Author Topic: Using seafoam (Read 7772 times)

eda1bulletc5 · **on:** November 27, 2012, 07:40:48 am

Hi Folks,
I have used seafoam in the gas tank and the bike seems to run much smoother. I read in the seafoam instructions that it could also be added to the engine oil; 1.5 ounce per quart of oil. I am thinking about using it just about the next oil service; they say run it 30 to 100 miles and then the dirty oil could be tossed out.
Has anyone tried using Seafoam in the engine and what are the results does it help in cleaning some of the carbon buildup in the engine?
Also, how can I use seaform for the intake?

Thanks guys!

Fogrunner · **Reply #1 on:** November 27, 2012, 10:16:28 am

Using Seafoam in the fuel tank may help clean up any deposits in the intake manifold, as well as any deposits or contamination in the injector system. It should also loosen any deposits or carbon build up in the combustion chamber and exhaust system, including the valve.

BRADEY · **Reply #2 on:** November 27, 2012, 01:34:15 pm

could you share a link on the Correct Sea foam product to be used in fuel, and ratio please. Also is there any company which ships worldwide.....??

motorat · **Reply #3 on:** November 27, 2012, 03:49:00 pm

i used sea foam in my klr650. it really made a difference on how it ran. i think i will drop by the local auto parts store and drop some in the re as it "feels" like it needs a cleaning.
http://www.seafoamsales.com/motor-treatment.html

you can get it at any o'rieley, auto zone parts store.

Craig McClure · **Reply #4 on:** November 27, 2012, 04:26:57 pm

Are these pretty similar? I've been using Sta-Bil Marine (green) formula to fight the corrosive effects of Ethanol. Like the regular Red Sta-Bil, it is also used to keep gas fresh & start ups fast-Works for me. I have not seen Seafoam in stores as much as Sta-Bil Products. Any Comparison?

Desi Bike · **Reply #5 on:** November 27, 2012, 04:54:54 pm

I'm not sure if the wet clutch would take to well to the seafoam. I've used it in the tank and shown some good results on both the butt dyno and the ear dyno. Most auto part stores in north america should stock it. Walmart in Canada does as well

barenekd · **Reply #6 on:** November 27, 2012, 06:08:05 pm

I don't think Sta-bil is the same type product as Sea Foam, however Marvel Mystery Oil works the same in gas and oil and doesn't affect the clutch. Techron will clean the intake system but I don't know whether or not it's OK in oil.
I'm pretty sure Sea Foam is available in the UK. I think some of those guys have mentioned using it.
Bare

squire · **Reply #7 on:** November 27, 2012, 08:35:40 pm

Sta-bil contains no alcohol, Seafoam does......big difference.

http://www.fueltestkit.com/is_gas_additive_safe_with_e10_list.html

Singh_Chicago · **Reply #8 on:** November 27, 2012, 08:43:29 pm

Can we add Techron, while stabil is already mixed in tank ?

Singh_Chicago · **Reply #9 on:** November 27, 2012, 08:52:03 pm

Just read this - All Chevron-branded gasolines contain the unique Techron additive. Techron contains a polyerther amine (PEA)-based chemistry designed to keep vital engine parts clean and remove deposits left by lower quality gasolines, while minimizing any contribution to harmful combustion chamber deposits.
http://www.chevronwithtechron.com/car-care-faq/default.aspx

Ducati Scotty · **Reply #10 on:** November 27, 2012, 09:45:17 pm

I believe the Techron additive in a bottle when added at prescribed amounts results in a much higher concentration than what you get at the pump. I think it was Tri750 that swore by this stuff for many of his BMW customers. The bikes seem to need it every so many thousands of miles and then they play very nicely again.

Scott

Arizoni · **Reply #11 on:** November 27, 2012, 09:55:58 pm

My K-75 sure liked it every so often.

Gypsyjon · **Reply #12 on:** November 27, 2012, 10:27:47 pm

Car Guys on NPR say Techron is the only fuel additive that actually does clean stuff up.

