Seafoam for real?

[Oaktree]

I'm on the fence on Seafoam, with probably a slight lean towards "snake oil". Tried it a few times, but can't say I've seen any noticeable difference.
I do put Stabil in gas that's not going to be used up within a month or two.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I'm on the fence on Seafoam, with probably a slight lean towards "snake oil". Tried it a few times, but can't say I've seen any noticeable difference.
I do put Stabil in gas that's not going to be used up within a month or two.

With the proposed 15% Ethanol mix, the prez says will save us money.
IF, the gas stations pass on the savings.
AND, with 15%, milage will drop. Where are the savings in that?
or is it a plot???

Assuming the additives will be more widely used by some...

 

[Williy]

instead of adding corn juice to the fuel
they should use it as food in its natural
state of course. They should just go back
to regular gas and quit with all this pollution
crap on the vehicles and save us tax payers
money and head aches with the crappy fuel
that gums up the works!

willy

 

[jyoutz]

instead of adding corn juice to the fuel
they should use it as food in its natural
state of course. They should just go back
to regular gas and quit with all this pollution
crap on the vehicles and save us tax payers
money and head aches with the crappy fuel
that gums up the works!

willy

I remember the smoggy 1970s: the brown smelly air that caused headaches and hurt to breathe in the cities. Naw, I don’t want to go back to those days. Cleaner vehicles are a good thing.

 

[3Ts]

As much as I dislike pollution controls, I still remember in my younger days, sitting in a car next to a transit bus with the window down when the bus pulled away from the bus stop. I'll take the pollution controls until they find something better.

 

[Bill Guenthner]

I’m one those skeptics when it come to additives. I’m not a fan of adding stuff to my fuels or oils unless it’s for a specific reason. For example I use Stabil in my gas that will sit around for more than a few weeks and I add anti gel additive to my diesel in the winter.

Seafoam seems to be one of those miracle additives that I think works. Mainly in small engines that are running a little rough. If this actually does something, how does it work? I assume some kind of cleaner?

Marvel Mystery Oil works like well... a miracle. I've used it both in fuel systems and in engine oil. Had a 'classic' car that had a gummed up lifter, put a quart or two in and ran it until it stopped ticking and changed the oil. Sometimes it takes a 50/50 mix to clean the gunk from the oil system. Don't drive it like that, just run it until it heats up good then change the oil.

 

[Williy]

I wonder how many homes fields have burned
up because of the pollution crap on cars and the
exhaust will kill you in half the time with the crap
on vehicles now! But you say its better???

willy

 

[Number15]

Engineering explained did a good episode on ethanol

 

[Number15]

As much as I dislike pollution controls, I still remember in my younger days, sitting in a car next to a transit bus with the window down when the bus pulled away from the bus stop. I'll take the pollution controls until they find something better.

I'll take the pollution controls if they are sensible, I like clean air. Corn was the wrong answer. I'll deal with def, doc and scr and other systems but don't pretend because its corn its better for the environment.

I remember those days, I grew up in NYC, there used to be a smog cloud above the city. As I said I like clean air, but lets do stuff that makes sense and not just lines the pockets of special interests.

 

[Brady D]

I’m one those skeptics when it come to additives. I’m not a fan of adding stuff to my fuels or oils unless it’s for a specific reason. For example I use Stabil in my gas that will sit around for more than a few weeks and I add anti gel additive to my diesel in the winter.

Seafoam seems to be one of those miracle additives that I think works. Mainly in small engines that are running a little rough. If this actually does something, how does it work? I assume some kind of cleaner?

I’ve used it to get my lawn mower running better it’s good for cleaning carbs haven’t used it as a oil additive only as a spray can for the intake and a fuel additive

 

[ultrarunner]

Never had carb issues back in the day but lots of gas engines sidelined due to fuel issues.

Have not used additives long enough to give good feedback but its good to hear other's experiences.

 

[etpm]

Ethanol in gasoline does increase the octane rating, allowing for higher compression before detonation, and higher compression allows the engine to get more energy from the fuel. But that's not the reason it is added to gasoline and even though I don't know I suspect the added octane rating is not enough of a reason for adding ethanol to gasoline. And that's not the only reason I think ethanol added to gasoline is a bad idea.
Eric

 

[etpm]

On the subject of additives I did once use a fuel additive that really demonstrably worked. And worked fast too. Nearly 40 years ago I had a Ford Econoline van, the type with the engine between the front seats. I loved that van. Anyway, I was driving in Seattle on 520, leaving the city, and the lower radiator hose blew off. There was nowhere to pull over so I drove to the first exit, which was pretty close, pulled into the gas station there, and immediately shut off the engine. The engine stopped turning immediately too. I had the van towed home. A few days later I decided to see if it would even turn over. It did, and wanted to start, but couldn't quite. It also turned over faster than normal, meaning low compression. A couple days later I was in a NAPA auto parts store buying something for my VW Bug and related my van story to the counter man. He said it might just be coked up exhaust valves. He talked me into buying a can of "Valve Tune". The directions said to pour 1/2 can into the oil and the other 1/2 can down the carb while starting the engine. So I poured the stuff into the oil and then tried starting the engine. It would almost start. So I cranked the engine, poured a little down the carb at the same time, and the engine almost started. I let the thing sit a few minutes and tried again. This time the engine kinda started so I continued pouring the Valve Tune into the carb in a slow stream. Now the engine stayed running if I pumped the gas pedal just right. It ran real rough, like it was running on 3 cylinders. I continued pouring Valve Tune into the carb, tons of white smoke poured out the exhaust pipe, and the engine went from really rough running to smoothing out. By the end of the can the engine was running pretty well. I took the van for a drive around the block a few times and it started running well enough to risk a freeway run. I drove that van for a few more years and sold it, still running well. Since then I have not overheated an engine within an inch of its life and so have never needed Valve Tune again. But if I ever do I hope NAPA still sells the stuff!
Eric

 

[LeeSpencer]

Hi Gang! I'm new here, but the SeaFoam thread caught my eye. I've used it for years.
This Project Farm channel on youtube does really good real world testing that you might be interested.