seafoam in the MM?

[Black_Noise]

does anyone run seafoam in the MM to clean out the fuel system?
I use it in everything else i own, but the bike. I guess im wordering if it would hurt a more high performance motor such as the MM's?

do you think its safe?
do i need to run some if im under 50k mi?

[arejayesss]

Seafoam is good stuff!! I have used it twice before.

[fastblackmerc]

Seafoam = Good!

Have used it at least once a year in the MM..... no problems.

[Bradley G]

I had the dealer do a Seafoam treatment on the GMQ LSE almost three years ago at 55K the car was experiencing a mis fire which was corrected with new spark plugs.
This was offered at the same time to help eliminate the poor performance.
The car has 85K and is running fantastic!

[magindat]

I've done the Seafoam top-end treatment. 1/3 of the can is not enough. I had to use about 3/4's of a can to get results. I got results.

[racorcey]

does anyone run seafoam in the MM to clean out the fuel system?
I use it in everything else i own, but the bike. I guess im wordering if it would hurt a more high performance motor such as the MM's?

do you think its safe?
do i need to run some if im under 50k mi?

Although I think it's been adequately answered...I have run the stuff in various HiPerf cars for the last 20+ years with good results. I found that running a can per tankful, two back-to-back seemed to be most beneficial for a decent top-end treatment.

And it doesn't matter what the mileage is. Carboning occurs the moment you twist the ignition key. Those with longer (and faster) drives to work during cold weather have less carbon forming. Short (and slower) drives, especially during cold weather, allow for easier carbon forming in the motor.

[SMOKE]

Oh yea - and will be doing another round in a month (can for the tank, can throught he PCV for big smokey fog session).

Link my favorite Seafoam thread HERE (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=34630&highlight=seafoam) - look inside post number 4 for a link out of MM.net to yet another, very descriptive post on another forum about the use of Seafoam...

Jonathan

[ctrlraven]

Yes Seafoam works great. I use 2 cans but use them on back to back fillups (1 can each time). I need to do the PCV and oil treatment again before it starts getting hot out.

[BlkRauderMatt]

I just did mine yesterday.. Improvements in performance are immediate!!! I love the stuff!!

Of course when I drive it through the neighborhood with the billowing clouds of smoke coming out the pipes everyone gives me a weird or dirty look.....:burnout:

[Aren Jay]

OK, what is it, what does it do?

[DOOM]

So if i put this in my tank how long will the car smoke for?

[SILVERSURFER03]

Im With Diabolical1 What Is It And What Does It Do And Were Do I Find

[SMOKE]

Do a search here on "seafoam"...read some of the older posts farther down the page...

I linked one of many posts on the subject in my post above (#7)...

Old school, good stuff really. Go buy a can at any auto parts store. There is almost more information on the back of the can about uses and proper application than you can get into a relevant post.

For the record, putting a can in with a fuel fill up does not make the car smoke. If you "fog" the motor with it via PCV, let it rest and get a good soak, when you fire back up be sure your are aimed at the woods or at least away from the neighbor you like cause there will be some residual burn off.

The car will think (and run) like you are trying to kill it - but not to worry. Read some posts off of your search and you'll get more confience in what is really a simple Sunday afternoon maintenance task.

Best,
Jonathan

[Raudermaster]

So if i put this in my tank how long will the car smoke for?

It doesn't smoke, if you run it through the PCV, then it will smoke. I've used two cans in my tank and personally saw no results.

[CKMustangCobra]

Marine Mechanic here....

Who can tell me where the REAL SeaFoam got started?




PS I use it all the time in cars and boats.... easier than pulling the heads for sure.

[Raudermaster]

For you CK....
http://mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=42235&page=2

[GODFATHER]

Marine Mechanic here....

Who can tell me where the REAL SeaFoam got started?




PS I use it all the time in cars and boats.... easier than pulling the heads for sure.
a friend of mine is a marine mechanic and told me about this stuff years ago but as far as when and where it started i say in the marine industry..good stuff i used it in my old 03 cobra every 4 months and never hurt anything :burnout:

[magindat]

It's basically naptha - a solvent for the gunk on your valves and an existing component of gasoline.

