seafoam.

[90xj06]

ok so i finally found some seafoam. it was always sold out at az. so i added it to my tb and started it. it smoked for awhile. then did it again. still smoked. will it ever stop smoking. my neighbor thought my house was on fire.

[Gunner]

This may sound dumb but I gotta ask... Never heard of the seafoam thing. Why and what for?

[90xj06]

its a gas oil and throttle body additive and it cleans carbon build up and such. its not until recently that i heard of it too.

[Gunner]

Sweet. I used a can of of Conklin 4 power bout a year ago cleaned the crap out of my stuff. It ran like crap for the better half of 200 miles but now I get. Better milage better power, no crappy idleing.. But this is besides the point. I hope the seafoam works out. Seems strange that it would produce so much smoke. Good luck.

[87manche]

how did you add it to the TB?
run it till it stops smoking, the smoke is all the carbon leaving.

[90xj06]

i added it through the cc vac line and the brake booster. so how many times should i do it. until it stops smoking.

[SCW]

I poured it through the TB at idle. Just as it would get close to sputtering all the way out I'd back off and let it regain idle. Did this a few times then let it sit for about 15 minutes, started it up and watched the HUGE cloud of smoke, but I did it after-hours at work so it never bothered anyone.

I also poured about a 1/2 can in the crankcase and 1/2 can in the gas. Now the loudest thing on the engine is the injectors clicking. My father in law just tried it in his crankcase and gas tank and within 50 miles it took care of his stuck lifter.

That said, I've also tried BG 44k in the tank and I like it even better but it's about 4x the cost.

[90xj06]

i might go and get another can tomorrow. and add half to the oil. i really try not to add any thing to the gas i just replaced the fuel injectors.

[gregmondro]

For those of you who haven't done the seafoam thing before.

You can put half a can in your gas tank then the other half down the TB or through the vacuum line from the brake booster to the intake manifold (disco the brake booster side of course, lol).

Seafoam isn't an oil additive. It cleans out carbon deposits and oil grime. So you don't want to put it in your oil unless you are going to change it directly after you run it in there for a day or two IF THAT.

You are supposed to add it to the engine (through TB or brake booster vacuum line) in small ammounts until you're almost to the end of the can. Then just dump the rest in so that it stalls out the engine. From there let it sit for about 15-20 minutes, then start it up and go take it for a drive (spirited is good :P ) It'll smoke like none other, but then the smoke will finally stop after the deposits are burned off.

Please note that doing this may foul oxygen sensors. All that burned off grime is going out through the exhaust, so you might wanna take the o2 sensors out of the exhaust bungs when you do the sea foam.

[wilcharl]

My question ahs always been what happens to the poor cadillac converter when the sea-foam hits it?

[90xj06]

on the little paper thingy it states it will take odors out of the cat. and its catalytic converter.
also the jeeps got 220000 miles and not going to get any better. will just through the can in there until the oil gets dirty. i have a synthetic blend in there now. and it is still the same color it was when i put it in there. ill change the filter after 1000 miles tho.

[gregmondro]

Same thing as the o2 sensors more or less. That stuff has to go out and it only has one way to go out, so all of the stuff is going to get it.

The cat is probably pretty durable when it comes to that stuff though. I've never had a problem with the cats on any car i've had and I've ran sea foam through them all on a semi-normal basis.

[90xj06]

i think i still have the origial cat on there.

[gregmondro]

I wouldn't worry about it too much, if ANYTHING i'd just remove the o2 sensors from the exhaust bungs while you do this.

But half the time I don't even do that when I do the sea foam on my Jeep.

[SCW]

I did the Seafoam soon after I got my Jeep, and the PO had ignored the CCV problem for some time, so the entire intake was covered and the cat was quite plugged. After seafoam I had MUCH better throttle response and I'm quite sure the cat was freed up a little, in addition to a cleaner intake.

[EricT]

seafoam is great stuff, I use it in my truck when the temps get around 0 degrees eventhough you get a winter blend at the pump, that is only good to -5.

[langer1]

Good stuff really old company that started with products to clean 2 cycle marine engines.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/langer1/jeep/seafoamlogos.jpg

[90xj06]

i wanna get some of the trans-tune. but i have put trans-x in which i think is close because of its metal can.

[HogWash]

Where might I find this seafoam at???Ive go 300+ miles on mine I dont think it will hurt it.And im pretty sure ive got some carbon build up somewere.

[90xj06]

i got it at napa and autozone

[HogWash]

i got it at napa and autozone
Thanks ill go there today and check it out,the directions are on the can on who to do it right?And how many cans does it usually take?And which one should I get?

