying suck in more than that into the intake?

And I wonder why this should be done with motor fully warmed up/hot? If the idea is for it to soak, then wouldn't doing on a cool motor keep the seafoam in liquid form and let it soak? (rather than evaporate n a hot motor?)

mrsixstrings12 · Post by **mrsixstrings12** » Fri Nov 02, 2012 11:45 pm

gcretro wrote:
occasional demons wrote: You want to get it in there heavy enough that the engine barely keeps running, so it can soak the exhaust valves/ports as much as possible.
Seafoam says use only 1/3 of the can - are you saying suck in more than that into the intake?

And I wonder why this should be done with motor fully warmed up/hot? If the idea is for it to soak, then wouldn't doing on a cool motor keep the seafoam in liquid form and let it soak? (rather than evaporate n a hot motor?)

i imagine the seafoam has been engineered to withstand the heat and having the engine warm may cause the "junk" to soften up a little

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 9:20 am

I've used Seafoam in the intake a couple times, but never got it to billow smoke like most people do. I do like to throw it into the gas tank every so often though. I do not like the idea of adding it to the oil; reminds me of people adding kerosene to the oil to clean the engine.

Post by **occasional demons** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 10:34 am

I have always use the whole can. You want it hot, so it soaks into the deposits better. This stuff doesn't really evaporate.

Using the whole can, and by keeping the engine just barely running, keeps it from being burned up in the combustion process. Even if you have to restart it a few times to keep the process going...

Plus letting it set afterwards for more than the recommended 30 minutes helps. a few hours, or overnight is best.

When I did the daughter's, I had just changed the oil pressure switch before Seafoaming it. When I started it, I seem black streaming down from that area. So I shut it off to inspect. Thankfully, it was just liquefied carbon and goo running out of a crack in the exhaust. Made a wicked black stain on the drive for a while.

On the other .org, they have a how to, that entails running it through the engine, then pulling the plugs, and pouring it down the holes, and turning the engine by hand to thoroughly soak everything. Then the next day, putting a rag over the holes, and cranking it with the starter to expel the excess to prevent hydro locking.

Changing the oil after that method is recommended, as it may seep past the rings a lot more than the normal way.