[CKMustangCobra]

For you CK....
http://mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=42235&page=2

Ohh Thanks buddie. I didn't even notice. I sold the car and just quick replied to all the forums I posted them on. I forgot about the word sensor here. Thanks again for the help!


a friend of mine is a marine mechanic and told me about this stuff years ago but as far as when and where it started i say in the marine industry..good stuff i used it in my old 03 cobra every 4 months and never hurt anything :burnout:

It did gets it's "start" in the marine industry. Story below.


It's basically naptha - a solvent for the gunk on your valves and an existing component of gasoline.

Here's where the idea came from.

OLD carb'd inboard marine engines had a bad issue with dieseling after shutdown due to carbon build-up and heat. Carbon will continue to burn red hot in the valves and what-not after ignition is killed. The vaccum of the engine will continue to pull fuel in from the carb and the carbon would actually ignite it during the compression stroke. The engine would continue this cycle until the carbon cooled off enough.

An old mechanic got tired of this problem one day and took the flame arrestor off, free rev'ed the engine to around 2500rpms. He took a little cup and scooped up some sea water and very slowly dripped the water down the throat of the carb. This water was sucked into a cylinder along with some fuel and while the fuel was ignited and continued the process of running the engine... the water was heated and compressed..... turned into steam and basically steam cleaned the inside of the engine, ridding it of all the carbon deposits and junk from years of 5000rpms with a carb.

This worked so well that this mechanic started to do this treatment at his shop and he noticed a foamy discharge from the exhaust along with all the black smoke and carbon chunks.

Not sure who marketed/patent the idea, but someone took this idea, instead of using just water... they added some degreasing elements along with other detergants to make "sea foam".

I have used the "water down the carb" trick numerous times with great success.

[CKMustangCobra]

Double post... sorry

[mpearce]

Improvements in performance are immediate!!

Like what? A new tune? A new set of 4:10 gears? Please explain this. No one yet has explained why they think their Marauders performance is better after this treatment. Can you actually prove that the performance is better?

-Mat

[red]

Like what? A new tune? A new set of 4:10 gears? Please explain this. No one yet has explained why they think their Marauders performance is better after this treatment. Can you actually prove that the performance is better?
After a seafoam treatment through the PCV, my car idles much smoother and has no hesitations. There's no added performance, you just regain the performance you should have already had. I am using Seafoam now every 5,000 miles, and after each use, there is a noticeable difference.

[lucenti]

:bows: THANKS FOR THE INFO!! 1 Can Of Sea Foam $ 7.50, Labor Pouring A Can Through The Pcv 5 Minutes, Shutting Engine Off, And Waiting 10 Minutes.

Start Engine ! Leaving Rest Area Off Belt Pkwy At Wot

Priceless

:burnout::burnout::burnout:

[Blk Mamba]

General Motors used to sell a product in the late 60's, early 70's called TEC, Top Engine Cleaner, that does the same thing, and I think that is where this "Seafoam" started. The only difference is that you would pour a 12 once can down the carb, revving the engine, and drowning it to a stall, let it sit 20-30 min. then start it to the smoky burn for several minutes. The Pontiac dealer I worked for swore by it, and used it on every tune up.

[Richy04]

They sold TEC well into the 90's but then they raised the price from 3 bucks a can to 21 and priced themselves out of the market. That stuff was great

[racorcey]

They sold TEC well into the 90's but then they raised the price from 3 bucks a can to 21 and priced themselves out of the market. That stuff was great

I agree - I think TEC may have even been around longer than Seafoam, but of course, that's my guess. Seafoam was a regional item (from MN), and wasn't distributed too widely until barely 20 years ago.

I also used GM's TEC for years, but, as you have correctly observed, they basically priced it out of reach for anyone other than unknowing. For that matter, I have an unopened can in my garage. $25 anyone? :lol:

- Randy

[sd8683]

Does anyone have a pic of the PCV valve, I know I'm an idiot! I'm just not that car savvy, and I'm a littl nervous putting the seafoam in.
Thanks Sean

[Eric-Blk2004]

I second Sean's request

[sd8683]

Well Eric, I guess nobody wants to help us

[SMOKE]

Here is a pick of ts-pa performing said Seafoam via the PCV operation...

