seafoam.. the engine gremlin or a miracle do it all - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

CROYCE992 · 10-22-2009, 06:28 PM

just wondering what the consensus was amongst those of you that have experience using it. I have a 95 camry 5sfe and need to clean the throttle body apparent from the bad idle - figure i clean it out first before anything else.

anyways, they sell seafoam at the local walmart... should i dare add it to my crankcase and or gas tank?

carsrus · 10-22-2009, 06:40 PM

Its perfectly fine in the gas tank. The crankcase I woudlent recommened since it can cause more probelsm then it can fix.

It isnt going to clean your throttle body though. To clean your throlle body yo uneeed some carb cleaner and take of the air intake hose and spray it down and scrub it.

However sucking half a can through the pcv valve hose wouldent be that big really any risk. Just do it slowly and dont let the engine die.

CROYCE992 · 10-22-2009, 06:53 PM

i mentioned the idea to my dad and he said that adding it to the crankcase and or gas tank is a bad idea. i believe him when it comes to the crankcase but am tempted to try it in my gas tank.. is it even worth it?

ive read of ppl having smoke coming out from their exhausts for like a minute from all the carbon it expels.. is that from adding it to the gas tank?

oh and i realized that its not for cleaning my TB.. any reccomendations on brands while we are here>

Kenny_McCormic · 10-22-2009, 07:05 PM

Smoke is related to sucking it in the intake, adding to the gas tank just helps clean the injectors and stuff.

carsrus · 10-22-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CROYCE992

oh and i realized that its not for cleaning my TB.. any reccomendations on brands while we are here>

Gumout or really even the walmart brand will work. Just scrub it good and use the showle can if you have to. Make sure you spray it far down in their with the butterfly valve open.

The smoking from suckign it into the intake can get a lil obnoxious. Try doing it at night so the neighbors dont throw a fit.

muminiasty · 10-22-2009, 07:49 PM

I added seafoam everywhere possible other than oil. Cleaned throttle body with it. Everything works fine. I always get onto the highway when smoking and just fly while burning it out.

***LynchburgCSI*** · 10-22-2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muminiasty

I added seafoam everywhere possible other than oil. Cleaned throttle body with it. Everything works fine. I always get onto the highway when smoking and just fly while burning it out.

same here. it really is a miracle do it all. and yes, you can clean the TB with it. search TN for more threads on it and youtube for vids.

SirThomas88 · 10-23-2009, 02:05 AM

I love Seafoam.

Yes it will produce white smoke, the more smoke the dirtier your engine. I don't think you'll notice any smoke just from putting it in your gas tank though, it gets too diluted and its too slow of a burn.

Put it through your PCV valve like I do... well... I got a LOT of smoke. And until this thread I hadn't heard anyone say that it is bad to let your engine die while letting it get sucked into your PCV valve. In fact I heard that it was okay if it stalls.

It won't hurt anything if you feed it into your engine through an intake, or in your gas tank.

Some people put it into the oil but this can cause serious problems and should ONLY be done shortly before an oil change.

I let about half a can get sucked into the PCV valve, and then turn the car off (if it doesnt stall first) and let it sit for 15 or 20 minutes before turning my car back on.

the_professional · 10-23-2009, 02:11 AM

I ran sea foam through the brake booster, crank case, and gas tank simultaneously. Not much smoke at all, engine did stall once while sucking via the brake booster, no biggie. I drove 50 miles, did an oil change to get it out of my crank case. Car felt the same, maybe a nicer idle. & I also cleaned the TB with it & a tooth brush.

Mind you, I didnt think it would be much of a problem in the crank case, as the car only had about 63,000 miles on the engine.

haux · 10-23-2009, 03:23 AM

After reading this thread and looking at previous threads regarding seafoam, I think I'd like to try it.

Although I have a few questions...

Quote:

Mind you, I didnt think it would be much of a problem in the crank case, as the car only had about 63,000 miles on the engine.

(1) Does that mean it wouldn't be a good idea for higher mileage cars?

I was thinking about putting some in the gas tank and trying the PCV valve thing.

I am currently getting codes P0401 P0440 P0441 P0446 P0770 and P0420 as the most recent. (no need to post descriptions of the codes, I already know what they are.)

(2) Could using seafoam help any of the problems related to these codes, or could it actually worsen any of them?

After reading a few threads regarding EGR valve removal/cleaning, I was also going to give that a try along with seafoam, and hopefully that would clear up some of those codes.

muminiasty · 10-23-2009, 05:30 AM

MY Cam 97 has 118k on now.

I Use techron -fuel system cleaner
Auto-RX- for oil system cleaning
SeaFoam- through brake booster line and toothbrush throttle body

Did it help? I feel like car overall has smoother idle and after sea foam it accelerates little better. Just please make sure instructions beffore using any of those products for the best results.

I'm not sure what those codes mean but clean egr and clean or replace pcv valve.

***LynchburgCSI*** · 10-23-2009, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haux

After reading this thread and looking at previous threads regarding seafoam, I think I'd like to try it.

Although I have a few questions...

(1) Does that mean it wouldn't be a good idea for higher mileage cars?

I was thinking about putting some in the gas tank and trying the PCV valve thing.

I am currently getting codes P0401 P0440 P0441 P0446 P0770 and P0420 as the most recent. (no need to post descriptions of the codes, I already know what they are.)

(2) Could using seafoam help any of the problems related to these codes, or could it actually worsen any of them?

After reading a few threads regarding EGR valve removal/cleaning, I was also going to give that a try along with seafoam, and hopefully that would clear up some of those codes.

1) basically, the seafoam could knock some sludge or other junk loose inside the engine and throw it somewhere where it could do some damage. BUT... i've ran seafoam in my crank case 120+miles before an oil change. I'm just over 170,000 miles.

2) If the 400 series of codes are emissions codes (if i'm remebering correctly... it's 6:30am here) then yes, you might get a few of the codes to clear. The PCV & EGR valves would definitly be a few good things to clean.

haux · 10-23-2009, 05:36 AM

Quote:

I'm not sure what those codes mean but clean egr and clean or replace pcv valve.

I'm mainly wondering if using Seafoam would be bad on such a clogged up emissions system, or could it possibly help clean it out?

For example, someone reported getting a P0420 after using Seafoam through the PCV. Since my car is *already* getting a P0420, is it still alright to use it?

haux · 10-23-2009, 05:41 AM

Thank you!

Except my car has over 333,000 miles, which explains my concern.

But I shall try it anyway! Possibly today, if time permits. (if anybody has objections, please post them)
Then I will take a whack at the EGR and the VSV for the EGR.

And if my car explodes, I will be sending you all bills in the mail!

Quote:

Originally Posted by LynchburgCSI

1) basically, the seafoam could knock some sludge or other junk loose inside the engine and throw it somewhere where it could do some damage. BUT... i've ran seafoam in my crank case 120+miles before an oil change. I'm just over 170,000 miles.

2) If the 400 series of codes are emissions codes (if i'm remebering correctly... it's 6:30am here) then yes, you might get a few of the codes to clear. The PCV & EGR valves would definitly be a few good things to clean.

***LynchburgCSI*** · 10-23-2009, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haux

Thank you!

Except my car has over 333,000 miles, which explains my concern.

But I shall try it anyway! Possibly today, if time permits.
Then I will take a whack at the EGR and the VSV for the EGR.

And if my car explodes, I will be sending you all bills in the mail!

apparently after 500 posts, i become liable for any damage i may cause as a result of my information i give out.... where's my legal team...?

yeah at 333k i'd prolly keep it out of the oil. or at least go in a smaller dose and fewer miles before the oil change.