[gregmondro]

One can.

half in the gas, half down the tb or vacuum line from the brake booster to the intake manifold.

[langer1]

If you want t do a full decarb do this.
Next just before a tuneup, buy two cans of Seafoam.
But one can in a FULL tank of gas.
Next warm the engine up to full temperature with the engine running start pouring the second can slowly at first into the TB keep pouring faster until it stalls out.

Let it sit until cool and change the plugs and do the tune up, your engine top end will be clean as new.

There will be lots of smoke so do it a night

[Gerr]

If you want t do a full decarb do this.
Next just before a tuneup, buy two cans of Seafoam.
But one can in a FULL tank of gas.
Next warm the engine up to full temperature with the engine running start pouring the second can slowly at first into the TB keep pouring faster until it stalls out.

Let it sit until cool and change the plugs and do the tune up, your engine top end will be clean as new.

There will be lots of smoke so do it a night
might wanna drive it a bit to work out the smoke before the new tune up is all I would add to theese directions. the smoke is actually the carbon burning off including any gunk in the cat so id wait till it is done doin its cleaning to put in the new plugs etc.


Ive used this stuff on my 93 a few times and it not only does what it says it will but also kept me from buying a new cat at smog time last year. :yelclap:

[langer1]

It may not start until you change the plugs but if if does then go for it, there is so much smoke though I think you would safer to stay off the road though.

[90xj06]

like i said my neighbor thought my house was on fire there was so much smoke

[Michaelarchangelo]

Why not just steam clean the inside of the motor. Water doesn't foul anything out, and it cheap. Just make sure you use distilled and I like to use a misting bottle.

[93XJdude]

i just sea foamed mine and the smoke cloud filled the street. also it idles a lot better nowl.

[lawsoncl]

how did you add it to the TB?
run it till it stops smoking, the smoke is all the carbon leaving.

No, all the smoke would be the oil in Seaform burning off. Nothing magical about it, but it does seem to work well. Per the MSDS, SEAFOAM is

PALE OIL (medium grade oil) 40-60%
NAPHTHA 25-35%
Isopropal Alcohol 10-20%

Could make you own by buying the Naptha and alcohol at the hardware store and mixing it with some ATF.

[HogWash]

Just did seafoam thing and have to say for having 300+ mile I would have thoght there would be alot more smoke then there was,but does idle better and throttle response is better as well.Im going to change my oil and then put another can in and see if theres more smoke.I also found out were my exhaust manifold is leaking at:helpme: .Checked on ebay for one waiting for a reply from the seller.

[90xj06]

so it will never stop smoking when you seafoam it? i have the worst response from my jeep. you hit the gas wait a sec there it is.

[Highlander]

Tried cleaning your throttlebody it's self????

[90xj06]

how would you go about doing this. i really don't want to remove it. i have no other car to go to school.

[Pioneer84]

Just did mine a 87XJ 4.0 I6 AW4 242 and it only smoked a short time after I was finish using it. It worked GREAT cleared up its rough idle and hesitation.
I used 3/4 of a can in the booster line the rest I put in the oil will run that for a while then change my oil.

[90xj06]

while it was running

[TiRod]

I've sold it, I've used it. The directions state: 1/3 down the tb - and that's best down getting some in the Idle air bleed hole, 1/3 in the oil, 1/3 in the gas. Once a year should do it.

Mixed to directions it works great on starting up your lawn mower in the spring - really cuts down on old fuel gunking up the carb passages.

In the 70's JCPenny sold a 20 oz spray can that was an "instant tuneup." It sure worked - and made huge clouds of smoke when it was added just fast enough to barely keep the engine running. It took another 2 - 4 minutes to clear off. Seafoam looks and smells just like it.

[cumorglas]

Up here in the grea lakes we have to winterize marine engines in the fall. for outboards it mostly consists of spraying fogging oil in the carb and trying to use up all the fuel in the tank. for inboards it is quite a bit more complex. it involves making sure all your fuel tanks are filled to capacity so water doesn't condense in there, getting enough fuel stabilizer in there to match all the fuel. getting all the water in the engine replaced with non toxic antifreeze and timing the fogging oil so you stall it out just as the pink stuff comes out the exhaust.

every year there are a couple guys who just didn't feel theel needed to do all that. if the y blow off the antifreeze, well thats expensive. if they blow off the fuel stuff well, that's what the seafoam was for.

[CToyeIV]

I use seafoam religously, you know like twice a year.

90xj06 - your jeep has 220,000 miles worth of build up, it'll look like cheech and chong had a weeklong party at your house before it runs clean... although I would suggest that you limit the frequency of usage and definately follow SWC's comment about letting the engine sit for 15 mins.

