Topic: Seafoam or marvel for rings?

[zoo mob]

looking like my 750K0 has a bunch of blowby I'm thinking rings might be the issue, but I'd like to see if there may be a solution short of taking the motor apart. One guy suggested running some seafoam through it, I didn't bother to investigate, but what is the method here and has anyone had good results? Someone else I know suggested pouring marvel mystery oil in the cylinders, let it sit for a week, and then just crank it over and blow the stuff out. Anyone done this? Results?

[Lavis500]

I've never messed with marvel mystery oil, but I've used seafoam in both cars and bikes.  Great stuff!

In cars they suggest to divide the can into thirds.  One goes in the gas tank, one goes in the crankcase with your oil, and the other you either dump directly into the carbs or, if it's fuel injected, disconnect one of the vacuum hoses from the intake, submerge the hose in the cup of seafoam, and crank the engine.  The engine will suck it up and not start.  Reconnect that host, close up your oil cap and your fuel cap and let it sit for a few minutes.  Then get in, crank her up, and give it gas until it finally catches and fires up.  Smoke will be billowing out for a good while, and that is just your carbon deposits burning away.

In your bike It's a little harder to do it the same way.  You also have to keep in mind that since your bike has significantly smaller quantities of everything in comparison to a car, you must use less seafoam.  On the can it tells you exactly what the ratio is of oz. of seafoam to gallons of gas as well as oz. to qts of oil.  You can try to use a syringe, turkey baster, etc to put some of the seafoam directly into the carbs through their throats, but I wouldn't bother.  Just add the proper amount the gasoline and it should work fine.  That's what I've done.

It's about $8 at autozone depending on when you get it, and it has instructions on the can.  Good for just about any engine you can think of.  IMO it's money well spent, as it seems to do a good job cleaning.

[ZanVooden]

When I got my 750 F3 it had low compression on all cylinders. I poured about 2 or 3 tablespoons of seafoam in to each cylinder through the sparkplug holes, and let it sit for 4 days. turned the engine over without the plugs in. and then poured more in and let it sit for another 4 days and turned it over again with the plugs out. Did a compression test and had good compression.

Its crazy stuff. I never would have believed it until I tried it.

[mrbreeze]

OK!!!......everyone agrees...........SEAFOAM IS DA BOMB!!!!...........it acually is an excellent product in a bunch of different ways. You really have to get a can and read the instructions. It has solved numerous problems I've had in the past.

[Duke McDukiedook]

If you are going to put seafoam in your oil you only want to do it pretty much right before an oil change.
You don't want to leave it in the crankcase very long.

[splitt]

Seafoam is something that anyone that works with internal combustion engines should have in their garage arsenal. I've never tried to use it to increase compression though. I'll have to remember that one.

Every time that I rebuild an engine I coat all of the bearings, gears, cam, crankshaft, etc. with marvel mystery oil. I've heard of using it to raise compression also, but I don't know of anyone who has done it.

[phil71]

man, this is a lot of feats for one liquid!
Just curious, this blow by, was the onset gradual, or is this after a resurrection from years of sitting?

[DH]

I've used sea foam for de-carbanizing the intake tract/intake valves/
and as a fuel additive to clean injectors on cars. I wonder tho, what it'll do to the wet clutches our bikes have if it is added to the oil.
Just sayin'..

[Eydugstr]

I wonder tho, what it'll do to the wet clutches our bikes have if it is added to the oil.
Just sayin'..

My thoughts exactly, when they say to run it in the engine oil I don't think they were covering motorcycles with wet clutches...Might not be too good for the plates.

With that being said, so far my experience with seafoam has been really good, and usually will run some in the gas tank at the start of riding season.  While I was rebuilding my CB750 I dipped a cleaning brush in the stuff and then scrubbed off a bunch of built up carbon on the piston tops, worked really good.

[Lavis500]

I don't understand how or why seafoam would fix a compression issue...  and even if it did, I don't see it being anywhere near a permanent fix.  Of all of the great things advertised on the can, compression is not one of them.  I've heard of oil helping compression, but only because the viscosity allows it to stick on the rings, giving it a better seal.

