SeaFoam engine cleaning

myjeepwalks · **Posted:** Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:30 pm

I stopped by advance auto parts today to get some bosch platinum plugs and oil/filter. I saw some seafoam on the shelf. I remembered some of you guys swear by this stuff. Decided to give it a try. Apparently you can dump this stuff in the gas tank, crankcase or suck it in through an intake vacuum line. I decided to do the vacuum line. I pulled the brake booster vac. line rigged up some smaller vacuum line to restrict flow a bit. (You dont want to suck the whole can through just the brake booster hose alone YOU WILL LOCK UP THE MOTOR.) Anyway i suck down the whole can slowly into the motor and let it sit for 5-10min. I start it up runs rough as hell and is smoking like a freight train. Next thing you know its stalling out and check engine light is on. Pulled a suspected P0300 random misfire. I start it again and let it run and it's looking like the house is on fire now. :lol:

After a few minutes it clears out. I cleared the codes and took it for a ride around the block seems to run better. I dont know maybe it's a combination of the new plugs also. Just thought i'd share.

IF YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING I DONT REOMMEND TRYING THIS!!!!!!!!!!!! :wink:

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:59 pm

Yeah, watching sea foam get sucked in through a brake booster line is fun... The smoke show afterwords is even cooler!

You can also put it in the oil to remove sludge and grime buildup at the top of the motor.

SavageUrge · **Posted:** Thu Jun 07, 2007 4:38 pm

I do swear by this stuff! There is no need to put a smaller hose on. Just dip the line in very lightly so the hose is "slurping" the Seafoam from the container - you only want to use about 4-6 ounces TOTAL. When you are down to the last 3 or so ounces, drop the hose right in and let the engine stall. I personally let it sit for about 45 minutes, since I had 65,000+ miles and was in need of a good cleaning. Whatever is left goes into the crankcase, but only within 500 miles of an oil change and a whole can goes into the gas tank right before a fill-up when I'm sitting at the pump. I would have recommended doing it BEFORE you replaced your spark plugs, because now you may have a whole lot of fouling and gunk on your new plugs. You may have found that you didn't need new plugs after the Seafoam.

hyedipin · **Joined:** Thu May 11, 2006 10:20 am **Posts:** 1667

That was scary!

csukoh78 · **Joined:** Thu Mar 08, 2007 10:34 pm **Posts:** 501

pics of how to do this?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Jun 07, 2007 6:45 pm

Ive also done this before but not to my jeep. It was a corolla and I didnt get as much smoke as I was hoping for! It did seem to idle better afterwards though.. Need to do it again.

bbo · **Joined:** Fri Sep 30, 2005 5:17 pm **Posts:** 382

i've done this to my SS S10 and an old blazer I use to have ... its worth the price of admission just for the smoke show ... its fun to drive around and when you get a tailgater stomp on it ... heh heh

myjeepwalks · **Posted:** Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:41 pm

SavageUrge wrote:

I do swear by this stuff! There is no need to put a smaller hose on. Just dip the line in very lightly so the hose is "slurping" the Seafoam from the container - you only want to use about 4-6 ounces TOTAL. When you are down to the last 3 or so ounces, drop the hose right in and let the engine stall. I personally let it sit for about 45 minutes, since I had 65,000+ miles and was in need of a good cleaning. Whatever is left goes into the crankcase, but only within 500 miles of an oil change and a whole can goes into the gas tank right before a fill-up when I'm sitting at the pump. I would have recommended doing it BEFORE you replaced your spark plugs, because now you may have a whole lot of fouling and gunk on your new plugs. You may have found that you didn't need new plugs after the Seafoam.

I did do it before i replaced the plugs. Didn't want to get the crud on the new plugs. Old plugs had about 20k on them and already bought the new ones so they were goin in.

myjeepwalks · **Posted:** Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:44 pm

csukoh78 wrote:

pics of how to do this?

Sorry didn't take any pics. Read savagurge's post, he's got it down to a science. :lol:

This was the first time i ever did it. Been driving it around all afternoon and i can say it does run better.

hyedipin · **Joined:** Thu May 11, 2006 10:20 am **Posts:** 1667

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Ive also done this before but not to my jeep. It was a corolla and I didnt get as much smoke as I was hoping for! It did seem to idle better afterwards though.. Need to do it again.

you da man.
Pls record it as you do it, and post the video, let's see the smoke. I would never even attempt it, but it would be cool to watch.

Video Guy · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:57 am

Will running a can through a tank of gas make any difference? I have 52,000 miles on my KJ now and I've noticed the idle is a little bouncy. Dealership recommended an anti-carbon treatment, but I didn't feel like paying the $150 or whatever they wanted to charge. I'll do a full tune-up and replace the battery this fall, definitely before Thanksgiving.

sandracer · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2007 11:10 am

Video Guy ~ Yes. Running it through the gas tank will clean the fuel injectors and anywhere else fuel goes. I haven't used it on my KJ, too new only 6800 miles, but I used it on my old Scout and my sons' cars. I put half a bottle in the engine oil and the other half in the gas tank. I would do this about 50 miles before an oil change is due. After I did this on my old Scout, there was a noticable (seat of the pants dyno) increase in horsepower and the valve train was now clean and free of sludge.

