The great SeaFoam debate!

[SubaGlue]

So I have heard several different pros and cons about seafoam. I am completely willing to put it in my fuel tank and brake booster etc. Thats NOT what im concerned about. I am debating putting it in the crank case through the oil filler cap.

On http://www.seafoamsales.com/motorTuneUpTechGas.htm it says that it is 100% petroleum

The pros Ive read:

When Added to Crankcase (Oil)
1. Frees sticky lifters and rings
2. Increases R.P.M.'s vacuum and compression
3. Cleans dirty parts
4. Removes moisture
5. Cleans PCV valve systems

all that seems like this product works wonders, HOWEVER, If it really removes moisture, then that would mean it would have to contain an oxygenated component because pure petroleum is immiscible in water. therefore it cannot be 100% petroleum.

Please post your thought :grin: :grin:

[Airgne]

look in the DIY forum. be over many times.

[Huffer]

On http://www.seafoamsales.com/motorTuneUpTechGas.htm it says that it is 100% petroleum
....

HOWEVER, If it really removes moisture, then that would mean it would have to contain an oxygenated component because pure petroleum is immiscible in water. therefore it cannot be 100% petroleum.

^^ this is all you really needed to post.

Further, based on the page you linked, this is what I gathered:


Removes moisture in fuel...
When Added to Fuel Tank

* Cleans fuel injectors and carburetor jets
* Cleans carbon as you drive
* Lubricates upper cylinders
* De-ices and removes moisture
* Diesel full conditioner and anti gel
* Stabilizes fuel

I'm also no chemist, but this is a PDF on the ingredients that are used:
http://www.seafoamsales.com/pdf/MSDS_SFTT_US.pdf

[SubaGlue]

thanks for that pdf, I am in chem II so ill try to make sense of it... (not likely)

I will look in the DIY section. thx

[2.5GT]

You can't believe everything it's written on the label. How do you know it does what it say it does? I've used it on several occasions and found no changes in how my engine reacts at all. sure it may be doing something inside, but hell, for $10 a can of seafoam ..i could use that to buy 93 octance :lol:

[1-3-2-4]

I have to clean out my closet and all my old auto related stuff I have a can of seafoam but does anyone know if it expires at a set amount of time? I rather not dump a can in a car if it's been sitting for almost two years.

[SubaGlue]

I honestly dont know.

Im just concerned with putting it in my oil. Ive read several posts and it looks like u have to do it a very particular way. pour it in extremely slowly. and im still lost as to where in the pcv line to pour it in, but as of now, I am just going to put it in my fuel tank and take it from there

[1-3-2-4]

I honestly dont know.

Im just concerned with putting it in my oil. Ive read several posts and it looks like u have to do it a very particular way. pour it in extremely slowly. and im still lost as to where in the pcv line to pour it in, but as of now, I am just going to put it in my fuel tank and take it from there

It's really simple.. I just took the PVC hose off and poured it in slowly... if you do it too fast the car will start to bog and stall.

the PVC from opening the hood to pouring it in the car only took at best 1 min besides it's good to change the PCV when the time comes.

[elemenohpee]

When I bought my outback I tried seafoam by sucking it through the pcv and then pouring the rest in the gas tank. Can't say I felt any differences but looking at how dirty the inside of the pcv hose was and how clean it was afterward, hopefully it did the same to the rest of the engine.

Hey, and even it doesn't do anything at least you get fill your neighborhood with smoke :grin:

[decke48]

the way new engines run, using seafoam wont show much results. unless you use crap gas. and it builds carbon on the injectors and valves.

[SubaGlue]

See I am one of those people that hears bad noises coming from my engine that no one else can hear.. so I thought I heard pinging with 87. I tried 89 and the noise was still there but a lot less frequent. I put 93 in it and i cant hear the sound anymore.. so im thinking if I do seafoam the engine, it may clean out some unwanted carbon.... but I am still hesitant to put it in my oil :-?

[TheAngryPidgeon]

See I am one of those people that hears bad noises coming from my engine that no one else can hear.. so I thought I heard pinging with 87. I tried 89 and the noise was still there but a lot less frequent. I put 93 in it and i cant hear the sound anymore.. so im thinking if I do seafoam the engine, it may clean out some unwanted carbon.... but I am still hesitant to put it in my oil :-?

"I... hear... dead cylinders..."

SubaGlue is straight out of the Automotive version of The Sixth Sense.

[decke48]

barryman b-12 cleaner is the basic same thing as seafoam. i know with that when you add to oil. it says let idle for 10 mins and drain oil

[Huffer]

See I am one of those people that hears bad noises coming from my engine that no one else can hear.. so I thought I heard pinging with 87. I tried 89 and the noise was still there but a lot less frequent. I put 93 in it and i cant hear the sound anymore.. so im thinking if I do seafoam the engine, it may clean out some unwanted carbon.... but I am still hesitant to put it in my oil :-?

See here's your problem. The higher octane gas you put in DOESNT GO ANYWHERE NEAR YOUR OIL.
Its FUEL.

[SubaGlue]

See here's your problem. The higher octane gas you put in DOESNT GO ANYWHERE NEAR YOUR OIL.
Its FUEL.

YA i know that, im not THAT dumb. My concern in my first post is not putting it in my gas tank, its whether or not to put it in my oil. I think my last post (the one u quoted) didnt make any sense--- sorry bout that.

If its pure petrol like they say, then it cannot remove moisture from the oil. But what doesnt make sense is on their site,

http://www.seafoamsales.com/pdf/MSDS_SFTT_US.pdf

they say that the chemical make up contains IDA which is C3 H6 O which means that there is some water in the product.. Obviously ANY water in the oil is a definite NO-NO, which is why im thinking putting seafoam in your oil will destroy your engine. once you put it in, there will always be trace amounts of it left in the crank case.......... :smt017

[Huffer]

There is always moisture in your engine. It doesn't operate in a vacuum. Atmospheric air contains water molecules, and is sucked in by the engine. Your oil pan will contain water in it - not enough to damage the vehicle but over time it will cause corrosion if it's not reduced, or removed regularly via a heat/cool cycle and changing the oil/fluids.

I wouldn't get so hung up on the details - a lot of stuff you read is marketing taglines - but the chemical content is what's important.

If you don't want to use it in your oil, don't. Just increase your oil change frequency and use good filters.

[SubaGlue]

ya im making way too big a fuss over this...

Ill put it in my fuel tank and whatnot.. thanks for the info

[Huffer]

Also, you might want to change where you buy your gas from if you're hearing pinging with 87 octane. Some brands "water" down their winter fuels... I tend to buy from Sunoco, Get Go or Marathon most times. I try to avoid BP, but sometimes they're the closest by. My wife's Accord runs fine regardless of what I put in it - but I suspect that Honda's ECUs are far more capable than Subaru's (depending on the year-to-year comparo).

[SubaGlue]

Ya ive been using shell 93 for the past 8k mi or so, The most current fuel tank i put in mobil 89, but im hearing the sound more than with the shell 93. Keep in mind that I am insane, and I am no where near 100% sure that it is actually pinging that I am hearing, but i do definitely hear a feint noise more so with 89...

[Huffer]

You're also driving a 7 year old car.

[SubaGlue]

true.. with 132k mi and climbing fast.... :neutral: