Seafoam for real?

[BobInSD]

Got to wonder? Acetone? MEK? Toluene? Naptha? Some aromatic hydrocarbon...

It must be some common enough solvent.... I've never read the label or the MSDS

First, I do use Seafoam and have for awhile. I am not a believer in "snake oils". In fact, Seafoam is the only thing I ever add (other than some Iso-heat to prevent freeze up in our winters). It made a huge difference in my JD 3020 gas which would have carb issues without the seafoam. I had several tractors, and the JD would sit for awhile and didn't always have the freshest gas. My wife had a '98 Isuzu that would throw "check engine" codes pretty regularly. A fill up or two with Seafoam would solve that. And yes, I tried not putting Seafoam in and running it and the code stayed (or, if cleared, came back). I don't have any real numbers, but my '84 pickup seems to run better w/ some Seafoam. Both of these vehicles sit for awhile between uses. I also add it to my 2-cycle fuel (which can also sit awhile).

Note that I'm not using it as a fuel preservative, rather to clean out the gunk and rust that grows in metal tanks and fuel lines as things sit and rot.

I did start making my own (only use in 4-cycle vehicles that are not in warranty--still use the real stuff in the chainsaws). The mix I use is 4:2:1 #2 diesel:Naptha:Iso Heat. At that price point I can afford to dump it into lawn mowers, tillers, etc for the first and last tanks each summer, the two older vehicles and the Gravely walk behind every tank. Again, the chainsaws get real seafoam along with their two cycle oil.

This seems to work for me. YMMV, try at your own risk, etc.

 

[Tony H]

I have had good results with Seafoam. I put a bottle in both cars twice a year. One has a carb and the other has injectors. I also put some in my mower with a completely full tank of gas for winter storage. I do not have much faith in Stabil though, our local small engine guy, he is really good, told me he would never ever use Stabil in anything. He said it ends up gumming stuff up.

The red stuff, yes. I have seen the jelly in carbs that have had stabilize in them too long. The blue, marine use stuff works better. It's made to absorb more moisture then the red.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Additives do work. Seafoam is kinda old timey for old timey things. Marvel mystery oil is handy. Lucas, oh yeah I will buy that. That stuff in the blue bottle at the parts store, works good too.

We have a large cab tractor we mainly bale with. Also put hay out in winter. It will get to puffing out a shot of blue smoke when you take off from dropping a bale. It will get so bad as to making a royal blue cloud above the tractor if left unattended. One bottle of additive stops it for over a year. After we seen it work, we put a shot in all the tractors now. When the cab tractor starts smoking and you put additive in, and it clears, you know it works. Only gets put in when it does the smoke signals. Maybe once a year or longer.

 

[K Arno]

All I can get here is cut with alcohol. The additive is cheaper than the top tier stuff. (more detergent)

 

[Doughknob]

I am always skeptical about claims that say "I avoided problems by using a particular additive". How do they know that? Chances are very high they wouldn't have had a problem if they used nothing and cared for their vehicle in a reasonable manner. I view fuel and oil additives in the same light as I view vitamins and health supplements. The vast majority of them are over-hyped and not really needed.

But not seafoam. It does work. As stated by many folks here in this thread and many other places. It has actually cured issues that existed - not just prevented…

 

[Mtsoxfan]

You are saying gasoline stores better at 30 below zero?

No,I'm saying I've never had an issue.
Don't put words in my mouth.

 

[DaveinValdez]

I have a 24' Sea Sport with a 454 for the ocean that is on the water 6 months a year. I always add Sea Foam to the tanks on every other fill up. It always starts. A couple ounces in the chain saws, brush cutter, ATV, snowmachine, and everything else gets it. It is the one additive that I use adamantly!

 

[dodge man]

Just my opinion but the video above sort of backs it up. For longer term storage Stabil and for something that runs a little rough, Seafoam. That’s tge way I’ve been doing it for several years.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I think I will go buy some Seafoam tomorrow. I am a believer, I just haven't used it in a while. Thanks for the reminder!

 

[CalG]

I got the Husky Back Pac blower out yesterday. It's been sitting up in the shop loft since last October.

