Seafoam Questions

[Austen]

Hey, I’m trying to find a way to fix my motor and I discovered Seafoam but I just wanted to know if you can spay it directly into the carburetor and if the specific mixture is very important or if I can just spay some in my tank?

Thanks

 

[jimmbo]

There are far better Snake Oils than SeaFoam. Spraying any of them in to the carb, only cleans the Carb Throat. Some of the Better ones can soften Carbon in the Ring Grooves. If you are trying to Clean a Carb, the best way is to take it off the Motor, disassemble it, clean all the internal Parts and Passages, reassemble, the reinstall it, and perform Link and Sync. I used to sometimes get away with dumping a couple of Cans of Engine Tuner, or Power Tune into a 5 Gallon tank and run that thru. Sometimes it worked, other times, it dislodged a piece of Gum/Varnish and really clogged it up. On a motor with one carb, it doesn't run well, maybe Lean. On a Motor with more than one Carb, having one of the carbs go lean. while the others supply fuel is a Disaster in the the Making

 

[Crosbyman]

agree 100% with post#2. you did not specify engine size & complexity

for a small one carb engine just pull it of and clean the innards....lots of utubes to teach you .

to be honest I did fix up my snowblower backfires with seafoam...it does works in some cases even if lots of folks question the usefullness of it.

so....it is all up to you.

 

[Austen]

Ok thanks, I don’t know much about motors and but is there anything I should watch out for while cleaning the carb? Is there anything I should 100% not do? And do I just clean it with a clean rag?

 

[jimmbo]

Oh Boy. A Carb is not like a Table, where you can wipe it with a Rag. It requires you to remove, and properly disassemble the Carb, use of proper cleaning solutions and technique, replacing Wear Parts, and proper adjustment of them, care in reassembly and reinstallation, checking and if need be adjusting the Carb-Ignition Synchronization, and finally adjustment of the Mixture Controls. It isn't Rocket Science, but Attention to the job needs be there. A lot of people think, taking the Fuel Bowl off and taking out the Mixture Screws and dunking the Carb in a Carb Cleaner, taking it out and putting back together, is cleaning a carb. Often there are Caps that need to be removed to gain access to places where Gum/Dirt/Varnish can build up. The Carb overhaul kits should have all the parts needed. In addition to a Carb cleaning Solution, you will also need Compressed Air, to blow passages out.

 

[racerone]

Injectors are so much easier.----You install a new one and turn the key to start the motor.

 

[tpenfield]

Seafoam come in both a spray and a bottle, if you want to add it to the fuel.

I have found that Mercury PowerTune works the best as far as cleaning gummed up carburetors and carbon build-up in the cylinder. It may not cure the engine woes, but at least the fuel system and engine internals will be cleaner.

 

[Crosbyman]

Injectors are so much easier.----You install a new one and turn the key to start the motor.

true yet...carbs are so inexpensive to simply clean .... I have nightmares of my 2005 ETEC injectors going south on me after 17 years ($1200+ each it seems X 3)

Austen....you did not specify engine manuf. mdl. year so help is limited

 

[racerone]

I agree.-----Older technology is easier on the budget for at home repairs.---But for a shop / factory this modern stuff makes for plug and play profit.