Sea Foam

[Gary Fowler]

The best carb cleaner I ever used was brake cleaner. My Onan generator was always hard to crank but ran ok when it finally started up. I filled the intake hose with brake cleaner, turned the engine for about 10 seconds to suck all the brake cleaner into the carb, let is set for 24 hours. Next day I hit the starter for about 3 seconds and it started up like a new engine. I was dreading having to pull that carb off since it was so hard to get to the bolts the way it was mounted in my motorhome.
I don't know if I would try this on a diesel engine though. That brake cleaner was about as flammable as ether.

 

[diesel85]

You need to be very careful what you put in diesels. Some of the seals do not like caustic substances. The seals will literally melt away turning into a nasty goop clogging your injectors, pump, lines, etc. Can turn into an expensive mess.

I've learned not to use brake cleaner, carb cleaner, and seafoam in modern engines. Especially anything that is built from 2005 and up.

 

[bcp]

The best carb cleaner I ever used was brake cleaner. My Onan generator was always hard to crank but ran ok when it finally started up. I filled the intake hose with brake cleaner, turned the engine for about 10 seconds to suck all the brake cleaner into the carb, let is set for 24 hours. Next day I hit the starter for about 3 seconds and it started up like a new engine. I was dreading having to pull that carb off since it was so hard to get to the bolts the way it was mounted in my motorhome.
I don't know if I would try this on a diesel engine though. That brake cleaner was about as flammable as ether.

I would never clean a diesel carb with brake cleaner, either!



Bruce

 

[mercdv]

You need to be very careful what you put in diesels. Some of the seals do not like caustic substances. The seals will literally melt away turning into a nasty goop clogging your injectors, pump, lines, etc. Can turn into an expensive mess.

I've learned not to use brake cleaner, carb cleaner, and seafoam in modern engines. Especially anything that is built from 2005 and up.

Seafoam is perfectly safe for modern engines but I agree 100% brake cleaner and carb cleaner in a diesel is a complete no go.

 

[JWR]

I suppose I'll bite too: First, I am an engineer and that is usually spelled s-k-e-p-t-i-c. Second, just based on these forums and word of mouth, SeaFoam is said to be top of the crop for general fuel additives. I have used it sparingly in both diesel and gas engines. It should be great since it is twice the price of most of them. I do not agree to the habit of using fuel additives of any kind on a regular basis. If I have hiccups with small motors (blowers, chain saw, edger, lawn mower, etc.) I admit to putting a gurgle of Seafoam in just in case it will clean/clear/help. Frankly I have never seen proof positive that any additive, no matter how great and no matter what for, was doing any good. Read that "snake oil." Show me the manufacturer that recommends additives -- they don't -- and I consider that fact stronger than 3 or 4 thousand anecdotal miracle stories. There is considerable popularity on the diesel side for the "Power Service" brand fuel conditioner which includes a cetane boost. Claims to prevent fuel gelling in cold temps, curing world hunger, etc.

I'm just not an additive person. If it is going below 10 deg F I will mix in #1 fuel (e.g. kerosene) exactly as the heavy equipment operators up north do. If I am suspicious of some crud in the fuel system I'll throw in a little Seafoam. I have NO experience with the higher tech def chugging, Tier umpty ump super modern diesels. I do know enough not to put anything strange in the fuel with those. Our diesel beetle was a super hero machine until VW caved in to the EPA. Another story.

 

[atsah]

I’m not an additive person either but if you lived were I live in January with no antigel your Diesel engine wouldn’t run and you would be changing a lot of crystallized fuel filters as well, I was an engineer for 30 years but that doesn’t mean my tractor will run just fine without an additive when it’s -20F..

 

[JWR]

I’m not an additive person either but if you lived were I live in January with no antigel your Diesel engine wouldn’t run and you would be changing a lot of crystallized fuel filters as well, I was an engineer for 30 years but that doesn’t mean my tractor will run just fine without an additive when it’s -20F..

That's why you mix 50/50 #1 and #2 fuel up there in very cold weather. That does not require any additive.

 

[mercdv]

I'll just throw this out...there isn't a single drop of fuel sold on the market to the general public that doesn't have an "additive" in it. It all depends on what the composition of the additive is...just sayin' that additives aren't necessarily bad.

I personally only use Seafoam when there is a problem, when I'm working on an old item with stale fuel (gummed lines), or to remove carbon buildup in the cylinders. I tested the carbon cleaning action myself with a old string trimmer and a borescope by pulling the plug and seeing before and after with my own eyes. This was also after trying a few other "solutions" people suggested that had no noticeable cleaning action. I'm not saying Seafoam is perfect but I am saying that IN MY OPINION it does have some cleaning affect which is noticeably stronger than just soaking things in fresh fuel which is one of the options I tried.

 

[shooterdon]

I view additives as cheap insurance. Had to walk to a house in -35* (-51* wind chill) once when running a diesel pickup so lesson learned.

I add fuel stabilizer to the gas I store for up to a year at a time. Just a bit of peace of mind dealing with snowmobiles and generators that may sit for a long time between use.

Add biocide, PS cleaner, and PS antigel to the diesel fuel.

Stuff that runs 50 hours a year, may benefit from “snake oil” more than equipment that runs 500 hrs a year. And for the low hour stuff, the cost is is of little consequence. As none of these additives can cause harm and some may be beneficial I see no downside except for the $100 a year I “waste”.

I am an engineer too but know nothing about the chemistry of these products.

 

[atsah]

That's why you mix 50/50 #1 and #2 fuel up there in very cold weather. That does not require any additive.

Let me see if I can get this across to you and it may not be possible you being an engineer and all.. If you don't add antigel in the winter were I live your engine will not run, period..