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/4/3/seafoam-in-pcv.JPG

You can pour as you see here or some have shoved the tube in the can and let the car suck it up.

Awesome Seafoam Thread 1 (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=44046&highlight=seafoam)

Awesome Seafoam Thread 2 (http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2169829&postcount=3)

Awesome PCV Thread 1 (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=43534&highlight=seafoam)

[RF Overlord]

Does anyone have a pic of the PCV valveNo pic, but the PCV valve is the gray plastic thing on the passenger-side valve cover, at the front, that has a black rubber tube going into the side of the upper intake manifold.

[sd8683]

So the PCV valve is connected directly to the valve cover and has a hose going into the intake manifold??
If yes, how do I get it off??

Sean

[fastblackmerc]

So the PCV valve is connected directly to the valve cover and has a hose going into the intake manifold??
If yes, how do I get it off??

Sean

Pull it off. You can also use the hose that goes to the power brake booster. Disconnect the hose from the booster valve.

[O's Fan Rich]

Here's where the idea came from.

OLD carb'd inboard marine engines had a bad issue with dieseling after shutdown due to carbon build-up and heat. Carbon will continue to burn red hot in the valves and what-not after ignition is killed. The vaccum of the engine will continue to pull fuel in from the carb and the carbon would actually ignite it during the compression stroke. The engine would continue this cycle until the carbon cooled off enough.

An old mechanic got tired of this problem one day and took the flame arrestor off, free rev'ed the engine to around 2500rpms. He took a little cup and scooped up some sea water and very slowly dripped the water down the throat of the carb. This water was sucked into a cylinder along with some fuel and while the fuel was ignited and continued the process of running the engine... the water was heated and compressed..... turned into steam and basically steam cleaned the inside of the engine, ridding it of all the carbon deposits and junk from years of 5000rpms with a carb.

This worked so well that this mechanic started to do this treatment at his shop and he noticed a foamy discharge from the exhaust along with all the black smoke and carbon chunks.

Not sure who marketed/patent the idea, but someone took this idea, instead of using just water... they added some degreasing elements along with other detergants to make "sea foam".

I have used the "water down the carb" trick numerous times with great success.

Sounds like my Snow Performance methanol/water injection set up would doing this every time I get into boost!

Opppsssy... I said this in the "Awesome Seafoam Thread Part 1" already.......

[sd8683]

Pull it off. You can also use the hose that goes to the power brake booster. Disconnect the hose from the booster valve.

Do I pull it off elbow and all or leave the elbow on and just pull out the hose??

Thanks, Sean

[SMOKE]

Just the hose....see the pic....it'll slip right off without much fuss...I'm talking on the PCV side...don't know about the booster tube...

You will find the elbow (depending on the engine temp) can be a MOTHER to remove (that's what the PCV thread link I posted was all about)...warmer engine compartment or a hair dryer makes the elbow easier to remove...but you don't need to worry about that if you just want to pour Seafoam in...

I used a small funnel...and the PCV tube just like in the pic...

The SVT thread link I threw in the other post has good info on how fast to pour and how upset your car will get...

It'll all be over before you know it; just pull the trigger and get 'er done!

-Jonathan

[sd8683]

Thanks guys, Sean

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

I have no idea how slight, normal carbon deposits in the intake manifold of a low mileage car are causing the drastic power loss that everyone seems to report, that is magically restored after running some solvent through your intake....... but whatever you think works for you. I tried it on another car (no thanks on the MM) and other than making a noxious cloud for about an hour worth of driving, there was no difference to be reported. If people want to do 1/4 mile or dyno runs before and after sea foam and show they gained power that would be one thing.....

