Seafoam....is it worth it?

[Berto]

How many of you have used seafoam? Been thinking about doing it to the LS1 and my old truck. Just trying to see if its worth it? Has anyone ever gotten any unwanted damage because of using it?

[AudiOn19s]

I started using it on my A4 a few oil changes back and have seen no negative effects, not real positives either I suppose maybe a bit smooter running initially after the treatment. Can't hurt much on a car that's got 180K+ miles on it and is notorious for oil sludge issues

 

I used it via all 3 methods. Through the vacuum tube as a top end cleaner, in the oil as a sludge reducer, and in the fuel tank as an fuel system cleaner.

[Guest tbutera2112]

Can't hurt much on a car that's got 180K+ miles on it and is notorious for oil sludge issues

 

i would think the opposite....i wouldnt put seafoam in my oil, ESPECIALLY on a car with 180k miles and thats notorious for sludge

 

 

 

seafoam breaks sludge loose + sludge clogs oil pickup = BOOM bye bye engine

 

 

 

use it in your vac lines though, always hear good results from that

[Main3s]

I use it on my car regularly (spring cleaning) and don't notice a huge difference but I also take good care of my car with regular maintenance.

 

My mom however beats the shit out of her car. About 2 weeks ago I was changing the oil in it for her and noticed that the car idled really rough. I had just bought a can so I figured why not see how it works on an older car with less care… So I did, the car smoked like a mother fucker but after it was all over the car ran a hell of a lot smoother, my mom also mentioned an increase in performance/ gas mileage. So I say it can’t hurt.

[Guest tbutera2112]

also...this has been covered...a lot

 

http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20485&highlight=seafoam

http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70024&highlight=seafoam

http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63046&highlight=seafoam

http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34159&highlight=seafoam

[twistedfocus1647545489]

I use it about every other oil change (into the intake via vacuum line), but have never added it to the oil. The rear main seal leak on my Cherokee is bad enough without help. I usually get a little smoother operation for a while after the treatment. I'd say $9 for many uses worth of it isn't bad. I have experienced no negative affects.

[AWW$HEEET]

ive used it and had no change, and ive used it and had negative changes. idk what to say. I am indifferent on this shit.

[SilverAudiMike]

That stuff is badass. Ive seen a beat ass Camaro and a Maserati both gain power from pouring it straight into the intake.

[Smokey]

i've used it as a fuel additive before.

 

It's my personal belief that the vacuum line treatment works, but using distilled water in its place will yeild just as positive steam cleaning results.

[87GT]

I use seafoam but not in my crank case. I use marvel mystery oil in the crank case.

[Browning]

Seen some at advance the other day and was thinking about trying it in my s10. So you just dump it into the oil and let it idle until the smoke clears?

[Browning]

i've used it as a fuel additive before.

 

It's my personal belief that the vacuum line treatment works, but using distilled water in its place will yeild just as positive steam cleaning results.

you can do this? I always heard about putting it in the oil but not in the fuel tank

[Avenger1647545502]

I used it on the crap van at 200k miles. Felt a LOT smoother, got rid of an occasional stumble when I go from idle to WOT, and picked up a little MPG. But the inside of the motor was probably about 80% element 6, so anything was going to improve it.

[unfunnyryan]

It will smooth out rough idles a bit but I'd suggest putting new spark plugs in after. It fouled mine out, but it ran realll smooth afterwords.

 

I have never heard a first-hand case of damage from using it in the intake. People tell stories of it, but that is probably just propaganda from the skeptics. Using it in the oil is riskier but is not going to kill a motor unless its sludge prone, in which case you might develop a problem.

 

Fun story: When we did it in a friends car, I was pouring it in and he was keeping it alive. I told him to turn the car off. He held up the keys in his hand. The car was off, but was dieseling off of the remaining seafoam in the intake.

[craig71188]

Interesting about the "sludge" issue. I purchased a Chevy (Suzuki) Tracker that had been sitting - fixed the "no-run" issues and went out to drive it - "Oil Pressure" light came on. Stopped the truck, checked the oil, all looked good, restarted - no oil light, drove a while, light came back on. CHecked the filter (cut open) changed oil, same issue.

