Notices
924/931/944/951/968 Forum Porsche 924, 924S, 931, 944, 944S, 944S2, 951, and 968 discussion, how-to guides, and technical help. (1976-1995)
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Sea Foam? supposedly an additive to clean engine?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-15-2008, 01:11 PM
  #31  
DarylJ
Rennlist Member
 
DarylJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: New Hope, PA
Posts: 1,812
Received 19 Likes on 18 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Dougs951
Would this be safe for a turbo car?
I "fixed" a friends A4 turbo by seafoaming his oil. They have known sludge problems with you don't change the oil as often as you should, and the seafoam pretty much took care of that.

That being said, they guys who seafoam every other oil change or so are much more likely to be successful, as they are keeping things clean as they go. Get an old heap full of gunk and seafoam it and you may end up breaking off chunks big enough to clog oil passages. Not to say that I haven't done exactly that (put it in a pile of crap) and gotten away with it.....and had it run better in the the end.

I'm more of 1-can kind of guy. 1/3 in the oil (run it for 100-200 miles max then change the oil), 1/3 in a vac line (as described above) and 1/3 in a full tank of gas.
Old 11-15-2008, 02:33 PM
  #32  
Peckster
Nordschleife Master
 
Peckster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Toronto
Posts: 5,748
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

More mechanic in a can! There is so much crap in the market but this is one of the goofiest I've heard of yet.

Sea foam!!! wtf?

At the best it will waste your money and might not cause any obvious harm to your engine. Ask Porsche and they will tell you not to use it.
Old 11-15-2008, 07:40 PM
  #33  
DarylJ
Rennlist Member
 
DarylJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: New Hope, PA
Posts: 1,812
Received 19 Likes on 18 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Peckster
More mechanic in a can! There is so much crap in the market but this is one of the goofiest I've heard of yet.

Sea foam!!! wtf?

At the best it will waste your money and might not cause any obvious harm to your engine. Ask Porsche and they will tell you not to use it.
I'm with you on the "mechanic in a can" stuff in general. But this stuff doesn't make ridiculous claims - all it is is an oil/gas safe solvent. Put it in the right places, and you can actually see that it cleans things. That's all it's supposed to do, and it does.
Old 11-18-2008, 01:27 AM
  #34  
86 951 Driver
Race Car
 
86 951 Driver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: KC, MO
Posts: 3,638
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

I used this on my Neon a long time that was running rough after the headgasket went out the first time. It smoked a lot and it actually ran so much better. Same thing with my old legend. It had a problem with the IAC that it was clogged up and wasn't working correctly. I used seafoam with some TB cleaner and bam the car ran like a champ also the IAC started to work again. I believe this stuff works.
Old 11-18-2008, 03:13 AM
  #35  
Mello
Rennlist Member
 
Mello's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 749
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Maybe I missed it.. Is it a certain vacuum line you should use?
Old 11-18-2008, 10:36 AM
  #36  
bbourdon
Burning Brakes
 
bbourdon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Delaware
Posts: 813
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

The big one off of the brake booster.
Old 11-18-2008, 01:05 PM
  #37  
mtccl
Instructor
 
mtccl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Seafoam is a solvent. I would not put it in directly in the oil because of possible gasket failures and resultant leaks. Most likely is the camshaft gaskets being damaged. Now having said that it could be used as an oil change cleaner. When changing oil weights on test engines the techs will run a kerosene mix in the oil to remove sludge, but for only a couple of minutes. Then the oil is drained, run, drained and then the test is run. You could use a like procedure with the seafoam considering it is a solvent and will wash down the cylinder walls thus acting against the oils intended purpose. I would not put it in and run the car for more than 5 minutes. Sort of the 5 minute motor flush prior to draining the oil.

It can safely be used on the intake by using the vaccum hose method of ingestion. It will burn off all the deposits. SHould not be an issue putting it in the gas so it will go thru the fuel rail for same top of the engine effect.
Old 11-18-2008, 02:36 PM
  #38  
rdhayward
Racer
 
rdhayward's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Austin, TX 78704
Posts: 373
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I run a can of BG44K every other oil change.
Old 11-18-2008, 03:36 PM
  #39  
nickg
Three Wheelin'
 
nickg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: nj
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

if you are only decarboning the engine..GM top engine clean is the best you can get ...and like $6 at any gm dealer
Old 11-18-2008, 03:58 PM
  #40  
PixelGrinder
Racer
 
PixelGrinder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 479
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Has only tried using a vacuum line on a 951 with seafoam? results?
Old 12-08-2008, 02:17 PM
  #41  
medevack
Instructor
 
medevack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Winston Salem NC
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

i used the seafoam on my crank and it got rid of the lifter ticking this weekend i will change the oil and do another seafoam in the intake and no i will not do it at my house too many neigbours around....lol
Old 12-09-2008, 02:59 AM
  #42  
Don 944 LA
Three Wheelin'
 
Don 944 LA's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Downtown Los Angleles & Denton TX
Posts: 1,845
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

From seeing many threads about Seafoam, I researched it.
I got a bottle from the local shop & put it into my NA that was exhibiting oil pressure problems, and not only did it get things back in check, everything sounds like it's working proper.

Now, I only added to the oil ( too chicken **** to do vac) and saw an immediate improvement.

I don't think I'll be adding it to the turbo though
Old 12-09-2008, 09:34 AM
  #43  
CurtP
Drifting
 
CurtP's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Posts: 2,079
Likes: 0
Received 13 Likes on 9 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by medevack
i used the seafoam on my crank and it got rid of the lifter ticking this weekend i will change the oil and do another seafoam in the intake and no i will not do it at my house too many neigbours around....lol
Old 12-09-2008, 11:29 AM
  #44  
DarylJ
Rennlist Member
 
DarylJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: New Hope, PA
Posts: 1,812
Received 19 Likes on 18 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Don 944 LA
Now, I only added to the oil ( too chicken **** to do vac) and saw an immediate improvement.
Too chicken ****? Putting it in the crank case is the brave part! Cleaning out your intake is nothing - it just runs bad and smokes for a bit.
Old 12-09-2008, 12:44 PM
  #45  
whalebird
Race Car
 
whalebird's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains NC.
Posts: 3,993
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

BG 44k is the best I have ever used fpr fuel additive. Porsche factory approoved. Benz recomended as well. Crank case is another story. I have a extra can of seafoam in the garage. I put a can in my boat tanks before the cold months.


Quick Reply: Sea Foam? supposedly an additive to clean engine?



All times are GMT -3. The time now is 04:26 PM.