Sea Foam Questions.

[Peter B]

The hose I am pointing to in that picture goes straight to the intake manifold. Once you pull the hose off, put your thumb over it. It will stay running fine as long as you have your thumb there. Take your thumb off and immediately put the hose in the seafoam. As long as the hose pulls a vacuum the motor will stay running. one person job.

Wait when I pulled that line off it almost stalled but then recovered. And I didn't have my thumb, or anything else over it. In fact the car seemed to stall and stutter when i was pouring the seafoam in but not when i left the tube wide open... you are saying it should be the other way around?

Uh oh....

 

[Z-Indy]

Probably a stupid question, but is there any proof that seafoam is really helpful to the engine? Any proof that it is not harmful to the engine?

The smoke produced (I've seen the youtube videos) is actually the gunk being cleaned out by the seafoam, and not just the seafoam itself burning?

 

[bradboyd80]

I have never seen any hard evidence for, or against using seafoam. I doubt anybody would ever take the time to rip an engine apart before AND after the treatment just to show the effects. As widely used as it is, I would lean towards it being perfectly fine to use; not harmful at all (as long as it is used as directed).

 

[Z-Indy]

I'm a little skeptical of it, partly just because of how much it claims to do. I looked at the seafoam website and it looks like basically they say it makes your engine better in every way, is totally safe, should be poured into every orafice of the car, cures polio, and promotes world peace.

I'm a cynical person I guess, but anytime I see something claiming to do a million things, I assume it probably actually does nothing, except take your money and laugh.

 

[Sport6]

Probably a stupid question, but is there any proof that seafoam is really helpful to the engine? Any proof that it is not harmful to the engine?

The smoke produced (I've seen the youtube videos) is actually the gunk being cleaned out by the seafoam, and not just the seafoam itself burning?

Its basically the seafoam burning off, but its basically steam cleaning everything, basically.

 

[bradboyd80]

I'm a little skeptical of it, partly just because of how much it claims to do. I looked at the seafoam website and it looks like basically they say it makes your engine better in every way, is totally safe, should be poured into every orafice of the car, cures polio, and promotes world peace.

I'm a cynical person I guess, but anytime I see something claiming to do a million things, I assume it probably actually does nothing, except take your money and laugh.

Well I can tell you from experience (as well as many others), that it does work. I used it on my MSP and it worked like a charm. I had stuttering issues, and the car simply ran like s***. After the seafoam, the stuttering lightened a bit (still had other contributing factors; such as a cracked mani), but the car ran WAY better overall. If you are skeptical, then cool; don't use it. But your argument that it probably doesn't work, simply because it claims to do so many things with lack of physical evidence, is a bit asinine. But that's just my opinion.

 

[Kain]

Its basically the seafoam burning off, but its basically steam cleaning everything, basically.

The Department of Redundancy Department.









p.s. sorry, I meant Depahtment.

 

[Z-Indy]

Like I said, I know nothing about whether or not it works. I'm just saying that the "if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is" thing usually holds pretty true (usually doesn't mean always). So if something claims to do a million great things with little effort and little cost, the BS detector starts flashing and I start trying to figure out how someone is trying to screw me. So then I like to look into things a little bit. That's why I was asking if there was some kind of proof (studies, tests, reviews, whatever) that it actually works as advertised and that it is not harmful in any way. Your findings that it improved the performance of your car noticably is an indication that it works, obviously.

Seems like there is some debate over what is and isn't safe with it. Some people say you shouldn't put it in your oil at all, or if you do, you need to change the oil afterwords. The seafoam site says you should put it in your oil, and that you absolutely DO NOT need to change the oil afterword.

 

[bradboyd80]

I totally understand. I mean, it really is portrayed as a "cure-all"; but I chalk that up to good advertising. You aren't going to sell something very well if you claim that "70% of the time, it works every time". LOL. As for the oil change; I haven't done much reading up on it, but perhaps it depends on the type, weight of oil, and its ability to mix with the seafoam? I changed my oil when I did it anyway, just to rid myself of the possibility that anything could happen.

