Sea Foam Oil Treatment

[Wayne0 471]

29 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

I've never tried to clean a carb with dark colored varnish in it but I've done a few with a lighter coating.  

 

I use an ultrasonic cleaner with straight NON Ethanol gas. 

 

I do have to run the more gunkier  ones through several cycles of 40 minutes each over the coarse of a week. 

 

 

Try Colman Fuel. Straight Benzine.Washes dried grease from bearings among other stuff. Better than gasoline.

Edited March 26 by Wayne0

[rmaynard 15,535]

@ebinmaine Eric, I never had much luck with using my ultrasonic cleaner for anything other than loose parts. "Packaged" items like a carburetor still had gunk in the inner ports. A good soak in lacquer thinner got into all the tiny areas. Most Kohler K-series carbs have no plastic parts that I know of. Some of the aftermarket carbs have a plastic float which I know better than to leave in when dipping in lacquer thinner. 

[pfrederi 17,743]

2 hours ago, Wayne0 said:

That thing still running? I heard that they come with bearings in the pan. I'm sorry, that was the V-6. Never mind...........

I had a  1994 V-6 Sonoma.  Gave it to my niece it is still running no engine issues...

[Racinbob 11,115]

I more of a no additive dude but I have used Sea Foam a few times in small engines. Sometimes it seemed to help, other times there was no change. There is one product that worked well for me. The check engine light came on in my wifes car. The code indicated something in the fuel system needed cleaning or was faulty. Systematically I went through everything one at a time and reset the light each time. Every time the light would come back on in a few miles. I pretty much had it narrowed down to the injectors which I wasn't going to mess with. The only bright side was that it could likely be the last straw and she'll replace it. It's been nothing but trouble since she drove it off the showroom floor. I even made hint of warning her. But, as a last resort, I read up on a bunch of fuel system cleaners and decided to try this.

 

 

It's kinda pricy but I liked some of the things I read. I waited until she was down on fuel and dumped it in. She drove it to Valpo to shop and then refueled. When she got home I reset the light. That was last summer and the light hasn't come back on. She said the car even seemed to run better. Is this stuff the reason 

[kpinnc 12,174]

48 minutes ago, Racinbob said:

It's kinda pricy but I liked some of the things I read.

 

From what I've read, Redline makes some good stuff. Particularly oils and additives for it. 

[P3x 56]

Wow, did not think the discussion would go so far.

 

I think I'm going to hod off on adding it to the Onan but may add some to the 310's Kohler.

Already added it in my truck's fuel system and Oil/crank case. I have a boroscope somewhere in my garage.  Will try to get some before and after pictures of the cylinders/pistons and see how it does.  May take a bit as I do not put much miles on either my car or truck.

 

Thanks for the replies!

[Wayne0 471]

14 hours ago, pfrederi said:

I had a  1994 V-6 Sonoma.  Gave it to my niece it is still running no engine issues...

Actually, that was back in the '80s. I'm sure things have improved!

[RED-Z06 2,221]

1 hour ago, P3x said:

Wow, did not think the discussion would go so far.

 

I think I'm going to hod off on adding it to the Onan but may add some to the 310's Kohler.

Already added it in my truck's fuel system and Oil/crank case. I have a boroscope somewhere in my garage.  Will try to get some before and after pictures of the cylinders/pistons and see how it does.  May take a bit as I do not put much miles on either my car or truck.

 

Thanks for the replies!

If its put into the oil they say to change the oil pretty much immediately, as in..add it, drive it, change it...because its acting as a flush.

[AMNTRAT 2]

I have a 2000 Toro Wheel Horse 268-H, at about 400 hours, probably about fifteen years ago, it started blowing smoke, oil rings stuck I thought. I added Sea Foam to the oil and ran it for a while and changed it. It stopped smoking and has not done it again until this year. I added Sea Foam last week and will change it tomorrow. It seems to have worked for me in the two cylinder Kohler.

[oliver2-44 9,787]

On 3/26/2024 at 4:17 PM, ebinmaine said:

 

That's something I've been mulling over.  

Lacquer thinner + ultrasonic cleaner  =   ??

I’Ve used Lacquer thinner in my ultrasonic cleaner and it works great. For safety I set it outside   I,ve cleaned some carbs that I had cleaned in Berrymans dip bucket. The lacquer thinner was noticeable dirtier afterwards. 

[oliver2-44 9,787]

On 3/26/2024 at 4:17 PM, ebinmaine said:

 

That's something I've been mulling over.  

Lacquer thinner + ultrasonic cleaner  =   ??

I’Ve used Lacquer thinner in my ultrasonic cleaner and it works great. For safety I set it outside   I,ve cleaned some carbs that I had cleaned in Berrymans dip bucket. The lacquer thinner was noticeable dirtier afterwards. 

[ebinmaine 67,766]

10 hours ago, oliver2-44 said:

I’Ve used Lacquer thinner in my ultrasonic cleaner and it works great. For safety I set it outside   I,ve cleaned some carbs that I had cleaned in Berrymans dip bucket. The lacquer thinner was noticeable dirtier afterwards. 

 

I've done the same with Berrymans and Gunk brand. I do realize they can leave a film but the modern "safe" formulas don't seem as effective as the old school stuff. 

 

I got a slew of carbs to work on.  May have to try the lacquer thinner sooner than later. 