 

The final analysis was a bunch of sludge/crap/whatever had broken loose in the engine and once driven for a while would accumulate around the oil pickup and cause a loss of oil pressure. For whatever reason, it wouldn't drain out with the old oil. Added Seafoam to the crankcase, warmed up the truck and drove it gently until the oil light would start to flicker on, then stop and let it idle a while. Repeated several times. After about 30 minutes, changed the oil again and had no firther problems.

 

I have also used it in older engines (via a vacuum hose) and had good results - certainly not a miracle in a can - but it does seem to get results as a solvent.

[Guest Removed]

also...this has been covered...a lot

 

http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20485&highlight=seafoam

http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70024&highlight=seafoam

http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63046&highlight=seafoam

http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34159&highlight=seafoam

 

 

people dont use the search feature here

[Guest Removed]

Interesting about the "sludge" issue. I purchased a Chevy (Suzuki) Tracker that had been sitting - fixed the "no-run" issues and went out to drive it - "Oil Pressure" light came on. Stopped the truck, checked the oil, all looked good, restarted - no oil light, drove a while, light came back on. CHecked the filter (cut open) changed oil, same issue.

 

The final analysis was a bunch of sludge/crap/whatever had broken loose in the engine and once driven for a while would accumulate around the oil pickup and cause a loss of oil pressure. For whatever reason, it wouldn't drain out with the old oil. Added Seafoam to the crankcase, warmed up the truck and drove it gently until the oil light would start to flicker on, then stop and let it idle a while. Repeated several times. After about 30 minutes, changed the oil again and had no firther problems.

 

I have also used it in older engines (via a vacuum hose) and had good results - certainly not a miracle in a can - but it does seem to get results as a solvent.

 

 

this is a common issue on lots of cars...vw's, dodges and so on...mainly it come down to the type of oil you use tho

[unfunnyryan]

The sludge issue can go both ways. It could break sludge free and cause problems, or break down the sludge and not have clogs.

 

Or it could break away sludge acting as seals and cause your motor to piss oil like an irishman on st patricks.

 

Best bet is just to stick to synthetic and not have to worry as much :thumbup:

[Smokey]

you can do this? I always heard about putting it in the oil but not in the fuel tank

 

yes, it can be a fuel additive/cleaner, oil additive as Craig mentioned, or you can feed it thru a vacuum line to act as a steam cleaner in the cyllinders.

 

Rotary guys have been doing the steam clean method with distilled water for many years now, and i think the water will have just as positive results if you want to be on the cheap about it.

[FyrhzrdGT]

Used seafoam with no negative effects, never really had mind blowing results but my truck did idle smoother, used it to discover all the spark plugs were loose on my fiero when I bought it haha.

[NTHER91]

I use it about every other oil change (into the intake via vacuum line), but have never added it to the oil. The rear main seal leak on my Cherokee is bad enough without help. I usually get a little smoother operation for a while after the treatment. I'd say $9 for many uses worth of it isn't bad. I have experienced no negative affects.

 

 

Does this give the impression that you know why? Or are you repeating facts?

[Supplicium]

I use it my Jetta 2.0L all the time with no problems used all 3 methods everytime. Just did all 3 to my GTI 2.0T before I changed the plugs and oil. Always has helped my rides.

[twistedfocus1647545489]

Does this give the impression that you know why? Or are you repeating facts?

Scrawwk. I see what you did there.

 

It's cool man. That's just the way of the internetz.

It's not serious business to me.

[SicShelby]

I used it in my DD when I hit 100k. The white smoke screen is epic. Make sure your trunk, hood, all doors are open, and that you're driving it backwards down the street to maximize the product.

[FyrhzrdGT]

I used it in my DD when I hit 100k. The white smoke screen is epic. Make sure your trunk, hood, all doors are open, and that you're driving it backwards down the street to maximize the product.

 

Maybe people just like it because it produces something impressive looking, taking your mind off the fact it is actually doing nothing to your motor. +1 on correct use.