[justbob]

Not every car smokes, my f150 was my worst i couldn't even see my truck. Some of my other cars nothing. Results? proof is three separate failed emissions from three separate cars and all three passed on second try after driving from emissions to auto parts store buying seafoam and running it through. Returned 20 minutes later after beating the snot out of them and coasted right through with flying colors. Performance? None noticed. Is this however safe with a s/c? I haven't tried.

[sd8683]

I have no idea how slight, normal carbon deposits in the intake manifold of a low mileage car are causing the drastic power loss that everyone seems to report, that is magically restored after running some solvent through your intake....... but whatever you think works for you. I tried it on another car (no thanks on the MM) and other than making a noxious cloud for about an hour worth of driving, there was no difference to be reported. If people want to do 1/4 mile or dyno runs before and after sea foam and show they gained power that would be one thing.....


I don't know if I believe all the hype either, but my cars been idling kinda rough so I thought for 6 or 7 bucks a can I'd give it a shot.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

It may not hurt, but people w/ 30k miles saying, INSTANT POWER INCREASE, I CAN FEEL IT YEAAAAAY, I mean... I understand running it through high mileage or neglected cars, but on a low mileage car, I would not be tempting fate by running oil burned into the exhaust stream past your O2s and cat, to remove very minor, normal carbon in the intake, that is just going to come back again anyway. My solution is that, I will never accumulate enough miles on the MM to have to worry about mystery fix it can treatments!

[sd8683]

Yeah I'm a procrsatanator (sp?) I didn't get around to trying out the seafoam til today, but I guess you need two people to do it, I pulled off PCV hose and started the car and it quickly stalled, is this normal? I was gonna put the hose right in the can and let it suck up the seafoam, is it gonna stall while its sucking up the seafoam?

Thanks guys

[RF Overlord]

You need to leave the PCV valve on the end of the hose or it WILL stall. The idea is to put the SeaFoam down the PCV hose just fast enough so the car almost stalls; when you're down to the last few ounces, pour it in faster and make the car stall, then let it sit for 10-15 minutes before you start it again. You may want to notify the local fire brigade that there will be a LOT of smoke... :D

[sd8683]

I just went out and bought a small funnel, I'm gonna do it with the car off and pour it down the hose

[ctrlraven]

I just unhooked mine, pour half a can into a open clear bottle, stuck the hose in the bottle, had my friend hold it and told them I will crank it over and to signal when its all gone.

Man it stunk like almighty but def made for a great smoke show!

[RF Overlord]

I just went out and bought a small funnel, I'm gonna do it with the car off and pour it down the hoseNO! :eek:

Don't pour any liquid into the intake with the engine off; you run the risk of hydro-locking the motor.

[Vortech347]

I use seafoam similar to a compression check. I remove all the spark plugs and spray it down each cylinder then crank it over a few times. Then repeat untill I've used the entire can. I let it sit for about 30 minutes, throw the plugs in and fire it up. It will smoke like a mother!! Running it down the PCV is not effective, you may miss a few cylinders because seafoam flows much different than air and our intakes were NOT designed for liquids.

[sd8683]

NO! :eek:

Don't pour any liquid into the intake with the engine off; you run the risk of hydro-locking the motor.


OOP's!! I could have sworn I read in a previous thread to do it with the motor off. Well its to late now anyway, it seems fine though? It didn't wanna crank over at first but finally turned over, and man you guys weren't kiddin about the smoke! Omg, I looked like Billygman! The car seems fine, what exactly is "hydro-lock?

[Eric-Blk2004]

all motors compress air to make power. This is done via the piston compressing air in the cyclinder.

Water or a Liquid DOES NOT compress it can be pressed to fill a finite volume - when that volume is reached it will no longer compress. Basically your piston tries to compress a diamond and shatters.

[sd8683]

all motors compress air to make power. This is done via the piston compressing air in the cyclinder.

Water or a Liquid DOES NOT compress it can be pressed to fill a finite volume - when that volume is reached it will no longer compress. Basically your piston tries to compress a diamond and shatters.


So would you say I'm out of the woods? If there was any damage it would have occured on start up, correct?

[Black_Noise]

wow talk about resurecting a dinosaur, I thought this post was 6 ft under by now.