GreenMachine · **Reply #13 on:** November 27, 2012, 11:36:53 pm

Gypysjo : That's what I read somewhere on the internet (of course it may had been the stabil website) but interesting that NPR mentioned it (Was it a paid endorsement) ?...I've been using seafoam the past 6 years with no problems encountered in the occasional summer usage and as a winterizing additive...This year I decided to go with the stabil (dark) marine blend as its just a more concentrated bottle of stabilizer/rust inhibitor vice the red at twice the cost/12 bucks...I was surprised that it treats 80 gallons of fuel...I just rode the mower and took the three bikes out for a spin to get the stabil enriched fuel into the carb bowls, etc...It will be interesting to see what spring brings when I fire everything up...Techron is the way to go as a cleaner especially if you can get a case at Costco... Techron doesn't up the ethanol content as Seafoam supposedly does...Kinda makes sense in the interpretation presented by the competition . Who wants more ethanol....I don't and neither do you....Probably just all dam snake oil but love the mechanic in a bottle speil...GM

Tri750 · **Reply #14 on:** November 28, 2012, 02:58:34 am

The gas additive debate is a slippery slope. Almost as popular to debate as brands of oil.
Techron is a good product, the first hand experience I have is with the BMW branded product made by Chevron. It's BMW fuel injection cleaner. It contains 3 times the active ingredients contained in a bottle of Chevron Techron, which is of course a higher concentration than using Chevron fuel.
The BMW product sells for 16.00 per 20oz. Bottle and you use 1 ounce per gallon every 6 to 8 tanks. If you have a rough idle or hard start due to partially clogged injectors using it for 2-3 consecutive tanks is good. This works for carb equipped cars or bikes as well to clean out jets and remove junk from your float bowls. The BMW product is also a fuel preservative, an octane booster and cleans oxidation from modern film strip type fuel level sensors. It will not repair a worn or misadjusted carb, fix an injector that is plugged solid or cure male pattern baldness.
I have seen it "magically" fix a rough idle due to impurities in the float bowls on 3 occasions within 5 minutes of adding it to fresh gasoline and letting a bike idle. It does the things the Seafoam product claims to do that I've yet to see happen.
You want to learn about more magic stuff? Ask me about Yamaha carb cleaner concentrate.

singhg5 · **Reply #15 on:** November 28, 2012, 04:23:07 am

Seafoam, Marvel mystery oil, Lucas fuel injector cleaner/upper cylinder lubricant, Stabil, Star-tron etc. and lubes were discussed based on their chemical composition detailed in MSDS sheets in the link below.

Since they have different chemicals or mixtures of chemicals with different proportions, their behavior is somewhat different from each other which is why they are marketed for different purposes. There are, however, some overlapping functions/chemicals between products marketed for same purpose. Because of their different chemistry and mechanism of action, their efficacy and results vary - Reply #14 in the link below.

So using them appropriately can be helpful and using them inappropriately will either yield negative result or can be less-than-helpful.

http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/forum/index.php/topic,9767.0/all.html

Ducati Scotty · **Reply #16 on:** November 28, 2012, 07:05:36 am

Quote from: Tri750 on November 28, 2012, 02:58:34 am

The BMW product is also a fuel preservative, an octane booster and cleans oxidation from modern film strip type fuel level sensors.

Whiter whites? Brighter colors? Just asking

Tri750 · **Reply #17 on:** November 28, 2012, 08:16:45 am

Bigger smiles, yes. The healthy dose of Naptha in it really puts the scoot in my 150cc scooter!
I'm sure I was too critical of the Seafoam product, they sell a lot of it and many people swear by it. I personally haven't seen it's benefit in the couple times I've used it. But that's me. No offense to the Seafoamers in the crowd.

motorat · **Reply #18 on:** November 28, 2012, 03:37:27 pm

i have some of the yamaha stuff and have seen it transform a roughly idling poorly running training bike(the poor abused bikes at the msf site i work at) to something that runs properly.
the yamaha folks really made a point of reading the instructions and not over do it.

