seafoam - does it do what it claims?

[gswisconsin]

Have I just paid a lot for a can of hope. That is to say; (I hope it will make my bike run better without me fixing the real underlying problem.) And what did I really buy. I have learned over the years that most household cleaners are nothing more than basic $1 per gallon cleaners disguised as something else by adding a little food color and perfume. So, did I just pay $7/pint for something special or did I buy some mix of lacquer thinner, naphtha or any other solvent that I cold have gotten a gallon of for the same price. I know there are a lot of manmade chemicals out there that work great for what they are intended for. I use some of them for other purposes. For example, I like to use the solvent that dry cleaners use for cleaning my firearms in my basement. This chemical is highly toxic to breath but I like it because it is nonflammable and I can use it near my furnace and water heater without worrying about blowing myself up. It also is very hard on plastic-- it will melt my plastic toothbrush and the rubber gloves I use in short order. I take the risk because it does what I want it to do really well and fast. I have been using it for 35 years and I know nothing like it can be bought where firearms are bought and sold. I learned about this the same way I am trying to learn about seafoam.

Also I am a new member, and I would like to post my location by my nametag but cant figure it out. I am not afraid to ask for help.

 

[BassCliff]

Also I am a new member, and I would like to post my location by my nametag but cant figure it out. I am not afraid to ask for help.

Hi,

In the upper left corner of your screen you will see a link that says "User CP". That's your User Control Panel. You can make all kinds of additions to your information, change the way the forums display, add pictures to your photo albums, etc.

Further to the right on that same menu bar you will see "Search". Click there, type in "seafoam" and you will find hours of information about the product as it pertains to usage in our GS motorcycles by our members. Used the "Advanced Search" to narrow your search parameters, i.e. to search "titles only" or for posts only by a certain member, etc.

In a nutshell, Seafoam is great for maintenance and, in a high concentration, can help clean out mildly cruddy carbs, but it doesn't work miracles. The material safety data sheet can be found by CLICKING HERE.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[suzu650]

In a nutshell, Seafoam is great for maintenance and, in a high concentration, can help clean out mildly cruddy carbs, but it doesn't work miracles.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

Disagree, I think seafoam DOES work miracles.

 

[BassCliff]

Disagree, I think seafoam DOES work miracles.

It also does double duty as a dessert topping AND a floor wax!

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[gs road racer]

Disagree, I think seafoam DOES work miracles.

Miracles do not come in cans , bottle or jars unless it's tequila.....

 

[Theo]

Miracles do not come in cans , bottle or jars unless it's tequila.....

Now that would make a good sig. quote.

 

[Guest]

Miracles do not come in cans , bottle or jars unless it's tequila.....

Tequila might cause some stability problems or 'wallowing' if the proper amount isn't used though...
Tony.

 

[suzu650]

lol @ this these comments not helping this man at all!!

 

[suzu650]

Basscliff, why do you put:

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

at the end of every one of your comments? Not trying to hate, but it just gets annoying. Along with you saying "hi," at the beginning of nearly all your posts.

 

[jwhelan65]

Basscliff, why do you put:

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

at the end of every one of your comments? Not trying to hate, but it just gets annoying. Along with you saying "hi," at the beginning of nearly all your posts.

What is so annoying about being friendly??? ... stop jacking the thread.

 

[suzu650]

What is so annoying about being friendly?

I just feel there is no need. replying with one sentence, yet having to put "hi," and "thank you for your indulgance, basscliff" just seems rediculous in nearly every post. I know its BassCliff making a comment because it says that it is him at the top of his post. just extremely repetitive.

 

[Guest]

If these little things bother you, wait till you participate in any P or R rated Off Topic threads.....everyone here's different, and has different ways of self-expression. Mr. Basscliff is easily our friendliest and most helpful member, and also the current Member Of The Year....mess with him at your own peril.
Tony.

EDIT: Sorry for the hijack....back to the Seafoam!

 

[suzu650]

Ha, sorry. Wasnt trying to hate on him, have just been a little bothered by it. He has came to the rescue in nearly every help thread I have started, so I am by no means try to hate. I am grateful for members like him!

 

[BassCliff]

Just being polite

Just being polite

Basscliff, why do you put:

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

at the end of every one of your comments? Not trying to hate, but it just gets annoying. Along with you saying "hi," at the beginning of nearly all your posts.

Hi Mr. suzu650,

You are not the first to mention this. I'm sure you won't be the last. We get a new crop every spring.

If you insist, I'd be happy to explain my behavior.

I was raised in an era where proper spelling, proper grammar, formality, and politeness were looked upon as desirable. These habits let people know that you take communication seriously and wish to impart your ideas clearly, without offense. I guess you could say that this is my own little rebellion against the youth culture. Sure, I know what "brb" and "ttyl" mean, and I can type with my thumbs, but I prefer to write in complete sentences.