It started on the second pull, Ran perfectly right out of the gate. Ran through the entire tank of fuel.

I didn't put Sea Foam or any other fuel additive in when it was put away.

Testimonial! ;-)

 

[Doughknob]

I got the Husky Back Pac blower out yesterday. It's been sitting up in the shop loft since last October.

It started on the second pull, Ran perfectly right out of the gate. Ran through the entire tank of fuel.

I didn't put Sea Foam or any other fuel additive in when it was put away.

Testimonial! ;-)

You must not believe in life insurance either?

 

[CalG]

You must not believe in life insurance either?

You are right! I do keep 10K stashed to get me in the ground though.


"Here lies my body, Lost at sea . and never recovered"

 

[two_bit_score]

. If this actually does something, how does it work? I assume some kind of cleaner

It’s a good cleaner-starter fluid in my opinion. I poured it into the gas tank and a little into the carb the other day on an old mower I had not been able to start. Two pulls and it fired up and smoked like a diesel for about a full minute then ran fine all day. Next day fired it right up on second pull with just fresh non-E fuel.

 

[RalphVa]

Had some Seafoam leftover from when I had gas engines. Bought a 2nd one and put both into the Isuzu's generator tank. Should have bought a 3rd because it's 1 ounce/gallon. Only 16 ounces in each container. Got 50 gallons.

 

[BubbaSam]

I just purchased some Seafoam. Never used it but hear good things. I have 2 stroke weed wackers and a tiller, diesel tractor and gas 3 mowers. Is this stuff good in ALL of the equipment? Should it be used only in the event of "issues", added to the fuel for maintenance or both?

I have been using Stabil. I switched to Marine Stabil (blue) from the red based on a recommendation from a mechanic. It seems to do the job in my case. The blue is more money but you use much less.

Any comments? Thx guys!

 

[DJ54]

I've used Seafoam for nearly 6-8 years, with good results. My 2, '88 Wheel Horse 310-8's with Kohler engines have a check valve in the carb, to prevent drain back to the tank, if left setting for a few days. Ethanol laced fuel will cause that check valve to get gunked up, and let fuel run back to the tank, and takes a while to pull fuel back to the carb. Per directions, I pulled the fuel line from the carb, and put a short section on, poured some in full strength. Let it set overnight, then put the line back on. Put prescribed amount in the tank, and mowed for 4 hours. A week later, when starting up to mow, it fired right up. After that, just added the prescribed amount, and both start fine.

I now use Stabil 360, which stabilizes fuel, and also cleans the fuel system. It only takes 1 oz. per 5 gallons of gas, so add it to my fuel cans, before filling them up, so I know it's in there, and mixed up. I still use Seafoam occasionally on new to me tractors. Seems I'm always picking up an occasional garden tractor, both 2 wheel, and 4 wheel. If they are runners, I'll add it. If non- runners, I'll clean the fuel system, then add it to do a final clean-up, even using the gas with Stabil 360 added.

 

[dodge man]

I only use Seafoam if I have an engine that isn’t quite running right.

 

[Ken45101]

I have been adding Stabil when I fill the gas cans and Seafoam whenever a chainsaw, etc. is hard to start or runs poorly. Seems to work well.

However, the local Stihl dealer claims Stabil is junk and it's much better to use Seafoam in it's place. IDK but I may give that a try.

BTW don't overdue the Seafoam. my son had a clogged carb and tried starting it with straight Seafoam. Ruined the engine. He said he should have known better.

 

[two_bit_score]

BTW don't overdue the Seafoam. my son had a clogged carb and tried starting it with straight Seafoam. Ruined the engine. He said he should have known better.

I did that today. After the mower started, finally, on a high concentration of Seafoam in the fuel and a little dash in the carb I pulled out an old Yard Machines leaf vacuum with a Briggs engine that has set up over 5 years. The fuel line was rotted so I replaced that about a month ago and tried to start it. Nothing doing. No time to mess with it then but today I decided to try it again. After flooding the carb with Seafoam and letting it sit about 30 minutes it fired up. Smoked up a storm but settled down and ran like a sewing machine.

I guess Time will tell.

 

[Sberry]

I dont use it or Stabil either, just makers more of a gooey mess.