ONE MORE THING - use no more than 2/3 of the can at a time and if you can manage it, when you're used the amount you desire stall the motor out by pushing the vacuum hose to the bottom of the can therby sealing the vacuum feed.

[kf_chris]

Although this is WELL covered already. I love Seafoam, I've used it on 3 trucks so far with fantastic outcomes on all three. If you really have a lot of miles, put a can or two in the tank when you treat the intake manifold and it will clean all the crap out of the fuel system also.

[UNCC_99XJ]

Interesting thread. I've got 86,5xx on my 4.0 and i'm cosidering trying this method. I have run a can in the tank not to long ago and was very pleased with the constant 20-22mpg i'm getting on my highway commute now (no cruise control either).

I have pulled the throttle body off, thoroughly cleaned it, and sprayer throttle body cleaner into the intake to break up some of the gunk. This made for a rather hard start (as expected), and blew out a little bit of smoke for a few seconds. I then got in and drove it around the block a couple of times, rather spirited to work the rest of the crap out of the system. I noticed a somewhat better throttle response and smoother running engine.

I'm a little leary about adding seafoam into the intake though. From what i've read it's pretty powerful and i'm worried about is messin up my o2 sensors. I've already got one I gotta replace, would like not make it two.

[kf_chris]

take the sensors out of the exhaust pipe and you might be better off, but I'm not sure if it will run that well. seafoam has been known to foul both plugs and O2 sensors, so beware of those. I put that stuff into my intake manifold a few times and it works fine, gets all that carbon buildup and gunk out of it if there's any in there.

[1985xjlaredo]

That said, I've also tried BG 44k in the tank and I like it even better but it's about 4x the cost
what IS BG 44K?

Why not just steam clean the inside of the motor. Water doesn't foul anything out, and it cheap. Just make sure you use distilled and I like to use a misting bottle

Is it just me or is this crazy talk? How the hell do you access the "inside of the motor" And does he realize that water rusts? Maybe he was fooling around or something?

Could make you own by buying the Naphtha and alcohol at the hardware store and mixing it with some ATF

Use Diesel #2 or kerosene. They by them selves will do some major cleaning.
Just my 2c

[UNCC_99XJ]

what IS BG 44K?
Not trying to be a dick but search for it on here. It's been covered numerous times.

[1985xjlaredo]

I did search for it but the are no results.

[RichP]

what IS BG 44K?

Is it just me or is this crazy talk? How the hell do you access the "inside of the motor" And does he realize that water rusts? Maybe he was fooling around or something?

Use Diesel #2 or kerosene. They by them selves will do some major cleaning.
Just my 2c


NO, one of the methods of removing carbon is using water, either a mister which you use to gently spray the water into the intake or by dribbling into the intake. It was common practice back up until the 80's or so when 'chemical cleaning' became the norm.
The running engine turns the water to steam which soakes into the carbon like a sponge, expands and literally shatters the carbon. It was something to be cautious with, I warped a head on a 6 cylinder mustang doing this from putting too much in from the cup I was dribbling with. Pre cat days the carbon would come out in big pieces especially if you had headers and a straight thru cherry bomb type exhaust. Alot of people who did not understand high octane would run sunoco 260 or Amaco high test in lower performance motors, result was alot of unburned fuel carboning up. Happens now when people run preimum in normal engines... On the other hand my other mustang was a GT500 with a built 427 running 12.5:1 and that flat out needed a minimum of Sunoco 240 but was happier with 260. My dad borrowed it one day and filled it with sunoco 190, it ran for about 2 minutes and died, would not even start after that.

[1985xjlaredo]

Nice dad. So im taking ti that the water method would not work as well with the catalic conveter motors of to day? Seems chunks of carbon in there is not what i Need!:dunno:

[mcnamaag]

I have used the water method before and it worked great BUT you realy need t be carefull not to over do it. Just use a spray bottle and with the engine running around 1500-1800 RPM spray a SMALL amount of water into the intake. being carefull not to stall the engine. If it does stall quickly restart it. After a couple of good shots take it for a drive and push it a little bit hard you really can feel the difference.

[darjevon]

seafoam will also fix 2-cycle engines when they get stuck on half-choke... very useful if you use your outboard motor/weedwacker liek once a year and always leave the same old fuel in it. really works:spin1:

[FatXJ]

I have used seafoam, Gm top engine cleaner, ATF, and carburetor cleaner down the intake with good results. The carburetor cleaner is good for all of the oil residue in the intake.

The ATF works just about the same as seafoam alone. The water works great for carbon and will steam clean the pistons to a like new finish, just as if you had a head gasket leak and the coolant was cleaning them.