What did Sea Foam do for your motor? - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

XfireZ51 · 08-19-2014

Just threw in a can of Sea Foam for the first time. Was wondering if anyone could tell what benefit it had for their motor.

Billy Mild · 08-19-2014

Did you put it in the gas, oil, or through the intake?

XfireZ51 · 08-19-2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Mild

Did you put it in the gas, oil, or through the intake?

Poured a little through the airhorn, then the remainder in the tank.

Billy Mild · 08-19-2014

Threw the gas tank I noticed a difference in my early 1991 Z. It seems to have let the secondary injectors actually work. Using it through the intake seems to make a big difference on a lot of cars I have owned.

Paul Workman · 08-20-2014

Dom, I have had several issues in the carburetors of several smaller engines, lawn mowers, pressure washer, generator, and one motorcycle that were not started over the winter. The carb jets became clogged with crud as result of fuel evaporating and leaving varnish(?) or goo in them. BUT, I've never had any such issues with ANY motors that had Sea Foam in the fuel while in winter storage.

That I can't say the same for Sta-Bil (the red stuff). The jets on my pressure washer closed completely shut on that carb, after the fuel evaporated. In fact, the manager/owner of the local rental place said to never use that stuff, and recommended Sea Foam - what they use in their rental equipment to prevent issues in motors that sit for long periods.

I dunno whether it is the Sea Foam or the fact I make it a habit to run ALL the motors once or twice a month and keep the carbs primed or both. But, for what it's worth, I've not had any more issues with the 2 Vettes or the 6 small engines since.

Far as de-carbonizing goes, I've never used Sea Foam, but have used ATF on one occasion, but plain old WATER (and inadvertently COOLANT once) poured directly into the intake of the running engine really works quite well, I find.

But, I'm curious... Your running w/o secondaries, and I dare say few if any fuss with their tuning as much as you. So, I'm surprised you're having any trouble with carbon...or are you??

P.

XfireZ51 · 08-20-2014

Paul,

I had no reason to do it other than to just try it. Had heard about it. I've used Marvel Mystery Oil before in much the same way. Sometimes a lifter would stick on my SBC, and Marvel would quiet that down pretty quickly.
I took the car out on Monday after not having really driven it. There was a Roush 427 Mustang in front of me who got on it from a light. I, of course, obliged him.
Car went sideways beating the ASR. Could not get any traction, and it was a warm day, I was pointed straight. Took me by surprise. Lgaff told me he had measured a 10lb increase in compression on a cylinder after using SeaFoam.
Maybe I did need to blow it out a bit. Just wondering.

Schrade · 08-20-2014

I read many years ago, in more than one place, that gasoline left unburned in the cylinders would solve carbon deposits.

So on carb'ed vehicles that I owned, I started dropping the accelerator when I parked at the end of the day, and turning off the ignition (with the pedal on the floor) just as it got around 1,200, and it would keep going to maybe 2k+, before winding down. WHen it stopped spinning, I'd let off the pedal, leaving a bunch of fuel in the cylinders.

Never noticed any carbon next day when I'd fire it, but plugs were always really clean at change time tho'...

I don't know how to leave fuel in electronic injection cars...................................

Fully Vetted · 08-20-2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Workman

...Far as de-carbonizing goes, I've used ATF on one occasion...P.

Now THAT brings back memories of pouring ATF down the throat of my 72 Cutlass Supreme, opening up all four barrels and watching the neighborhood disappear in white smoke!

Paul Workman · 08-21-2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fully Vetted

Now THAT brings back memories of pouring ATF down the throat of my 72 Cutlass Supreme, opening up all four barrels and watching the neighborhood disappear in white smoke!

Clears out skeeters too!

Schrade · 08-20-2014

Some CC additives had a rap for eating seals at the crank. I never believed it.

I always guessed that maybe the additives actually DID solve some deposits that might have been lodged against the seals, and THEN allowed some leaking.

So maybe they DO actually solve some deposits - don't know for sure here..........

08-19-2014	#1
XfireZ51 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chicagoland, IL Posts: 9,683	What did Sea Foam do for your motor? Just threw in a can of Sea Foam for the first time. Was wondering if anyone could tell what benefit it had for their motor.

08-19-2014	#2
Billy Mild Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 835	Re: What did Sea Foam do for your motor? Did you put it in the gas, oil, or through the intake?

08-19-2014	#4
Billy Mild Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 835	Re: What did Sea Foam do for your motor? Threw the gas tank I noticed a difference in my early 1991 Z. It seems to have let the secondary injectors actually work. Using it through the intake seems to make a big difference on a lot of cars I have owned.

08-20-2014	#5
Paul Workman Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Squires (near Ava MO in the Mark Twain N'tl Forest) - Missouri Posts: 6,466	Re: What did Sea Foam do for your motor? Dom, I have had several issues in the carburetors of several smaller engines, lawn mowers, pressure washer, generator, and one motorcycle that were not started over the winter. The carb jets became clogged with crud as result of fuel evaporating and leaving varnish(?) or goo in them. BUT, I've never had any such issues with ANY motors that had Sea Foam in the fuel while in winter storage. That I can't say the same for Sta-Bil (the red stuff). The jets on my pressure washer closed completely shut on that carb, after the fuel evaporated. In fact, the manager/owner of the local rental place said to never use that stuff, and recommended Sea Foam - what they use in their rental equipment to prevent issues in motors that sit for long periods. I dunno whether it is the Sea Foam or the fact I make it a habit to run ALL the motors once or twice a month and keep the carbs primed or both. But, for what it's worth, I've not had any more issues with the 2 Vettes or the 6 small engines since. Far as de-carbonizing goes, I've never used Sea Foam, but have used ATF on one occasion, but plain old WATER (and inadvertently COOLANT once) poured directly into the intake of the running engine really works quite well, I find. But, I'm curious... Your running w/o secondaries, and I dare say few if any fuss with their tuning as much as you. So, I'm surprised you're having any trouble with carbon...or are you?? P.

08-20-2014	#6
XfireZ51 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chicagoland, IL Posts: 9,683	Re: What did Sea Foam do for your motor? Paul, I had no reason to do it other than to just try it. Had heard about it. I've used Marvel Mystery Oil before in much the same way. Sometimes a lifter would stick on my SBC, and Marvel would quiet that down pretty quickly. I took the car out on Monday after not having really driven it. There was a Roush 427 Mustang in front of me who got on it from a light. I, of course, obliged him. Car went sideways beating the ASR. Could not get any traction, and it was a warm day, I was pointed straight. Took me by surprise. Lgaff told me he had measured a 10lb increase in compression on a cylinder after using SeaFoam. Maybe I did need to blow it out a bit. Just wondering.

08-20-2014	#7
Schrade Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: NC Posts: 1,783	Re: What did Sea Foam do for your motor? I read many years ago, in more than one place, that gasoline left unburned in the cylinders would solve carbon deposits. So on carb'ed vehicles that I owned, I started dropping the accelerator when I parked at the end of the day, and turning off the ignition (with the pedal on the floor) just as it got around 1,200, and it would keep going to maybe 2k+, before winding down. WHen it stopped spinning, I'd let off the pedal, leaving a bunch of fuel in the cylinders. Never noticed any carbon next day when I'd fire it, but plugs were always really clean at change time tho'... I don't know how to leave fuel in electronic injection cars...................................