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07-19-2017, 12:08 PM
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#1
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Guru
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 649
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Seafoam: good or bad idea?
Just came across a product called Seafoam to clean old engines. I read good and bad reviews about it (more good than bad I have to say). Not really considering putting that stuff in my engine since it runs great but I'm curious to see if others have tried it.
This is the stuff.
https://seafoamsales.com/
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07-19-2017, 12:16 PM
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#2
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Guru
City: Cypress Landing Marina (NC)
Vessel Name: Heron (2)
Vessel Model: '88 Cape Dory 28 Flybridge #115
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,305
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Pretty well regarded with the car guys....
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Steve
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07-19-2017, 12:31 PM
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#3
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Guru
City: st pete
Vessel Model: 430 Mainship
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 3,483
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A lot of guys swear by it to keep injectors clean. I use it annually.
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Seevee
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07-19-2017, 12:58 PM
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#4
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Guru
City: Alexandria, VA
Vessel Model: 2000 Wellcraft
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,467
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I used it on a 1971 Ford 351 Cleveland and a 1995 200 HP Johnson Ocean Runner and was rewarded with dramatic increases in performance and overall engine running. Be prepared for a lot of smoke (from the burning carbon) the first time you use it to de-carbonize an engine.
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07-19-2017, 01:34 PM
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#5
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Guru
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
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Seafoam was a great help in freeing a 12V fuel pump .
To decarbonize an engine an old style Flit (bug spray ) filled with water is excellent.
With the engine warm , use a shim to get the engine running at about 2000RPM
Spray water into the intake till the engine stumbles as it runs.
A piece of news paper under the tail pipe will show the carbon chunks broken loose.
15 min is enough time to clear out a lot of gunk, and stop the running on after the key is off.
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07-19-2017, 02:13 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: Concrete Washington State
Vessel Name: Willy
Vessel Model: Willard Nomad 30'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 18,738
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Seafoan has been on the market since the 50's .. then under another name .. Risoline. Extremely high detergent. Formulated to break down carbon I think.
When I was a young man I'd get outboards free that were stuck/frozen. Using Risoline in both ends I usually got them running fine. May have unstuck the rings but I'm not sure.
It's hard to get the Seafoam to the edge of the piston/cylinder wall interface on diesels as the piston crown is usually very dished and vertical. V type or slant type engines are best for getting the Seafoam to the rings. Of course if an engine isn't stuck cranking it a few seconds should effectively wet the cyl walls.
I think after using it in a way that it would or could get into the lube oil I'd change oil afterwards ... especially at high concentrations. Rubber seals may not like it ... I don't know. But carbon is an abrsaive and after using Seafoam one should get stray carbon away from moving parts.
__________________
Eric
North Western Washington State USA
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07-19-2017, 02:46 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
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Guys running the rotary engines in Rx-7s uses to swear by it. But then rotorheads are a bit of an odd group. I used to have a squeeze bottle of motor oil that I would use to add a few ounces to the gas tank at every fill up. This was in addition to the oil that would be injected into the rotor from the crankcase while the engine was running.
I think this is why they occasionally would run Seafoam through the engine then immediately change the oil. I was never brave enough to try it.
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07-19-2017, 03:16 PM
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#8
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Guru
City: Adelaide
Vessel Name: Kokanee
Vessel Model: Cuddles 30 Pilot House Motor Sailer
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,218
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I use a similar product distributed by Mercury marine.
Powertune.
It comes in a spray can and is great for cleaning up carbon buildup, or carburetors or even spot removal when nothing else works.
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07-19-2017, 04:02 PM
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#9
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Guru
City: Beverly Hills
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,371
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Seafoam is also a fuel stabilizer, works great on my two stroke 2 HP Yamaha outboard and if you are parking your vechiles for a few weeks/months.
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07-19-2017, 04:13 PM
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#10
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Guru
City: Gibsons, B.C., Canada
Vessel Name: Island Pride
Vessel Model: Palmer 32'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,409
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Us it for my outboard engine and my old 1,000W Yamaha ,,1985, generator. Made a noticeable difference especially on the highly intermittently used gen.
Not in my boat engine though.
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07-20-2017, 06:57 AM
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#11
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Guru
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 649
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Quote:
Originally Posted by C lectric
Us it for my outboard engine and my old 1,000W Yamaha ,,1985, generator. Made a noticeable difference especially on the highly intermittently used gen.
Not in my boat engine though.
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Why not?
Did any of you ever use it on their diesel engine?
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07-20-2017, 07:12 AM
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#12
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Guru
City: Full Time Cruising East Coast
Vessel Name: Meridian
Vessel Model: Krogen-42
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,014
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I have. It did make a difference.
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Terry
Meridian
KK-42097
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07-20-2017, 08:01 AM
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#13
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Guru
City: Warwick, RI
Vessel Name: Susan Helena
Vessel Model: Albin40
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 523
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Quote:
Originally Posted by meridian
I have. It did make a difference.
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Do you mind sharing exactly how you used it and what difference did it make. Were you trying to fix a specific problem? Thanks.
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07-20-2017, 10:20 AM
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#14
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Guru
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 649
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mike66
Do you mind sharing exactly how you used it and what difference did it make. Were you trying to fix a specific problem? Thanks.
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And also what kind of engine you have.
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07-20-2017, 09:34 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
City: Pompano Beach, FL
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 110
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I've used it to decarbon outboards and mower engines. Worked great. had a low compression cylinder that came back on a 40 Evinrude. I've considered using it in the filters of my Lehman 120 at next change per the Seafoam suggestions.
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07-20-2017, 11:52 PM
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#16
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Guru
City: Gibsons, B.C., Canada
Vessel Name: Island Pride
Vessel Model: Palmer 32'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,409
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I'm leery of many of these additives. I have posted a test by Diesel Place several times and some of these highly touted additives actually can do more damage than good.
Sea foam was recommended to me for my outboard by someone I trusted, the local O./B mechanic.
If it screwed up up I could afford the repair/replacement bill.
If it screwed up my main boat engine I would be out of boating.
That's why.
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07-21-2017, 04:29 AM
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#18
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Newbie
City: Kenai
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 4
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I carry a gallon in the boat at all times, I treat every few tanks just because. I have used the regular sea foam fuel additive in gasoline, diesel and in crankcase oil. I also used the spray can you spray into the intake to clean up the intake, cylinders and valves. I swear by it. I first used it to treat my tanks and clean up my fuel system in the boat, noticed immediate improvement in idle quality and cruise power. That was years ago. I use it in my lawnmower and other small engines to clean up deposits from the E85 fuel if left sitting for too long, haven't had to tear apart a carb in quite a while. Recently bought a car that had been sitting stored for 30+ years, it ran but the oil Control rings appeared stuck and lifters sticking (ticking) Added sea foam to fresh clean crankcase oil and ran for a hundred miles or so. Oil came out black as night, car now runs like new. Also fog carb with the aerosol on all engines. I swear by it.
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07-21-2017, 04:49 AM
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#19
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Guru
City: Sydney
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,646
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I prefer Marvel Mystery Oil
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07-21-2017, 05:43 AM
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#20
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Guru
City: Northport
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,046
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Last I checked Sea Foam is :
- 50% pale oil
- 35% naptha
- 15% IPA
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