Seamfoam Opinions and advice?

[GabrielGoes]

What do you guys think? i mean most of our bikes are just so old i figured many have used it, its an all petroleum based fluid with no chemicals... I just put a can in my empty tank and filled her up because i had some water problems... After the Bike gets revved pure thick white smoke comes out of the exhaust, no smoke while giving it throttle, whats that mean?... anyone have experience with putting in their crankcase before an oil change? also would anyone actually let their carb vaccum line suck this stuff up? i think thats what your supposed to do what would that do exactly? any experiences and advice would be appreciated

 

[almarconi]

What are you trying to accomplish by using it? Its not a substitute for properly cleaned carburetors. If you are storing the bike over the winter, some stabil in the gas is a good idea. If you got water in your fuel, some methanol or heet will get rid of it. I'm not really into using additives. I have used it before but can't be sure if it really did anything.

I have added acetone to gasoline for a couple mpg increase, that seems to work.

 

[Nessism]

A full can treats something like 10 gallons of gas, dumping the full can in your motorcycle is massive over kill. Did you read the instructions on the container?

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Excessive white smoke is a symptom of using too much Seafoam. There are plenty of Youtube videos which demonstrate the phenomenon.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[81GS750]

You only need to use and ounce or two per gallon. I run the stuff in my boat tanks all the time (1976 OMC 175hp I/O). It will lift and dissolve any varnish in your tank or carbs, as well as help clean carbon build-up off valves. Just my opinion on it, but like everyone else has already said, the white smoke is from using a whole bottle.

 

[tom203]

Yes to what others said. Also the stuff about letting vacuum line suck up Seafoam refers to cars or other engines with a common intake manifold. On your bike, the vacuum line only connects to one carb.

 

[DanTheMan]

I use Seafoam ocassionally, but never a whole container. I'll dump a whole can in a car gas tank where the gas is old, but not a bike tank. It shouldn't even enter your vacuum line unless the diaphragm in the petcock is toast. Your vacuum line should only have a vacuum in it or air if it's unplugged from the petcock. Seafoam has never hurt my engine, I wouldn't use it in the crankcase though. If you've been changing your oil regularly you shouldn't have enough sludge buildup to warrant Seafoam in the crankcase. If you have already added it I hope it's not a whole container and I hope you don't ride any further than around the block with it before you change oil.

 

[Clone]

It is a miracle cure, for your bike, keeps the engine running like a swiss time peice, the paint looking new and if you rub it into your joints(kids don't try this without parental supervision) will take away your arthritis


Half a can in a tank at the beginning of the riding year and the other half about the end of August

 

[davidduarte]

it does work very well, couple years ago I ran it straight into my carbs, then filled the carbs and let it sit a few days. It took me about 20 or 30 tries for it to start after all that, but it stopped the bogging problem I had been having. In the end, it just put off for a year actually having to clean the carbs out. I had a friend help me with that, and also had my tank cleaned out and lined before I put it all back together. Now it runs and idles better than it ever since I've owned it. I prefer Sea Foam over Stabil for stabilizing gas.

 

[sachsaca]

I have a part time job at Oreil's Auto Parts. We have a guy come in every so often and get a can of sea foam. He says he takes of the vacuum line from his brake booster and as the car is running he sticks the line in a bottle of sea foam and lets it suck it up till the car shuts off. He lets it sit for a few hours and then starts the car back up. He says it's difficult to start but after about 4 or 5 minutes it starts and after it clears out the car runs like new. He swears by the stuff. I've heard alot of good things about the stuff never any bad on both sides, cars and bikes.

 

[Graham]

Never saw seafoam clear a pilot jet or stop a needlevalve from leaking in a carb. I have seen BG products? 44K stop needlevalve leaks and clean carb bowls.

 

[GabrielGoes]

Never saw seafoam clear a pilot jet or stop a needlevalve from leaking in a carb. I have seen BG products? 44K stop needlevalve leaks and clean carb bowls.

got a link?

 

[tom203]

Never saw seafoam clear a pilot jet or stop a needlevalve from leaking in a carb. I have seen BG products? 44K stop needlevalve leaks and clean carb bowls.

My son's ninja 250 loves this stuff to cure clogged pilot jets- these bikes should come with Seafoam coupons to avoid carb frustration!

 

[Dave8338]

I use it all the time. Run it in a tank or two in the summer and winter store everything with StaBil and Seafoam in the final tank for the season.


It works. VERY well.

 

[salty_monk]

I'll drop some in the tank once in a while if I know the bike is going to sit. Seafoam says it can be used like stabil.

I have used it in the crankcase once. Didn't cause any problems but didn't seem to do a lot either. I suspect there is enough detergent (cleaners) in modern oils anyway to clear out any sludge....

 

[Texasgs]

re

re

I have seen the stuff work minor miracles, and I have trashed an engine with it by rinsing the lube oil off of the cylinder walls, while following directions. Most of the times I have used it worked well. But with any strong solvent there is a downside, and the potential for a bad outcome. People normally use products like this to cut corners, but there are risks.

 

[GabrielGoes]

I have seen the stuff work minor miracles, and I have trashed an engine with it by rinsing the lube oil off of the cylinder walls, while following directions. Most of the times I have used it worked well. But with any strong solvent there is a downside, and the potential for a bad outcome. People normally use products like this to cut corners, but there are risks.

please if you dont mind me asking, or anyone out there... what are the symptoms of over using seafoam and as you say "trashed" the engine... i think i may have used too much and may need to throw out my bike because it no longer has the will to start cold and it has lost alot of power and the carbs have been popping like crazy

 

[almarconi]

it no longer has the will to start cold and it has lost alot of power and the carbs have been popping like crazy

More than likely it has nothing to do with the seafoam.

When was the last time your valves were adjusted?

 

[81GS750]

Doubt thats a Seafoam issue. Like almarconi mentioned, check valve adjustment before you throw it out. Seafoam will make the bike run a like a mosquito fogger if you use too much, kinda like dumping ATF down a carburetor Dump your fuel rinse the tank and refill it, after you check valve adjustment of course.

 

[raistian77]

I have seen the stuff work minor miracles, and I have trashed an engine with it by rinsing the lube oil off of the cylinder walls, while following directions. Most of the times I have used it worked well. But with any strong solvent there is a downside, and the potential for a bad outcome. People normally use products like this to cut corners, but there are risks.

For me Seafoam keeps already clean carbs clean. Seafoam however is not a 'regular' solvent. It is petroleum based and is a solvent like AFT is a solvent. For Seafoam to damage cylinder walls they were most likely already damaged. Gas wash damages rings by increasing wear not by washing the oil away (the oil is stripped by the combination of control rings and the explosion of the power cycle) but being a improper 'cutting fluid' gasoline in the presence of metal-on-metal contact increases the cutting action and wear.