vB Easy Archive - Seafoam experiences?

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Seafoam experiences?
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Posted by: B0000rt

Has anyone ever had any bad seafoam experiences?

I've read on other forums about how their headgaskets go when using seafoam (as there maybe carbon buildup thats sealing the heads).

True or not? I'm considering using this stuff on my ~200k km engine.

Btw, locally in the GTA is there anywhere to get ahold of this stuff?

Posted by: Bonka

We used it on my uncle's '92 Legend with 263,000kms at the time. The white smoke completely clouded the neighbourhood for a good 1/2hr. We noticed the engine running noticably quieter and took away a mild shake on the steering wheel at idle. Great stuff.

You can't get seafoam in Canada. You could check out some marina shops as that's where my uncle grabbed a bottle in the States. GM dealerships sell a similar product called "Kleens". Suppose to work like seafoam. A local Maxima guy used it in an open parking lot and he liked the results.

There's also a product called AutoRX which doesn't work like seafoam but gives the same results including lubricating seals. There's a rinse and clean phase. You mix it in with your motor oil. Can be bought at their website. I read it has quite a following on BITOG.

As long as you know your engine is in good condition (compression, power, leaks, oil consumption) you're good.

Posted by: B0000rt

Heh, I don't know if my engine is in good condition though. Power is there, but burns some oil (3L comes out, for 3.75L poured in) Though I do use FI cleaner ~500km before each oilchange.
Hmm

Posted by: Stock R

I've heard mostly good things about seafoam. Most people use it with great results. Some notice little. Although I've heard ppl talk aboug it ruining the ring seals and other parts, I haven't actually read a thread with bad first hand experiences.

You can buy seafoam in Canada. I'll check my other forums to see which stores you can buy it from.

Posted by: plastikman

sorry for the perceptively newbie question, but what exactly is seafoam, and the benefits/drawbacks?

Posted by: b_rad94

yea honestly i have never heard of seafoam either but I think its probably like this stuff I use that you spray into your intake manifold while your car is running to clean the carbon buildup out ?

Posted by: B0000rt

Yep, supposed to clean out all the carbon buildup in your engine (reason for all the smoke Bonka spoke of).

Benefits, all the Carbon will be cleaned out

Drawbacks, if the Carbon is the stuff that's holding your seals together, then bye bye seal!

I think you're supposed to spray it into your throttle body, into some vacuum lines, and into your gastank.

Posted by: b_rad94

yea i hear the same thing about switching to synthetic on a high mileage engine but i think its all bs.. my buddy switched to synthetic everyone told him its going to clean out build up and thats whats holding his seals together now and he will be burning etc etc blah blah yeah right.. he's running nice and clean...

not trying to attack you though just I have heard the same things about that stuff and synthetic but never heard from anywhere of that actually happening before.. has anyone?

Posted by: Stock R

Seafoam you put in 1/3 through the brake booster into the intake manifold, 1/3 into the crank case, 1/3 into your gas tank. It's suppose to clean out the carbon/sludge buildup. Most ppl say that the sludge when they do their oil change is unbelievable.

The reason you're not suppose to switch to syn. on an old engine is because the oil is thinner than dino oil. That's why it's suppose to leak/burn.

Posted by: B0000rt

Quote:

Originally Posted by b_rad94

yea i hear the same thing about switching to synthetic on a high mileage engine but i think its all bs.. my buddy switched to synthetic everyone told him its going to clean out build up and thats whats holding his seals together now and he will be burning etc etc blah blah yeah right.. he's running nice and clean...

not trying to attack you though just I have heard the same things about that stuff and synthetic but never heard from anywhere of that actually happening before.. has anyone?

Heh actually I've heard that about syn oils too, and actually I've noticed when I do run syn (mostly because I'm a lazy *******, and the syn was on sale, and I'd rather change my oil every 10k instead of 5k) immediately after the oil change, I notice the car idle abit rough, but about 200-300 kms later, it's gone. This has happened atleast 3-4 times consistantly now.

Regardless of Syn or dino, I notice that I burn almost a litre every 5000kms.

Posted by: edwinx

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stock R

Seafoam you put in 1/3 through the brake booster into the intake manifold, 1/3 into the crank case, 1/3 into your gas tank. It's suppose to clean out the carbon/sludge buildup. Most ppl say that the sludge when they do their oil change is unbelievable.

The reason you're not suppose to switch to syn. on an old engine is because the oil is thinner than dino oil. That's why it's suppose to leak/burn.

yeah, I've heard that many times too and I was expecting too but on my high mileage integra (200k+), its great. doesn't burn or leak. I'm running german castrol syntec. Supposedly, you are supposed to burn/lead for the few oil changes then the sludge gets cleaned out and the oil is supposed to "heal" the seals so it won't leak or burn (or leak/burn less).

Posted by: B0000rt

Ah I see, you're right though, haven't noticed the sludge under my oil cap and PCV as much anymore when using syn. I was considering those "High mileage" type oils, do those things really help?

Posted by: edwinx

Quote:

Originally Posted by B0000rt

Ah I see, you're right though, haven't noticed the sludge under my oil cap and PCV as much anymore when using syn. I was considering those "High mileage" type oils, do those things really help?

dont' know but I think those have a lot of other additives in them to condition seals, last long and maybe the oil itself is thicker? or only offerred in a thicker oil?

check out, http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/

also for me. after a fresh syn oil change, my car runs extra smooth and the smoothness lasts a lot longer than dino oil. quite opposite of your experience. Also, a full syn oil does feel/sound different than a semi one. what brand do you use?

Posted by: B0000rt

Whatever brand was on sale at the time

I usually stock up on 20-25L at a time, since dad's Mercedes uses almost 8L of oil. I think this time it was Valvoline. I think I got them, 5L for $20 or so from Walmart. And whenever using syn, I always use the Fram filter, the silver one that's extra heavy and is 'guarenteed to last 11,000 kms' heh

I guess I'll wait till after the winter's over to seafoam her up (hah that sounds dirty), rather look for a new car in the spring, than trying to look for one in the winter

Posted by: Khosa

i just recently used seafoam in my civic (1995). Didnt smoke all that much, one minute maybe. but the only main difference i noticed was the throttle response, the diff was night and day. You can get seafoan in Canada at any carquest. goto carquest.ca for your nearest location. btw civic has 210k's on it andi didnt have any problem with the seals or anything.

Posted by: hotch

i used it on my engine a little while back (6 months, or so), and have since developed a slow coolant leak.

we're hoping it's not in the head

Posted by: B0000rt

/\
See it's stories like this that make me say "if it ain't broke don't fix it"

Posted by: Stock R

Quote:

Originally Posted by B0000rt

/\
See it's stories like this that make me say "if it ain't broke don't fix it"

Same here. Scared to switch to syn. on the crap car.