Ping -> Jim Warman

Sorry, Joe.... I have no personal experience with Seafoam additives. I know none of our local shops stock it and I don't recall seeing it on my (infrequent) trips to Edmonton.

I do have very strong opinions on additives..... there are very few that I use and I only use them when really required. I might add that none of these are motor oil or transmission fluid additives.

Jim, thanks for an honest answer. I heard about Seafoam over in the Dodge truck group and also from a couple guys on the RC boards my son frequents, so I tried some in the intake manifold of the Shoebox ('96 MPV) as per the instructions. Apparently, it blew out a whole lot of crud from the engine based on the fumes and white smoke that came out. After about 10 minutes, the exhaust was clear again. Performance seems to have increased a bit, and the slight valve tick that almost always occured until it warmed up has disappeared entirely.

Generally, I'm skeptical about additives and whatnot, but I hadn't heard a single bad thing about it, so I figured what the heck (it's my wife's van anyway). Seems to have worked pretty well.

Joe Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC

"Jim Warman" wrote in news:LPFDd.54457$dv1.53877@edtnps89:

For a top end cleaner used the way you did, I've had pretty good results with (are you ready for this??).... water. GM has a real skookum top end cleaner as well (or had, anyway). You'd drizzle about 2/3rds of the can into the intake and then stall it with the rest. Then you'd let the motor rest for a time (20 minutes or so, IIRC) and then run it at high idle for a bit.... This stuff would really get rid of the globs on the backside of the intake valves. These things are not without their downside, though... I've seen times where large chunks of build-up are knocked loose .... they sure don't sound pretty but I can't vouch for any other side effects.

There are many products that can be used like this.... oil additives, however, are persona non gratta around my shop.

For interested bystanders.... anything used like this should be used carefully....... Hydrolocking a motor is not going to do your purse any good.

Interesting you mentioned water. I still remember as a kid my Dad and I pouring water down the carb of his '63 Buick LeSabre, and some of the more solid carbon deposits being knocked loose and banging around in the cylinders. Sounded like all hell broke loose - he was pretty worried. Finally, the chunks broke up with a few big clouds coming out the exhaust, and the car ran beautifully after that.

Seafoam says you can add it to the oil as well, but that's where I draw the line. Nothing goes into the crankcase except Mobil-1 or the equivalent.

Joe Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC

"Jim Warman" wrote in news:2dJDd.54789$dv1.4512@edtnps89:

Sounds like something I should try in my 122k mile Eclipse... though I don't know how well it would do going through the turbo - might have to add it in downstream. These cars are notorious for the valvetrain tick pretty much constantly. I do agree with you both on oil additives. In fact, the only additive I use is Stabil for when I put the Cobra up for winter storage.

JS

I've had real good luck with Seafoam carbon cleaner in my 98 GT too!

-Mike

-- A happy kid behind the wheel of a 98 Mustang GT Cold air intake FRPP 3.73 gears Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers (self-installed woohoo) Hi-speed fan switch

This makes me wonder about potential damage the "globs" might do on the way out. There's a chance, I suppose, that an exhaust valve might close on a chunk, I wonder if the chunks are hard enough to bend a valve or ding the seat? I also can't help but wonder if the globs are large enough to get caught in the catalytic converter.

It sounds like you've had good results, though.

Cheers - Dana