 

[Z-Indy]

Did you put it into the crankcase? Or just suck it in through the brake boost?

 

[bradboyd80]

Did you put it into the crankcase? Or just suck it in through the brake boost?

I used the PCV line.

 

[Peter B]

From what I recall in my reading up on seafoam it was originally designed for marine motors (hence the name). Alot of marine motors use an oil gas mix which if i am correct can lead to lots of engine gunk since you are basically burning oil. Engine gunk can lead to to many of the issues sea foam claims it cures. I also follow the "if it seems too good to be true it usually is" but if you get down to the science of it, it does make sense. If you get down to it most of what sea foam claims to do is clean varius bits of your engine and fuel lines. Clean it of the residue left behind by petrolium based products. That claim in itself is not really that lofty or hard to believe that one product could do that.

It would be cool to know the chemestry/science behind it.

I bought into it for two reasons. First and foremost many many many people have raved about it. It has been passed off as "one of the few products that actually does what it claims for your car" by quite a few people. The reviews i have heard about it have not only been good, but consistant. Consistancy in a reviews with a product like this can speak volumes. If many different people are telling the same story that is a good sign.

The other reason I buy into it is because I used it, and it to me it made a difference. A huge difference? No. But then again my car ran pretty smooth before i used it, so there wasn't much room for improvement. That said I did notice a an improvement. Engine went from running smooth to ... well smootherer...erer...er.

So thats good enough for me in this situation.

Yeah they do pitch it like it will cure cancer, make you a god in bed, and give puppies to all the orphans in the world. But if you get down to it, a lot of the issues it cures stem from the same or similar causes.

Thats my $0.02

-Pete

 

[Z-Indy]

Thanks for the info. I agree that if lots of intelligent people say that they have tried it, and it made a difference, then that means it isn't just a bunch of smoke(ha! (crazy)) and mirrors.

 

[Carraway]

Just curious, would doing something like, switching gas brands every 5K miles or so do the same thing, in that one company's additives will clean out the other's?

 

[Sport6]

Just curious, would doing something like, switching gas brands every 5K miles or so do the same thing, in that one company's additives will clean out the other's?

Gas never sees the top of the valves because we are direct injected.. That is the main reason I do the seafoaming.

 

[Peter B]

Just curious, would doing something like, switching gas brands every 5K miles or so do the same thing, in that one company's additives will clean out the other's?

That seems like bad science to me. No real reason to suspect that would work.

If you are using Billy Bob's 87 grade gas on the corner, using something like Shell Vpower might clean up your engine a bit. But switching from Mobil to clean out the BP D), and then Texaco to clean out the Mobil, and Gulf to clean the Texaco... well I see no reason that would work. How do you even know they are using different additives. Chances are most of them are pretty similar.

 

[FrequentFlyer]

I'm one who believes most of our gas comes from the same place. What you have to worry about is the station's equipment and how well they maintain it. Do their tanks leak? Do they change their filters or even have filters? Are their tanks contaminated? Are they shady and put the water hose in their tank after hours? Who knows? These smaller Mom and Pop stations with cheap gas may not maintain their equipment like your local BP or Sunoco who's prices are 20 cents higher. That said, I don't think I've ever had a bad tank of gas in the 17 years I've been driving a car and if I did, I didn't notice it.

 

[MikeHTally]

I'm one who believes most of our gas comes from the same place. What you have to worry about is the station's equipment and how well they maintain it. Do their tanks leak? Do they change their filters or even have filters? Are their tanks contaminated? Are they shady and put the water hose in their tank after hours? Who knows? These smaller Mom and Pop stations with cheap gas may not maintain their equipment like your local BP or Sunoco who's prices are 20 cents higher. That said, I don't think I've ever had a bad tank of gas in the 17 years I've been driving a car and if I did, I didn't notice it.

I believe most states regulate this kinda closely. Florida tests the tanks regularly for proper octane and content.

 

[MikeHTally]

Just curious, would doing something like, switching gas brands every 5K miles or so do the same thing, in that one company's additives will clean out the other's?

Do you think they put the additives in to cause problems? Can you imagine what that would cost them, even in the short run?