Anyone Seafoam?

CincinnatiFiero · Post by **CincinnatiFiero** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:37 am

Anyone ever use seafoam in their 2.8L V6? I've got two cans of the stuff laying around and was thinking about using a can on the 88GT. When we did a buddies civic, the civic forum said use 1/3 (of a container) in the gas tank, 1/3 in the vacuum system, and 1/3 in the crankcase. Then run it through for a little while. Change the oil, and change the plugs. My conventional oil has been sitting in the car for 4 months now, so I was thinking about changing to synthetic anyways. However I have heard seafoam can mess up the O2, and mine is new, is this true? Also pep boys sells some heavy crankcase detergents, they say pour it in, run for like 6-8 minutes, then drain the oil out. Would that work better than seafoam? Car has 92,000 miles, I am going to change the oil soon, I've got a brand new set of NGK UR5s laying around, and I have a spare can of seafoam. Thoughts?

Also, if I do seafoam, which vac line do you guys like to use?

Pyrthian · Post by **Pyrthian** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:53 am

just started using it last year. love the stuff.

carefull running it thru a vacuum line - it'll suck the can dry quickly. make sure you can restrict it's flow. and, be ready to goose the throttle. it'll smoke for awhile after the can is empty too. I've never used it in the oil, since I use synthetic, and its always clean anyways.

I dont doubt that you can "coat" the O2 sensor in soot. hasn't happened in either of the cars I've used it on tho. one was 130k car, getting a cleaning for its first time. sure smoothed it out tho. gave it 2 cans. first one sucked thru with intake vacuum. then a week later, poured one into the fuel tank.

a good choice for a vacuum source would be the brake booster port. but - being as big as it is, make sure you can restrict it. it the 1/4"-3/8" hose coming out the back side, and then going straight down. has a clamp. just pick this one, because its one of the few accessable on the Fiero intake. or - get a misting bottle, remove the rubber snorkle, and just mist it in thru the throttle body. benifit: this will also clean the IAC

CincinnatiFiero · Post by **CincinnatiFiero** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:35 pm

Well should I be worried about it permanently damaging my O2, or will it clean itself off in a short time? I think I am going to give a can thru the motor (I did half a can in the gas tank a while ago) and use some detergent in the crankcase. I want to keep the 88 getting 30mpg and running for a long while.

Pyrthian · Post by **Pyrthian** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:47 pm

has not affected either of the cars I used it on. 02 Malibu & 98 Escort.
I would say - no - dont worry about it at all. Both responded well to it - especially the Escort.

CincinnatiFiero · Post by **CincinnatiFiero** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 3:12 pm

I've got 92,500 on the fiero, so I figure its worth a shot.

Pyrthian · Post by **Pyrthian** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 3:19 pm

CincinnatiFiero wrote:I've got 92,500 on the fiero, so I figure its worth a shot.

yup - it is. that Escort with 130k REALLY liked the Seafoam
I still think Techron is a better injector cleaner. But, Seafoam does a GREAT job with overall cleaning & loosening carbon.

AkursedX · Post by **AkursedX** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:17 pm

The guys in the Crown Vic Police Interceptor crown practically worship the stuff. But considering that most police cars spend alot of time idling and building up carbon, I would imagine that the results must help alot for them.

txf · Post by **txf** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 9:40 pm

I've used it several times in the past without a hitch, assisted my neighbor with the stuff and his truck hasn't stopped smoking for the last year.

Moral to the story. If gunk is keeping it from leaking..... it won't any more. He used it in fuel, oil, and we used it direct through the throttle body.

CincinnatiFiero · Post by **CincinnatiFiero** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 9:53 pm

I am thinking a can of seafoam in the vacuum system, maybe less. A can of detergent in the oil for 3 minutes, then drain and put in some quaker state synthetic. And some techron in the gas tank.