I don't know if they still use it but, years ago many dealers would use a similar product to "de-carbon" an engine.

SavageUrge · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2007 4:20 pm

sandracer wrote:

I don't know if they still use it but, years ago many dealers would use a similar product to "de-carbon" an engine.

You wouldn't happen to be thinking of Marvel Mystery Oil would you? I've used that stuff in the past (swear by it to) and it's almost the exact same consistency as SeaFoam. In fact I would say the two are interchangeable. I know Mystery Oil is a helluva lot cheaper than Seafoam and you can also add it to oil and gas, but I don't know if the engine cleaning trick will work with it..

GilaMonster · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2007 5:32 pm

No problems with Oxygen Sensors when running this through the intake cleaning?

SavageUrge · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2007 7:02 pm

GilaMonster wrote:

No problems with Oxygen Sensors when running this through the intake cleaning?

You might code for a little while but after driving around for a bit it should clear itself or after a restart or two "after the smoke clears" so to speak :roll:

Hood297 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2007 10:05 pm

I think that a detailed write up on adding it through the breather lines would be excellent. I want to do this and get the best results possible, which seem to be adding it to the breather lines...

LiLredLibby · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2007 10:15 pm

sandracer wrote:

Video Guy ~ Yes. Running it through the gas tank will clean the fuel injectors and anywhere else fuel goes. I haven't used it on my KJ, too new only 6800 miles, but I used it on my old Scout and my sons' cars. I put half a bottle in the engine oil and the other half in the gas tank. I would do this about 50 miles before an oil change is due. After I did this on my old Scout, there was a noticable (seat of the pants dyno) increase in horsepower and the valve train was now clean and free of sludge.

I don't know if they still use it but, years ago many dealers would use a similar product to "de-carbon" an engine.

Yes they,and we, still use an upper engine cleaner.We get ours from GM and it's simply called "Upper Engine Cleaner".This stuff will also make a smoke parade.Pull off any small vacum line,stick it in the bottom of the can,then when it just gets to the bottom,shut the engine down and let it soak for about 15 minutes.Restart on somewhat of a high idle,and let the fun begin.Best part of this is the benefit you get from it,as it cleans throttle plates,valve seats,ect. having the throttle plates held open by carbon buildup is the most popular cause of poor idle.Your idle, at lets say 50,000 or more miles will improve incredibly.For you first timers it will tend to scare you a little,but when the smoke clears your high mileage motor will thank you for it.Oh,and it also has an odor that you won't soon forget,so please do it outdoors. :wink:

Ron

P.S. you will probably need to hold the throttle up a bit while it sucks it down. :wink:

itsajeepthing · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2007 11:33 pm

Hood297 wrote:

I think that a detailed write up on adding it through the breather lines would be excellent. I want to do this and get the best results possible, which seem to be adding it to the breather lines...

Agreed. I would really like to do this, but I don't want to screw anything up....can you even get this stuff in Canada?

SavageUrge · **Posted:** Sat Jun 09, 2007 12:47 am

There really isn't anything to be worried about because the engine does all the work for you. You just pull off one of the vacuum lines off the brake booster (For the 3.7L: Right in front of the driver, munted on the fire wall - it's a big round drum looking metal piece - use the larger diameter hose) or the PCV valve (on the oil filler tube) and stick it in the container of Seafoam. I recommend using a measuring vessel and fill it up with 6-8 ounces of Seafoam. Suck 3-4 ounces slowly and then let it gulp the last 3-4 until the engine dies. Replace the vacuum line, wait anywhere between 15-45 minutes and start 'er up. It will crank a few times because essentially the engine is flooded and there is liquid sitting on top of your pistons, but when she kicks, give it a little gas and watch the smoke show in your rearview mirror - guaranteed to either worry or pi$$-off the neighbors! :twisted:

I got a few dirty looks as I drove away from my house with black filth belching from my tailpipe. Oh yeah - don't forget to hit the gas HARD as you drive past those environmentally conscious, tree-hugging hippie neighbors of yours :twisted:

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Sat Jun 09, 2007 3:13 am

guaranteed to either worry or pi$$-off the neighbors! I got a few dirty looks as I drove away from my house with black filth belching from my tailpipe. Oh yeah - don't forget to hit the gas HARD as you drive past those environmentally conscious, tree-hugging hippie neighbors of yours

I really like it! Even if I don't need to do this....I THINK I WILL :twisted:

Terry

SeaFoam engine cleaning

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