Also, at least from what I've been lead to understand, I think the cleaning properties shouldn't affect the clutch plates.  This stuff isn't like a detergent you find in motor oil which would cause slippage, but rather a petroleum based cleaner that removes moisture and breaks up carbon.  It also states on the can that it is safe and compatible with ALL oils.  You can also use it for short term immediately before an oil change, or leave it in for long term cleaning effects.

Even if you don't want to add it to your oil, the can also states that you can alternatively just pour some down your spark plug holes.  Again, this will "FOG" you engine as the can puts it - meaning you'll be spending a good 5 minutes smoking, burning the crud out.

EDIT:

From the seafoam website:

Are there any types of engines in which Sea Foam® can’t be used?

Sea Foam® is safe for ALL commonly used engines – Automotive, Truck, Industrial, Agricultural, Motorcycle, Marine, Small Engines (lawnmowers, yard tools, etc.), and even Rotary (Wankel Type) engines.  2-cycle and 4-cycle as well as diesel engines, when used as directed, are completely compatible with Sea Foam®.

http://www.seafoamsales.com/gasoline-engine-faqs.html

[mrbreeze]

Its da bomb I say!!!

[seanbarney41]

I don't understand how or why seafoam would fix a compression issue...  and even if it did, I don't see it being anywhere near a permanent fix.  Of all of the great things advertised on the can, compression is not one of them.  I've heard of oil helping compression, but only because the viscosity allows it to stick on the rings, giving it a better seal.

I think the idea here is that on a bike that has been sitting for a long time, frequently the piston ring grooves will get gummy and the piston ring will stick in the groove...not allowing the piston ring to seal against the cylinder wall...the Seafoam will clean up the gumminess and unstick the ring...

[ZanVooden]

I don't understand how or why seafoam would fix a compression issue...  and even if it did, I don't see it being anywhere near a permanent fix.  Of all of the great things advertised on the can, compression is not one of them.  I've heard of oil helping compression, but only because the viscosity allows it to stick on the rings, giving it a better seal.

I think the idea here is that on a bike that has been sitting for a long time, frequently the piston ring grooves will get gummy and the piston ring will stick in the groove...not allowing the piston ring to seal against the cylinder wall...the Seafoam will clean up the gumminess and unstick the ring...

Correct. at least in my case.

[CB500_k2]

I hate to break this Sea Foam love fest, however, I have used Marvel Mystery Oil in my old CBs for about 6 years.  I squirt about 5 cc of MMO into the cylinders at winter bed time.  Every spring I get better compression and a quicker start.  My CB 500 has always been a real cold blooded machine, making me wear down a battery to fire it up in early spring.  This year after the winter MMO treatment she fired up immediately.  Perhaps it is my love and attention but Marvel Mystery Oil does seem to help with cleaning up rings.

[333]

I'd like to point out that Sea Foam and MMO are two entirely different things, with two entirely different uses.

While Seafoam can go in the crankcase(as Dukie pointed out), it should only be in there a short time before an oil change.  It does quite well in loosening carbon build up on the oil side AND the fuel side of the rings.  But it is only to be constantly used on the fuel side, as the increased heat allows for a more severe carbon problem.  That, and it does tend to thin out your oil when added to the crankcase.

Marvel Mystery Oil is one of the best, top end oils, and has been shown to be good for oil seals and valve seals.  While it could be of use above the rings, it would be difficult to apply it in our machines without clogging up the fuel system.  Back in the day, my Dad would pour a thinned out MMO down the carb in the car.  He would come to the brink of stalling it out once or twice, and then kill it with the third pour.  It would cover the entire neighborhood with huge clouds of smoke(so environmently incorrect).  The idea was that it would soak into the built up carbon, and then later, would be burned out when you started it up.

[Deltarider]

Or you could tank a good quality gasoline like BP Ultimate (no ethanol).