Seafoam Discussion

Topics may eventually be moved to other Delica Canada forums.

Moderators: BCDelica, mark

User avatar
lettereleven
Posts: 199
Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:36 pm
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: L400 Super Exceed
Location: Bleh

Re: Seafoam Discussion

Post by lettereleven »

I did my first seafoam clean two weeks ago (1 in crankcase, 2 in IP, 1/2 in fuel filter, 1/2 in tank, changed oil). I've noticed the positive effects as other who have commented.

However, I also noticed a downside - morning starts are much rougher. Turn over is unchanged, but the warm-up is way lumpier and much more white smoke. Later in the day is fine. My suspicion is that seafoam is hard on the IP seals and it exacerbated air might be getting in over night.

I am not suggesting seafoam is bad, but as stated earlier, I suggest you have a good baseline maintenance history of your system. Unlike me, who did it because there was no history!
User avatar
CREGAN
Posts: 1094
Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:05 am
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: 94 L400 SpaceGear Super Exceed
Location: Leduc, Alberta

Re: Seafoam Discussion

Post by CREGAN »

I too did it because i didn't know the maintenance history, that is why I did the IP and the crankcase. I am having Coombs take a look at my start up issue because it sounds the same as yours- very lumpy and white/grey smoke with an overpowering smell of diesel exhaust. These sound like issues involved with the IP or starting system (glow plugs) which is why I am only going to Seafoam the IP when I change my fuel filters. I was thinking about the crank treatment though. It seemed to run much more smooth and sounded much better with the crankcase treatment so I was wondering if that should be done every oil change.

Craig
User avatar
rezdiver
Posts: 276
Joined: Sat Apr 03, 2010 10:10 am
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: 1991 L300
Location: comox valley

Re: Seafoam Discussion

Post by rezdiver »

lettereleven wrote:I did my first seafoam clean two weeks ago (1 in crankcase, 2 in IP, 1/2 in fuel filter, 1/2 in tank, changed oil). I've noticed the positive effects as other who have commented.

However, I also noticed a downside - morning starts are much rougher. Turn over is unchanged, but the warm-up is way lumpier and much more white smoke. Later in the day is fine. My suspicion is that seafoam is hard on the IP seals and it exacerbated air might be getting in over night.

I am not suggesting seafoam is bad, but as stated earlier, I suggest you have a good baseline maintenance history of your system. Unlike me, who did it because there was no history!

I doubt you are getting air into anything overnight.
what probably has happened is the seafoam has cleaned the tips of your injectors or losened some carbon off them and now you may have a few drips from a leaky or worn injector that is allowing a bit of diesel to flood into the chambers overnight and you get a hard start in the mornings.
Cheers,
Reza
1991 Delica L300
Bombardier/VW Iltis + 1/4t trailer
http://www.iltisforum.com/
http://rezdiver.usedcourtenaycomox.com/
User avatar
macro
Posts: 646
Joined: Fri Sep 23, 2011 4:37 pm
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: L400 "The Invader"
Location: Toronto, ON

Re: Seafoam Discussion

Post by macro »

If anyone is still curious about this, I just did the fuel filter and crankcase. I had no smoke or issues at all when I started it back up and now it's super quiet and smooooth like butter. Bonus is my fuel economy went from average 13.5L/100km down to 11L/100km!! That's with 2.5" exhaust, 31" tires and a huge roof basket. I've been pretty lazy on my filter changes, no longer though. I'm amazed. 8-)
dr_airtime
Posts: 130
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 3:39 pm
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: a

Re: Seafoam Discussion

Post by dr_airtime »

Did my third seafoam treatment in the 18 months I've owned my L300 and for third time in a row I haven't noticed a difference in pre and post performance.

I've been told I have a leaky IP as all the seals are original rubber, so I've either been running 5% biodiesel, 200:1 2-stroke or Howes on every single tank.

I haven't had any issues with said leaky IP so my conclusion is that Seafoam is fine to run now and then on Delica's despite debate here.

Previous Canadian owner never ran additives but I'm guessing I had a pretty clean system when I purchased van. I think as long as you are running 5% biodeisel/two-stroke/howes/other that both cleans injectors and adds lubricity you only really need a seafoam treatment when you really notice underperformance.

Hands down the L300 runs super-smooth with 200:1 two-stroke oil. It loves it plus I get more power (important for L300 on sea-to-sky) and better fuel economy. Probably +10% for both. Way better than Howe's so just waiting till I finish my current bottle and I'll never return.

For any sea-to-skyer's too, the Squamish Nation gas station just before the chief always carries 5% biodiesel and there has been a pretty definitive study referenced on one of the additive threads on Delica.ca that says 5% biodiesel, followed by two-stroke are the best two additives for adding lubricity to our low-sulfur fuel in North American. If you have a L300 with lots of rubber seals this is very important and I have been able to avoid a $800-$1000 overhaul so far.
stever1000
Posts: 258
Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2012 5:25 pm
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: 94 L400 SuperExceed
Location: Vancouver

Re: Seafoam Discussion

Post by stever1000 »

I understand how to do the rest, but how do I clean the IP pump?
Ideally, you would want the inlet/outlet lines direct from the injection pump placed into a container filled with seafoam and have the engine running. That is the 100% cleanse method. 2nd is to dump a can into a new fuel filter and run the engine. That would be about 70-80% effective as there is diesel from the tank diluting the seafoam in the filter. Pouring a can into the tank is anywhere from 5% to 60% effective as it gets heavily diluted and can dislodge small particles.
I don't quite understand how this works? Does anyone have a picture or a diagram?

Does anyone know the ID of the tube I need to use seafoam to clean my IP?


EDIT:
Found this, not using seafoam, but still cleaning the IP
http://www.delica.ca/forum/viewtopic.ph ... =15#p40313
User avatar
deskinthewoods
Posts: 231
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 10:35 am
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: 1991 L300 Star Wagon named "Wilson"
Location: Wakefield, Québec

Seafoam Discussion

Post by deskinthewoods »

Some instructions straight from Seafoam:

https://seafoamsales.com/how2instructions/
My dad used to say,"If you can read, you can do anything!"
Post Reply

Return to “General Discussion”