Topic: Thoughts on SEAFOAM

[Magilla]

Anyone have any thoughts on this product?  Is it the same thing as Marvel Mystery Oil?  Is it better or worse?  What did it do or not do for you?

[MRieck]

Sounds like a good name for a race horse.

[mono]

it helped me a bit last season when i 1st got my bike and before i cleaned the carbs.  definitely smoothed out my idle a bit after about 15 miles.  however, be careful how much you use.  i had a friend who used too much and he had to drain his tank.

i put in a shot glass worth when i did mine.  could have used more, probably, but i thought i'd play it safe.  still seemed to work. 

not sure how it compares with other products, though.

[flybox1]

I use it.
in gas additive to help keep carbs clean of varnish.
as an oil additive, right before an oil change to loosen everything up.
its also great for rinsing busted knuckles and as a mouthwash

[camelman]

I have used it on many engines (gas and diesel) with excellent results regarding fuel mileage and engine operation. I ran it straight through my diesel pump to clean out injectors, but mix it with gas for gasoline engines. Seafoam requires a higher activation temperature than gasoline to combust, so don't try to run it straight in a gas engine. I would recommend no more than 1/3 bottle per full motorcycle tank. The instructions call for twenty gallons of gas per bottle I believe. No harm in higher concentrations that I have seen.

It does a good job of cleaning carbs, valve seats, valves and piston tops. The internal engine cleaning works better if you crank the engine without turning it on so that the Seafoam gets into the cylinder and sits there for a while.

Some people insert a vacuum line into the bottle to clean out their car's vacuum system. I have never done that. 

[lucky]

I have used Seafoam and it is an excellent product.
It keeps the moisture in the fuel in suspension.
I live in northern california in the woods and it is damp here in the winter.
I had problems with moisture in the fuel  and it solved the problem.

[Really?]

I have seen it used often to clean out carbs at 100% strength but on a different bike.  Filled using the fuel pump and then drained the next day from the carb bowls. 

[KC_Northstar]

I use it in my outboard and motorcycle and chain saw.  It will clean carbs better that any product I know of and is a way better gas stabilizer than Stabil.  When I first got my boat it was 14 years old and had been stored for 2 years.  I put fresh gas in it and got it running, but it ran like crap.  I figured I would have to take the carbs off and clean them.  A friend convinced me to try Seafoam and boy am I glad I did.  After running 2 tankfuls of gas with seafoam it started running like a brand new outboard!  I now use it all the time.  Great stuff!

[camelman]

FYI, Seafoam was originally designed and sold for use in boat engines. Hence the name.

[lucky]

FYI, Seafoam was originally designed and sold for use in boat engines. Hence the name.

Thanks Camelman!

[LesterPiglet]

Anyone know what the Euro equivalent is? Seafoam is not available to me.

[lucky]

Anyone know what the Euro equivalent is? Seafoam is not available to me.

I would look for a fuel conditioner.

[CycleRanger]

Chuck Norris pisses SeaFoam! 







/I'm sorry.

[Damfino]

Chuck Norris pisses SeaFoam! 

...then drinks it!

[Rigid]

I have used it with success to free stuck rings and cure a slipping starter clutch both in a gold wing.  If the suspect problem is varnish in the fuel or crud in the oil, I reach for the can I always keep on hand.

[bikerbart]

he drinks after he gets his A$$ kicked by Bruce Lee

[CrankyOldGuy]

www.seafoamsales.com

They make quite a few products.  I have a can of Sea Foam Spray in my basement.

Harry O.

[TwoTired]

Anyone have any thoughts on this product?  Is it the same thing as Marvel Mystery Oil?  Is it better or worse?  What did it do or not do for you?

It is NOT the same a MMO, for certain.