 

 

[Lee1977 6,682]

I have tried Seafoam, can't say whether it worked or not. I do know that the gas we buy today isn't clean  It was back in the 50's and 60's back then get some on you hand it evorapted and nothing left. now you have a greasy hand and have to wash it off with soap and water. I have used Marvel Mistery Oil 65 or more years in gas and oil when something was not quite right. It always worked for me. I used Starton in gas for small engines, but only when they are not running right and it usually helps with the nonadjustable carbs. If it had adjustments most likely wouldn't be needed. I read that Marvel has changed so not sure about it now. I'm not saying you sould try it or not, that's up to you. 

 

[squonk 41,171]

I rebuilt the carb on my 857 last year. Haven't had any issues until a month ago whilst mowing. Engine would start hunting like running out of gas for about a minute then cleared up. I figured it was a fluke. Next week the same thing. Was planning on draining the tank and going thru everything but decided to give it a double dose of Seafoam "Snake Oil."  Ran it around the block with no problem and have now mowed twice along with pulling the cart around. Engine runs perfect again. Another one into the Sea Foam win column!  

Edited August 30 by squonk

[Wheelhorse#1 1,670]

I use Seafoam once on my old GMC throttle body via vacuum line I let it sit for a half hr and ran it till the smoke  cleared .

Idle smoothed right out and ran better .

 

I haven’t used it any of my horses though.

 

[peter lena 8,653]

@P3x   at the risk  of numerous attacks , been adding this to my oil changes now for years , https://www.zoro.com/rislone-concentrated-engine-oil-supplement-11oz-4405/i/G5095991/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=surfaces&utm_campaign=shopping  regularly use rotella 30 wt , add 4 0z  , of this to my oil changes , 2 oz per qt  as per bottle , the difference in running ease is very apparent , have zero engine smoke , and quiet  smooth running . stabil in all my ethanol gas , no crud in carb bowls , clean fuel filters , no fuel hose break down , fuel tanks are clean / clear . think the varnish cutting ability of this is very apparent . my oil changes are  like hot black coal oil , you asked for  experiences , done this on a number of abused kohlers , results always the same . think STA BIL  is the fuel maintainer you want , no fuel hose break down / filters clean / clear , tank too, make a regular effort to eliminate issues , lots of time on it . 40 plus horse years , pete  

[Sailman 1,291]

On 3/27/2024 at 10:00 AM, kpinnc said:

 

From what I've read, Redline makes some good stuff. Particularly oils and additives for it. 

[Sailman 1,291]

On 3/26/2024 at 5:17 PM, ebinmaine said:

I use an ultrasonic cleaner with straight NON Ethanol gas.

I do have to run the more gunkier  ones through several cycles of 40 minutes each over the coarse of a week.

I looked at contents in carb cleaner. Mainly Acetone and Toluene which I had both products on hand from marine repairs. Made a 50/50 mix for my ultrasonic cleaner. Carb came out looking clean with debris in the bottom of the jar. Unfortunately I don't know how well it cleaned the carb as I have no spark issues I can't resolve on the K 161....

[ebinmaine 67,766]

22 minutes ago, Sailman said:

I looked at contents in carb cleaner. Mainly Acetone and Toluene which I had both products on hand from marine repairs. Made a 50/50 mix for my ultrasonic cleaner. Carb came out looking clean with debris in the bottom of the jar. 

 

 

I've since switched to trying lacquer thinner for the ultrasonic cleaner. 

 

I do believe it works even better than gasoline.  

Seems to leave less residue and is easier to clean off.  

 

 

[squonk 41,171]

My ultrasonic says no flammable liquids to be used.

[ebinmaine 67,766]

4 minutes ago, squonk said:

My ultrasonic says no flammable liquids to be used.

 Yep.  Legalese...

[RED-Z06 2,221]

My ultrasonic gets up around 190⁰F, that would be more than enough to offgas solvents, having solvent vapor floating around the shop, culminating in 5 gallons of hot solvent just seems like a bad idea.

 

 

[ebinmaine 67,766]

16 minutes ago, RED-Z06 said:

My ultrasonic gets up around 190⁰F, that would be more than enough to offgas solvents, having solvent vapor floating around the shop, culminating in 5 gallons of hot solvent just seems like a bad idea.

 

 

 

Agreed.  

 

Mine gets nowhere near that temp when the heat is off. Luke warm to a hand touch. 

I don't use the heat with solvents. 

I also use common (uncommon?) sense. 

I never set the cleaner for more than 2 sessions. 

Also never use it when I'm not around it. 

 

I also don't fill the whole cleaner with solvents. I use a glass jar of cleaning fluid immersed in a tub of mostly water. 

The glass jar is covered. 

 

[RED-Z06 2,221]

I don't use solvents really at all, they are hard on soft parts and i dont want to have to switch out my cleaner.  It takes a while to heat up 5-7 gallons of cleaner but i figured out that holding the sonic button while the timer is on 00:00 bypasses the limiter to 99:99, I usually set to 1hr and 70⁰C, let whatever it is cook a while.  Yesterday I had a whole Vtwin muffler in and it took 90% of the rust off in 2hrs, today i had the hydro belt tensioner off a Hustler Xone in that was seized, the heat and cleaner loosened it up in 1 60m cycle.

 

Im just running 2qts Stages20, 1g purple power, 1g simple green, then 3-4 gallons of water. It lasts months..ill filter it a couple times though.  Does great on carbs, if the bowl is crusty, rusty, it strips it to grey metal.

[Sailman 1,291]

11 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

I also don't fill the whole cleaner with solvents. I use a glass jar of cleaning fluid immersed in a tub of mostly water. 

The glass jar is covered.

I have a pickle jar that fits into the cleaner. Solvent in the jar with a lid on, water in the cleaner. Easy to keep clean too.