Kohburn · Post by **Kohburn** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:52 am

if you have a high milage engine thats always had conventional oil - detergents and switching to synthetic is almost a guaranteed way to make it start leaking.

Pyrthian · Post by **Pyrthian** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:23 am

Kohburn wrote:if you have a high milage engine thats always had conventional oil - detergents and switching to synthetic is almost a guaranteed way to make it start leaking.

I have not had this happen. but, only had 2 cars to go by. and, one of them burnt oil - so I only went to synth blend, not full synth.

but, I understand why. if there are existing leaks, but they are goo'd by dino slop - the synth will clean that goo out and expose the leak. it DOES NOT create new leaks - it exposes existing leaks. the existing leaks are just sloooow due to the goo.

CincinnatiFiero · Post by **CincinnatiFiero** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:27 am

Supposidly synthetic molecules are smaller, they just expose existing leaks. I think my valve cover gaskets are the only dodgy ones. I'd like to use synthetic to feel like I am saving the planet, its peace of mind I guess. In my L67 I plan to use nothing but synthetic.

whipped · Post by **whipped** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 11:12 am

seafoam is a ripoff for what it is. You can get the same results by running water through a vacuum line.

For "better than water" cleaning, I would suggest GM's TEC (top engine cleaner).

Oh, and DON'T put seafoam in your engine oil.

Pyrthian · Post by **Pyrthian** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 11:28 am

whipped wrote:seafoam is a ripoff for what it is. You can get the same results by running water through a vacuum line.

For "better than water" cleaning, I would suggest GM's TEC (top engine cleaner).

Oh, and DON'T put seafoam in your engine oil.

well, if you look at the Seafoam vs GM TEC - you'll see they are the same thing. either way - good stuff.

and - yes - H2O is one of the finest carbon breakers there is.

edit - just check more into this - yes, GM TEC does have an extra ingredient. but - still mostly Zippo lighter fluid.

whipped · Post by **whipped** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:38 pm

Pyrthian wrote: well, if you look at the Seafoam vs GM TEC - you'll see they are the same thing. either way - good stuff.

and - yes - H2O is one of the finest carbon breakers there is.

edit - just check more into this - yes, GM TEC does have an extra ingredient. but - still mostly Zippo lighter fluid.

Umm no, they are not the same thing.

Seafoam ingredients:

Isopropyl Alcohol (rubbing alcohol), pale oil, and naptha.

GM TEC ingredients:
2-BUTOXYETHANOL, naptha, 4-METHYL-2-PENTANOL, 9-OCTADECENDIC ACID

GM isn't making money selling snake oil (rubbing alcohol and lighter fluid), they designed their concoction to break down carbon inside combustion chambers better than anything else.

Pyrthian · Post by **Pyrthian** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:27 pm

:thumbleft:

yes, instead of rubbing alchohol, 2 different kinds of other alchohol

I agree 100% that the TEC is better stuff - but it isnt a large leap
Seafoam is good stuff.

CincinnatiFiero · Post by **CincinnatiFiero** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:35 pm

Well I already have two cans of seafoam I got for free, the GM stuff is better, but I'd have to buy it. Yeah no seafoam in the oil, I know, I read into it. I am still thinking about using one of those 3 minute before oil change detergents.

Kohburn · Post by **Kohburn** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:52 am

all the old schoolers say to stick a quart of ATF in the oil and idle it for 10 minutes then drain all your oil out and refill with new - supposed to clean all the buildup out.

Pyrthian · Post by **Pyrthian** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:46 am

Kohburn wrote:all the old schoolers say to stick a quart of ATF in the oil and idle it for 10 minutes then drain all your oil out and refill with new - supposed to clean all the buildup out.

yes, I've used kerosene like that for a long time - untill I wrecked a oil pressure sender. but - nowadays - just switch to synthetic - and it'll slowly clean itself

CincinnatiFiero · Post by **CincinnatiFiero** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:36 pm

I was planning on switching to Quaker State HP blend. Anyone?