I was disappointed with Seafoam.  It was lauded here in the forum as a magical do-all, cure-all fluid additive.  It did not free up OR keep the pilot jets clean in my 77 CB750F.  In fact, they plugged up while it was still at full mixture strength in the gas tank (entire system cleaned prior to Seafoam use).  And no amount of running in the Cb750F, Cb550s, or Cb700SC made any improvement at all, that I could discern.  I've had the same "improving" results just running new gas through the carbs and engine, as I've seen with using new gas augmented with Seafoam in it.  Gasoline has it's own detergents blended into it to clean the fuel system as it is traversing the fuel pathways.  I don't think Seafoam is needed.

I don't believe it does a thing to counteract the effects of ethanol in the gas.  For that, I am now evaluating Startron additive, based on MReick's recommendation.  But, it is too soon to tell if that has any real effect, other than instigating the transfer of funds. 

Cheers,

[Duanob]

My problem with seafoam in the oil is it's viscosity. It's a very watery liquid that when mixed in oil reduces it's viscosity quite a bit. I think it would affect the performance of wet clutches in our machines too although I don't know first hand. I suppose using it for a few minutes to clean oil passages just before an oil change might have some advantages. But then ATF does the same thing for cheaper. As far as a fuel additive it probably works OK for keeping things clean and varnish to a minimum. I use the Berryman's in my tank for now.

[CycleRanger]

I don't believe it does a thing to counteract the effects of ethanol in the gas.  For that, I am now evaluating Startron additive, based on MReick's recommendation.  But, it is too soon to tell if that has any real effect, other than instigating the transfer of funds. 

I add a bit to my gas now and then. I haven't noticed any particular benefit or detriment.
When my current can is gone I'll probably try something else. Perhaps Startron.
If it's good enough for MReick, that's better than Chuck Norris...

[grachman]

I used it for a bit after reading about it here.  For a couple days, my carbs were acting up.  I used it for 2 tanks and it seemed to get better.  No noticeable improvement in mileage...and honestly, I really have no idea if it did anything, as I also used a better quality gas and whatever seemed to be causing the carbs to stumble a bit could've just passed on it's own.  Like TwoTired mentioned, in the past I usually just get a better quality gas, instead.  In my old Alfa Romeo, I used to have similar problems...and I always figured it was because she preferred the old formulas for gas and/or just missed the lead.  I'd hesitate on dumping it with oil, as Duanob points out.  MMO and like products are better designed for that.

[brianzenk]

SEAFOAM - I think it really works and makes a huge difference. Where I really notice the difference is in my Honda NC50 Honda Express. You know how a moped sounds when it goes ring tin tin tin tin tin after you let off the throttle - with Seafoam it softens the sound and does not sound so moped like. I liked the results from the moped experience and from that point I put it in my 1982 Honda c70 Passport and the bike ran better with more compression - I noticed this on hill climbing. I got great results in my CB550 I can hear the difference on how it sounds. I put some in my car - it stopped smoking when I start it. Follow the directions on the can its possible to add to much. For my Honda NC50 Express I add one shot glass per gallon of gas. I'm sold on the product. I have not added any to the oil side of the C70 or the cb550 because I do not want any issues with the wet clutch. After you run with out the product after a few tanks you will notice the difference.

[adamlwvdc36]

I use it.
in gas additive to help keep carbs clean of varnish.
as an oil additive, right before an oil change to loosen everything up.
its also great for rinsing busted knuckles and as a mouthwash

+1 and LOL

I have used up to half a bottle in a tank of gas (bottle says treats 8 to 20 gallons of gas).  My tank is about 4 gallons so I was using it at maximum concentration.  Granted, this was because I was desperate to get the innards of my carbs cleaned out.  worked like a charm

[BobbyR]

I ran 95% Seafoam into the engine. All I know is that it smokes real good at high concentrations and it did clean the plugs well. I still had to tear down the carbs.
I do use a good belt of it first run of the season. I toss some in during the season and I also throw some Techtron in there too. I do think it helps my Lawn Tractor.

[72500john]

great stuff for mildly dirty carbs and such, but will not fix carbs needing a serious cleaning/ rebuild. aka good maintenance additive.