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Seafoam- snake oil or worth using
BenB - 2/11/15 at 05:58 PM

So I'm currently doing some weekend projects on the car and as my car was due an oil change I decided sticking a load of Seafoam "carbon reducer" down the plug hole, leaving it for a few hours then sucking it out would have no negative impact. Some people worry about it washing the oil of the cylinders or contaminating the oil so it seemed a good time to do it (IE just before I was going to dump the oil anyway). My USB borescope will also come in handy for the obligatory before / after pictures.

My plan for the upcoming weekend is

1) Get the engine up to temperature
2) Remove the plugs, take some pictures of the piston tops
3) Stick a load of Seafoam down there and let it sit for an hour
4) Turn over the engine (plugs still out) to hopefully get some up into the valves
5) Suck out the Seafoam with a massively long needle on a meat syringe
6) Inspect the removed seafoam (unless its jet black it clearly hasn't removed much carbon)
7) Dump it in the petrol tank (sacrificial petrol filter)
8) Take some new borescope pictures
9) Run up the engine and go for a blat- see if I can feel a difference
10) Pull the plugs and take some new pictures

So scores on the doors please people? I'll post the pictures afterwards and we can try and see if they look any different.

My gut instinct is the second photos will show some carbon removed but it will have reformed by the time of the third photos (after the run)....

mark chandler - 2/11/15 at 06:05 PM

You may as well pour some thinners into the top of engine, hard carbon is not going to dissolve so if the engine is running poorly strip it down.

BenB - 2/11/15 at 06:30 PM

The engine runs fine. It is quite old though and I reckon might well have some build up. Surely does no harm. ......?

Slimy38 - 2/11/15 at 06:47 PM

quote:
Originally posted by BenB
The engine runs fine. It is quite old though and I reckon might well have some build up. Surely does no harm. ......?


What's that old adage? If it ain't broke... etc etc.

Seafoam has a very good reputation on one of the bike forums, but it's more to do with it's ability to clean up carbs rather than engines. If it does clean up all the bad stuff, are you then going to leave yourself with parts that no longer seat properly?

A little off topic though, where are you planning to get it from? I could do with a tin to run through the bike...

jacko - 2/11/15 at 07:09 PM

What's wrong with redex in the fuel and down the carb
jacko

BenB - 2/11/15 at 07:14 PM

I bought it from Ebay. I'm planning on checking my shims afterwards (was doing this anyway) so if the valves close up a bit its okay. I think it'll do nothing - but am curious! Not too bothered about the carbs because I'm going Efi in the next six months.

britishtrident - 2/11/15 at 07:15 PM

Seafoam has a good reputation among the US web pro techies as am intake and injection cleaner I have also seen borescope evidence on Youtube that it cleans the edges of the pistons.

I have also witnessed Redex free sticking valves on an A series engine and free off a stuck piston rings.

In similar vein I have recently acquired a dual channel K type thermocouple meter and intend measuring cat inlet and outlet temperatures before and after

Adamirish - 2/11/15 at 07:22 PM

Have a look at this. Seems to do something at least.

http://youtu.be/u6UeJXkzDW8

theduck - 3/11/15 at 09:04 AM

I'm wary about this. Yes it does do "something" but unless there is a running problem does it need it doing? And if there is a problem, is this the right way to solve it?

Mr Whippy - 3/11/15 at 11:39 AM

look at my post on terraclean which in theory should be even more effective

my post link