Seafoam Results Teaser......See Inside.

[Vortech347]

So, I will be doing a spark plug job on the ol' MM tomorrow and usually when I do a plug swap I do my version of a sea foam treatment. (Directly into each cylinder vs the intake.) I got a new tool and I'm dying to use it. :D

I now have a beautiful bad ass high res video/photo bore scope. I will take some before/after shoots. I will let the engine "crank cycle" it around. Allow it to sit for a timed 20 minutes. At that point I will re-install spark plugs and start the engine and allow it to idle for 10 minutes (Maybe a rev or 2). After 10 minutes I will remove 2 spark plugs and check with the bore scope again to see results.

So here's the question.

Will it...

A. Not do an F'n thing and the piston will look the same?

B. May clean the piston up a little bit?

C. Not a damn thing. Seafoam is just for smoke shows.

I have always wondered this. I "Think" it cleans things up and helps, but I have no visual concrete proof.

[whitey]

It wont be spotless, but a lot better than before

[babbage]

Seafoam works and is safe for sure. Even a can in the gas tank will run thru the injectors and clean cyls while running, but you can't clean the oily upper and lower and intake valves etc by filling the cylinders. And no it won't totally clean the upper and lower but it will clean the heavy oil ares if you force feed it into the PCV. Its a bit anal (twss?) but it should work... :)


Interesting to see your results. Can you snake it into the front cover and inspect the tensioner arms to see if worn is what I'd like to see!

[Bradley G]

where did you obtain such a device?:D


So, I will be doing a spark plug job on the ol' MM tomorrow and usually when I do a plug swap I do my version of a sea foam treatment. (Directly into each cylinder vs the intake.) I got a new tool and I'm dying to use it. :D

I now have a beautiful bad ass high res video/photo bore scope. I will take some before/after shoots. I will let the engine "crank cycle" it around. Allow it to sit for a timed 20 minutes. At that point I will re-install spark plugs and start the engine and allow it to idle for 10 minutes (Maybe a rev or 2). After 10 minutes I will remove 2 spark plugs and check with the bore scope again to see results.

So here's the question.

Will it...

A. Not do an F'n thing and the piston will look the same?

B. May clean the piston up a little bit?

C. Not a damn thing. Seafoam is just for smoke shows.

I have always wondered this. I "Think" it cleans things up and helps, but I have no visual concrete proof.

[RacerX]

where did you obtain such a device?:D
http://www.harborfreight.com/digital-inspection-camera-67979.html
I bet the Seafoam barely does anything. I did some tests on my own. A toothbrush does more. Even cooking my old pistons in the oven with it on it didn't do a damn thing. Wife did not approve of that test btw! :D

[babbage]

http://www.harborfreight.com/digital-inspection-camera-67979.html
I bet the Seafoam barely does anything. I did some tests on my own. A toothbrush does more. Even cooking my old pistons in the oven with it on it didn't do a damn thing. Wife did not approve of that test btw! :D

lol. Funny when I have this oily part in my hand and I spray seaform on it -- the oil and crap just drips right off it. Didn't know where you are was that different from NY. ;):D Seaform worked great recently for my chainsaw, Amazing went from barely able to idle and would stall to butter smooth and no bogging and able to run at full power. Just seafomed the tiny intake and put some in the tank.

I want this for Xmas http://www.harborfreight.com/digital-inspection-camera-67979.html

Hey would this snake to the front cover tensioner area from oil fill to see if they are worn?

[Vortech347]

Its much nicer than the Harbor Freight one. This one takes high res pictures and even video.

[1 Bad Merc]

Sounds cool .....cant wait for the pics-bet it takes alot off but not totally clean.

[babbage]

Its much nicer than the Harbor Freight one. This one takes high res pictures and even video.

Can you snake into the front cover from the oil fill? Take a peak at your tensioners?

[Vortech347]

Well I swapped a starter, new spark plugs, and did a treatment.

I'll get pictures up tomorrow. I'm tired. I wanted to drive it until ALL smoke had cleared for a 3rd set of photos

Results, between the control photo and the 10 minute idle photo there was 0 difference between 2 different pistons inspected. So far, smoke show.

[RacerX]

lol. Funny when I have this oily part in my hand and I spray seaform on it -- the oil and crap just drips right off it. Didn't know where you are was that different from NY. ;):D
I said pistons. Carbonized 3cc oem MM pistons (stockers are not actually flat tops) with 140,000+ miles on them. If you have oil dripping off your pistons, you have probs Seafoam can't even begin to help. Seafoam does NOT do much for the internals of the combustion parts of an engine. It does make for a great smoke show! ;)

[Vortech347]

Best way I've found to clean a piston is soaking it in half a can of brake cleaner and a tooth brush. To bad its not that easy to disassemble the engines.

[UncleLar]

Do the old infamous "Italian Tune Up" to remove carbon.
Now you youngsters will have to wait for some old timer to explain to ya's what that is......

[Zim Hosein]

Do the old infamous "Italian Tune Up" to remove carbon.
Now you youngsters will have to wait for some old timer to explain to ya's what that is......

LOL UncleLar! :beer:

[CBT]

I did the ol' Seafoam directly down the empty plug holes once. Let it sit for a while, bumped the key. Goddamm Seafoam shot everywhere. Violently. I scrambled outta the seat and grabbed rags and wiped it off the paint on my front fenders. Massively stained the hoodliner. I think the only thing it cleaned effectivley was my colon when I **** myself.

[Zim Hosein]

I think the only thing it cleaned effectivley was my colon when I **** myself.

:lol:

Thanks for the laugh CBT! :beer:

[Vortech347]

The trick is putting the coil covers on for the cranking. :D

[CBT]

The trick is putting the coil covers on for the cranking. :D

I'm not the brightest color in the rainbow, that's for sure. :beer:
Man, did it make a smoke show when I put everything back together. If the amount of smoke is an indication of positive cleaning, score.

[boatmangc]

I like to use a product by Mercury Marine called Power Tune.
Awesome stuff, It will clean very well. I do motors before I tear them down to help cleanup.
Do the pcv valve trick or sneak a hose up the intake before the throttle body and use a whole can, it smells bad, probably will give any of your unborn offspring odd numbered limbs but it cleans motors very well.
You DON't want it on your paint though.
There is also another additive from Yamaha and Mercury, Ring Free and Quickleen respectively that treat and prevent the carbon from sticking to the internals in the first place.
They are both essentially Techron.

If a motor is really dirty I use Yamaha Internal Engine Cleaner.
This stuff is bada$$ it will clean the insides of anything, it is very strong and Yamaha suggests using gloves whenever you are near it. It is not for sale to the general public.
Added to a small amount of fuel you start the motor and idle it for 45 minutes. Go back to straight fuel, go for a short easy drive then change your oil because it WILL trash it.

But for me, with any of the above treatments I would always change the oil after doing it.
Oil dilution is a distinct possibly with Sea Foam as well.

[71cyclone]

I'm not the brightest color in the rainbow, that's for sure. :beer:
Man, did it make a smoke show when I put everything back together. If the amount of smoke is an indication of positive cleaning, score.

[ good to hear from you ]:beer: Sea foam is an effective cleaner in the intake also