Seafoam Discussion

[tonydca]

I do a lot of short-trip inter-urban driving with my L400, and about 6 months ago I had real issues with sluggish performance.

A DeliTune at CVI showed a couple of dirty injectors (Mardy had cleaned them when I first got the van) and after a clean she was good as new:

http://www.delica.ca/forum/a-big-bouque ... =injectors

Well, here we are 6 months on and she was starting to get sluggish again.

So I bought a can of SeaFoam for $13 at Napa (Lordco/CanTire don't carry it), added it to a tank, gave it a good Italian tune-up run out to Horseshoe Bay and back, and *big* improvement. (You can Google "msds seafoam"; the contents are just IPA, light mineral oil and naptha)

Not trying to take business away from CVI, but this'll now be a 6-month regular thing for me. I recommend it if anyone else's van is feeling the effects of urban driving...

[FalcoColumbarius]

Or the quality content of ULSD. I use Howes but I will take a look at your seafoam.

Falco.

[tonydca]

I also use Howes:

http://www.vulsay.com/msds/V015.pdf

But sometimes I think lubrication and cleaning abilities are often not compatible. i.e. I wouldn't run the IPA in Seafoam through the fuel full time as I think it would dry out seals, but a dose once in a while for a cleaning might not be a bad thing.

Interestingly, the best thing you can add to your tank to lubricate the fuel system seems to be boring ol' biodiesel:

http://www.johnfjensen.com/Diesel_fuel_ ... e_test.pdf

[jessef]

I use seafoam as well. One bottle in/outlet to the IP and it's great. But you have to run it as per the specific instructions and use a good additive after.

[tonydca]

One bottle in/outlet to the IP and it's great.

???

Not quite sure what you mean. From what the bottle reads, either add to a full tank of fuel (what I did) for a "kinder, gentler clean", or fill the fuel filter with the stuff 100% for a hard-core quick clean of the injectors.

But yeah, a heavy dose of lubricity additive after this tank is empty is the plan.

[jessef]

Seafoam can be used for the crank oil flush and an upper cylinder/injection system flush. They recommend for the crank oil that you put it in and do about 100 kms at 100 kms/hr. Then, drop the crank oil immediately. The upper cylinder/fuel injection flush can be done in two ways. The easiest way is to just take one can when you do a fuel filter change and fill the new filter with the product. However, a certain percentage of it will never make it to the injector nozzels and upper cylinder as it gets returned to the tank.

The best is to remove your intake and return lines and run them into an enclosed glass jar. Dump in two cans and run until the jar is nearly empty. This is how I do mine and it makes a huge difference.

Dumping a can in the tank only a bit makes it to the injectors.

A brand new fuel filter filled fresh with seafoam is a good way.

The seafoam jar with intake/outlet injection pump lines and cycling it through is very thorough. It's the equivalent of a supersonic clean at a service shop however it is at your own risk of course.

[Mr. Flibble]

I also use Howes:

http://www.vulsay.com/msds/V015.pdf

But sometimes I think lubrication and cleaning abilities are often not compatible. i.e. I wouldn't run the IPA in Seafoam through the fuel full time as I think it would dry out seals, but a dose once in a while for a cleaning might not be a bad thing.

Interestingly, the best thing you can add to your tank to lubricate the fuel system seems to be boring ol' biodiesel:

http://www.johnfjensen.com/Diesel_fuel_ ... e_test.pdf

That PDF seems to suggest that Biodiesel is good - but Canola Oil (and perhaps WVO?) is bad.

EDIT

The following link shows the benefits of canola for lubricity:

http://www.burnveg.com/forum/about39.html

[joedelica]

Thanks Tony, the Seafoam made a big difference; eliminated slight hesitation when there is the need to accelerate, and engine
seems to run smoother. I put about 25% in the crankcase and the balance in the tank. This will be my semi-annual Italian tune up!

Cheers,

Joe

[jessef]

Joe

It's a waste dumping it in the tank. Small percentage makes it to the actual injectors.

Buy a new fuel filter, pour it all inside the filter, and then spin on and take it out on the highway. This is your best method to get to the injectors except for the IP direct method I listed above.

About the crank oil, do NOT leave seafoam in there. Run it at highway speeds 80-100km/hr for 80-100 km's and then dump it out right away. You'll damage the bearings/sleeves if you leave the seafoam in there. Check the website directions if you don't believe me. You can do serious damage if you leave it in.

[FalcoColumbarius]

What do the directions say?

[jessef]

What do the directions say?

Seafoam can be used for the crank oil flush and an upper cylinder/injection system flush. They recommend for the crank oil that you put it in and do about 100 kms at 100 kms/hr. Then, drop the crank oil immediately.

[madmazda]

sorry for my ignorance but what does " IP " stand for ????

[fexlboi]

sorry for my ignorance but what does " IP " stand for ????

Injection Pump

[joedelica]

Hi Jesse,

Thanks, for the heads up; I've had it in the crankcase since last Thursday and logged about 600km since.
May be a placebo effect, but I notice a big difference with quicker and smoother acceleration.

Cheers,

Joe

[joedelica]

I know there are many know-it-alls on a variety of subject matter; but this fellow from another forum re: Seafoam claims,
"You're fine. After awhile the alcohol in seafoam will simply evaporate & then you're left with naptha, which is basically a very thin oil anyways."

Nonetheless, I will drop the oil tomorrow and empty the new oil filter as well, rather than replace.

Joe