LarsBloodbeard · **Reply #19 on:** November 28, 2012, 06:20:48 pm

I think I've seen an improvement from using Seafoam once, though I'm not entirely convinced the bike didn't just get better on it's own. I'm a Marvel Mystery Oil guy. Don't ask me why... maybe it's the nifty red color, lol. I'm kidding, I just like the concept of an upper cyl lubricant (hey, it works for 2-strokes). Whether it actually does the job or not is nothing I could prove.

Ducati Scotty · **Reply #20 on:** November 28, 2012, 06:27:28 pm

I use Marvel Mystery oil for many things, though I've never seen it raise any machinery from the dead like the legends would have you believe. Still, it's just super detergent oil which will clean out gunk. And the red color does make you think it's potent, just like a vitamin B shot!

Scott

GreenMachine · **Reply #21 on:** November 28, 2012, 09:11:00 pm

I always thought the marvel mystery oil can was associated with the wizard of oz..

Ducati Scotty · **Reply #22 on:** November 28, 2012, 09:12:03 pm

No, that's emerald green.

GreenMachine · **Reply #23 on:** November 28, 2012, 09:23:20 pm

That would probably sell too...

Tri750 · **Reply #24 on:** November 29, 2012, 05:44:52 am

Focus, focus. The Yamaha product is a carb cleaner concentrate. You have a carby bike with plugged pilot jets, spiders in the bowls, etc. mix the cleaner 50-50 with water. Use a syringe or squeeze bottle to fill the carb(s) ON THE BIKE. let set a few hours. Drain the goop, flush with clean fuel, start bike. If it's not fixed, it's better. Repeat. It's fixed! Carbs clean as a whistle. Been around since the late 70's. In the old days. It was to be mixed with fuel. Reformulated to be mixed with water, it works even better! I can almost bet your Yamaha dealer never heard of it. We keep it in stock for bikes trailered in when people say "make run". You can also soak carbs in it when you are rebuilding them to clean them like new.

GreenMachine · **Reply #25 on:** November 29, 2012, 02:30:04 pm

tri750: As soon as u posted it I was looking it up as I never heard of it...Easy enough with a Enfield carb that basically dangling between to pieces of rubber..Super concentrated cleaner....I'll inquire about it when I take my yamaha to the dealer for tire replacement and inspection...Thanks . GM

Tri750 · **Reply #26 on:** November 29, 2012, 06:41:33 pm

Yamaha PN ACCCARBCLENR

If the dealer cant or wont order, it may be because they have to order a case. Understandable. You can get it thru Amazon. Type in Yamaha Carb Dip.
A 60cc syringe with catheter tip and a piece of fuel line is what I use to fill. let gravity do the work.

Ducati Scotty · **Reply #27 on:** November 29, 2012, 07:33:55 pm

Nice thing to know. It's tough to get a carb clean as a hobby mechanic. My neighbor was a professional when I was a kid and would take them to work and dip them in his tank. I could never get them that clean on my own.

Scott

gremlin · **Reply #28 on:** November 30, 2012, 02:14:12 am

@ no one in particular

....YAWN.....

Arizoni · **Reply #29 on:** November 30, 2012, 04:55:51 am

Sounds like it's past your bedtime gremlin.
See you in the morning.

black_widow · **Reply #30 on:** June 11, 2024, 02:59:08 am

Is this information still available?

Quote from: singhg5 on November 28, 2012, 04:23:07 am

Seafoam, Marvel mystery oil, Lucas fuel injector cleaner/upper cylinder lubricant, Stabil, Star-tron etc. and lubes were discussed based on their chemical composition detailed in MSDS sheets in the link below.

Since they have different chemicals or mixtures of chemicals with different proportions, their behavior is somewhat different from each other which is why they are marketed for different purposes. There are, however, some overlapping functions/chemicals between products marketed for same purpose. Because of their different chemistry and mechanism of action, their efficacy and results vary - Reply #14 in the link below.

So using them appropriately can be helpful and using them inappropriately will either yield negative result or can be less-than-helpful.

http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/forum/index.php/topic,9767.0/all.html