You will never see me correcting or complaining about anyone's grammar, punctuation, or spelling. If I don't understand I will ask for clarification. Someone a lot smarter than I (Stephen R. Covey) once said, "Seek first to understand, then to be understood".


All the best to you and yours,

Cliff

 

[suzu650]

Hi Mr. suzu650,

You are not the first to mention this. I'm sure you won't be the last. We get a new crop every spring.

If you insist, I'd be happy to explain my behavior.

I was raised in an era where proper spelling, proper grammar, formality, and politeness were looked upon as desirable. These habits let people know that you take communication seriously and wish to impart your ideas clearly, without offense. I guess you could say that this is my own little rebellion against the youth culture. Sure, I know what "brb" and "ttyl" mean, and I can type with my thumbs, but I prefer to write in complete sentences.

You will never see me correcting or complaining about anyone's grammar, punctuation, or spelling. If I don't understand I will ask for clarification. Someone a lot smarter than I (Stephen R. Covey) once said, "Seek first to understand, then to be understood".


All the best to you and yours,

Cliff

i admire u basscliff. Seriously though, I completely understand what you are saying. Times have obviously changed dramatically.

 

[gswisconsin]

I guessed partially right. I see the MSDS shows up to 35% naphtha along with 50% pale oil an IPA. I never heard of these but I will google them. I put some in my tank tonight and was wondering if it would not hurt to run some down the vacuum port used by the petcock since this is the cylinder that really could use the stuff. I am thinking of a hose attached to the vacuum port and using a large syringe of seafoam and slowly injecting it into the hose until the motor stalls out and letting it sit for 10 minutes before starting the motor again as the directions on the website state. I am wondering if this would help clean my exhaust valve a bit. The seafoam website only talks about cleaning the intake valve and piston. These posts are pretty funny. Isnt it ironic that brandy, whiskey, scotch and gin can help a man that is feeling a bit down, but we can't use it to help cure what is ailing our poor old gs's. Castor oil would work on our gs's but you'll never see me indulge. So it's alcohol for me and naphtha and pale oil for my ailing gs.
Thanks for all the posts.

 

[Guest]

Sea Foam ?

Sea Foam ?

I don't know about Sea Foam. But if BassCliff came in a can, I would buy a case. I do have a can of Sea Foam. I used it to clean some parts it worked. Then I read you could run it in the engine. I never did. BassCliff has helped me a lot. Good spelling, gramer. polite. The total package. I mean that in a manly way!

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

IPA = isopropyl alcohol.
Pale oil = a petroleum lubricating or process oil, refined until it is a light straw color.
Naptha = a dark oil consisting of mainly hydrocarbons.

I use a dose of it in my tank a few times a year. I recently put my bike back together after my crash last year and I put about a half can in my first tank just to help clean out any gunk that I might have missed when I cleaned my carbs. I think it helps but it can only do so much. It can also be used as a fuel stabilizer for those of you who don't ride during the winter. Some have even used a few ounces in their engine oil to clean the sludge out of their crankcase. Don't run with this diluted oil for more than 50 miles or so before you change it.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[Guest]

I guessed partially right. I see the MSDS shows up to 35% naphtha along with 50% pale oil an IPA.

I am wondering if this would help clean my exhaust valve a bit. The seafoam website only talks about cleaning the intake valve and piston. These posts are pretty funny. Isnt it ironic that brandy, whiskey, scotch and gin can help a man that is feeling a bit down, but we can't use it to help cure what is ailing our poor old gs's. Castor oil would work on our gs's but you'll never see me indulge. So it's alcohol for me and naphtha and pale oil for my ailing gs.
Thanks for all the posts.

If IPA turns out to be India Pale Ale (beer), it might be just the thing, for whatever ails both you & the GS.
The intake valve benefits because the Seafoam, mixed with the incoming charge comes in contact with it as it enters the cylinder....after combustion, it doesn't benefit the exhaust valve, since it exits as exhaust gases, without any Seafoam goodness left.

I don't know about Sea Foam. But if BassCliff came in a can, I would buy a case. The total package. I mean that in a manly way!

I have it on good authority that Mr. Basscliff is as straight as they come, so to speak.

Tony.

 

[gswisconsin]

Seafoam is 50% naphtha -( lantern fuel, lighter fluid), 30% pale oil (light machine oil or sewing machine oil) and 20% IPA ( Isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol without the water added). I guess the word seafoam is bewildering for me. I just needed to understand what I am working with. Now that I know what it is will I make my own. Probably not. But you have to admit if seafoam is selling for $7/pint or $56/gal. it is not cheap. I have a gallon of marvel mystery oil that I like to use in my lawn mowers, tractors and rototiller and I think it does help to lubricate the top ends and I actually think it helps to prevent valve burning if you have an engine that is prone to running hot. I did not pay $56 for it so I tend to use a lot of it. Marvel Mystery Oil is another thread and another need to understand product, I guess. Thanks again for all the posts.