Anyone ever used seafoam or water to loosen carbon deposits on valves ,pistons etc., if so instruct me on how it is done . Thanks in advance V8 Buick friends .
Seafoam is excellent. You can add it to your gasline, oil, and into the intake of the engine. Directions are on the can. You can drizzle it into the carburetor carefully. You don't want to add it too quickly until the end. Basically, keep the engine running and add it very slowly. Then when you are almost done, dump the rest in to stall the engine. Let it sit for 10 minutes, and start the engine. Let it idle for 5 minutes or so, then go for a "spirited drive". Your car will smoke like a crop duster for a while, so it is best to do it in an empty parking lot. Here is a thread on the Riviera board I frequent. They pour it in through the brake booster hose or PCV. I don't think we can do that with our cars. The engine won't run with that big a vacuum leak. http://rivperformance.editboard.com...-to-restore-lost-horsepower?highlight=seafoam
The dodge ram boys love Seafoam, i used it once after I had an internal oil leak. Bottom plate of the intake sucked in oil and was burning it. I didn't notice a difference. o No:
I usually pour Seafoam directly into the tank and let it idle for 10 - 20 minutes. Definitely will notice an increase
I've used seafoam in my tank for years but have never run it through the intake/carb ... will try it out this year. May even put some in my oil before I do the annual change. Thanks for the info.
I've actually used water down the carburetor, I usually get a huge black spot on the concrete when I'm done. The key is to use enough water to bog the engine down, but not so much water that it kills the engine. Although if you stop with the water immediately when the engine kills, you can get it started again after a few cranks. I usually control the water flow with my friend manually controlling the throttle at the carb so we're in sync. THIS SHOULD BE DONE IN OPEN AREA WITH NO ONE AROUND! >>>Sea foam is the same way although you can dump it in until the vehicle kills. You can even continue to add a few ounces more. You can turn off ignition and let it sit five minutes. When you start it up, expect a huge plume of blue smoke for about 30 seconds and then residual flow of blue smoke that eventually stops over a 5-10 minute period as the sea foam and carbon deposits burn out of the intake system. I'm sure some folks here will hate me for the water suggestion, but it does work and I've never had issues with engine problems after the fact. I've done it on GM, Chrysler, Ford, Mitsubishi(old Colts and Arrows).
I've used SeaFoam on a Toyota once with a sticky valve somewhere in it's variable venturi carburetor, and it did help out a little. I'd generally recommend the "Top End Cleaner" that they used to sell at GM parts counters instead, though. That stuff was good for everything from cleaning carbon fouling on intake valves to polishing the flashpan on flintlock rifles. I used it to get a badly-sugared Pontiac Sunbird running again and it worked flawlessly. Unfortunately it was probably found to cause reproductive harm by the state of California (or some such) and now it's off the market. From what I've read, the no-longer-made Top End Cleaner was mostly Xylol though, which goes for about $7 a quart or less at your local hardware store: http://www.menards.com/main/paint/c...-stain-solvents/sunnyside-xylol/p-1479921.htm http://www.lowes.com/pd_206495-34228-CR.XY.M.41_0__?productId=3024050 http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...=10053&langId=-1&keyword=xylene&storeId=10051
I seem to remember an article in Hemming's Muscle Machines a year or so back written by Ray Bohacz where he went through the procedure for running some type of snake oil through the intake side of the engine to remove carbon build up. You may be able to go to Hemming's web site and find the article.
I second the top engine cleaner if you can still get it from the GM dealer, that stuff worked great! Probably why they stopped selling it! :TU:
Back in the day I used ATF. Yes there was a huge white cloud, but i killed the mosquitoes in my neighborhood for a week! :laugh: Scott
Go with the aerosol spray. Find an secluded parking lot, follow the directions and cropdust away! http://paceperformance.com/i-6484608-1052626-upper-engine-and-fuel-injector-cleaner-18-oz-aerosol.html
I'd recommend extreme care when using water to get carbon deposits out. I've seen guys hole and/or crack pistons with it. Easy does it is the ticket.
