I wanted to ask the pros about seafoaming my tb. It's an 02 tb ltz 4x4 with 145000 miles on it. I read alot of the info from the os and am concerned about the cat plugging up. Is there any solid reasons why I should or shouldn't do it? Thanks
Sea foam?
- Thread starter fishguy1123
- Start date
fishguy1123 said:
That's the first I've heard of a potential problem.
I'll be keeping an eye in this thread.
IIRC, it was a concern that the cat plugged from the carbon burn off after useing the brake boost line method.
I've never had an issue. Only done it twice to my truck though. also once in my mom's trailblazer...and once in my wifes jeep.
I run Seafoam every second oil change. Currently at 106K miles.
If your cat plugs up from a Seafoam treatment, chances are it was already on its way out. I would be more worried about fouling an O2 sensor on a motor that had never been cleaned and ran low quality fuel. That's where the carbon burn off can be a problem.
I would have an O2 sensor on hand for after my first treatment, just to be safe.
If your cat plugs up from a Seafoam treatment, chances are it was already on its way out. I would be more worried about fouling an O2 sensor on a motor that had never been cleaned and ran low quality fuel. That's where the carbon burn off can be a problem.
I would have an O2 sensor on hand for after my first treatment, just to be safe.
fishguy1123 said:
I run Seafoam in all of my vehicles as a maintenance item.
Have you ever cleaned your throttle body? I use the spray Seafoam to clean the TB (about half the can) and then use the other half per the directions. I would start with that.
Don't use the brake booster method on our trucks, you'll miss about half the cylinders. Use the spray can with the tubs the inserts into the throttle body.
I like to be proactive, as I generally keep my vehicles for many years (I hate car payments).
I use sea foam on all my vehicles. I have never had a problem with it LOL heck the 1980 when i first used it smoked like it was susposed to but after that it ran better. Before seafoam it would not spin the tires and would take some coaxing to do after it i can break them lose so it improved the performance. LOL not to mention since seafoam was invented and has been used they have a 100% money back guarentee and have yet to have anyone return the product.
troy11556 said:
One thing I've noticed is that with regular usage, the smoke show is much less than the first time I use it on a vehicle.
fishsticks said:
Yep, did the tb about 2 months ago. Was reading up on the seafoam recently and am thinking bout trying it. Thanks
fishguy1123 said:
I would as the effect it has on the vehicle especially if you have a very old one will show. The 04 envoy did not show as much as my 93 or 80 when i ran it through them and i noticed more in them then i did with my envoy. I would reccommend using it for the prevention if nothing more as it will run smoother.
I run seafoam twice a year... once during fall and once during spring... (which i'm late on the fall one) and i'm over 140k on my odom. if not higher cause of the bigger tires
This is the first i have ever heard of this... not what spray can and tubs you talking about? you just spray it into the TB?
fishsticks said:
This is the first i have ever heard of this... not what spray can and tubs you talking about? you just spray it into the TB?
Hatchet said:
Sorry typo....TUBE.
View attachment 16827
Get that, then run it through by spraying it in before the TB. The tube is flexy so you can insert it between the intake line and the silencer (the big plastic thing with Vortec 4200 on it).
Make sure you put your line in after the MAF if you have one, as I don't believe Seafoam is safe for them.
Attachments
fishsticks said:
Almost forgot bout the spray vs brake boost part... I read on the os that some said both were ok...
fishguy1123 said:
If you look where the brake booster line connects to the intake manifold, you'll see that using the brake booster method will get the front cylinders, but most likely not the rears.
You won't hurt anything, but won't effectively clean everything either. Spraying into the throttle body ensures a much more even distribution.
fishsticks said:
Ok, thanks for all your time! As far as the crank case goes, do you add it as well? Just prior to an oil change?
hey all i have asked the seafoam rep i know who stops in time to time he states seafoam will not affect any vehicle parts if used correctly on a good running vehicle. If you do the vacuum hose trick and if you have over 100000 miles and your cat plugs after using seafoam usage on original cat it was prolly on its way out any way...
This is not my opinion but strait from rep Pete M. servicing the midwest area he knows his stuff! If anyone has any questions about any seafoam or seafoam branded product lemme know ill ask the rep he lives not to far away from my store and i'm friends with his son so yeah......
This is not my opinion but strait from rep Pete M. servicing the midwest area he knows his stuff! If anyone has any questions about any seafoam or seafoam branded product lemme know ill ask the rep he lives not to far away from my store and i'm friends with his son so yeah......
cjceg1985 said:hey all i have asked the seafoam rep i know who stops in time to time he states seafoam will not affect any vehicle parts if used correctly on a good running vehicle. If you do the vacuum hose trick and if you have over 100000 miles and your cat plugs after using seafoam usage on original cat it was prolly on its way out any way...
This is not my opinion but strait from rep Pete M. servicing the midwest area he knows his stuff! If anyone has any questions about any seafoam or seafoam branded product lemme know ill ask the rep he lives not to far away from my store and i'm friends with his son so yeah......
find out how much for a case of it. i'm almost out on my case and need to order a new one...
fishguy1123 said:
I have always, about 100-300 miles before an oil change, poured half a can into the crank case and the other half into the tank. I'm on my second TB will swear that that's what keeps the oil cleaner longer. Getting any sludge out near the end of the oil life is, in my opinion, what keeps it running more smoothly and allowing for the oil to last longer.
dp28688 said:
An article for both ways, one with the booster, then one with the spray can. Back in the day, when i was working at jiffylube(yes I know) they had small tool, it was basicly a bottle that hooked directly the the booster line, that used the vacuume pressure/seafoam to clean the fuel system. Seemed like a good way to make sure you didnt put too much liquid down the line. For the life of me I can not figure out what that tool was called.
I should probably try some seafoam on mine sometime. Will look for the spray version, I had not seen it before.
i saw the rep today he has a new injection cleaning system he was telling me about it cleans the upper intake and all cylinders, valves, exhaust port he says it works better than the vacuum line trick. For those of you who use seafoam alot they do sell by the gallon part#SF128. Way cheaper to buy by the gallon!
SF16 16oz.can for pour ins
SS14 new Spray can FYI alot of retailers don't stock this yet
Sea Foam Sales Company
This is the spot to get all info on seafoam products.
I've asked him about maybe a group buy and he said he'll let me know on pricing per case on lot orders maybe we could get a deal...maybe....
SF16 16oz.can for pour ins
SS14 new Spray can FYI alot of retailers don't stock this yet
Sea Foam Sales Company
This is the spot to get all info on seafoam products.
I've asked him about maybe a group buy and he said he'll let me know on pricing per case on lot orders maybe we could get a deal...maybe....
fishguy1123 said:
Just wanted to toss my thoughts in. I have an 02 tb ltz with 168k on it now, and I seafoamed it right after I bought it at 167k, it did smoke quite a bit, but cleared up in a few minutes, I did get a cel from the o2 sensor. But cleared that using my bluetooth adapter and torque, it hasn't returned and has passed emissions twice, with lower readings after it. I haven't had any problems with the cat, and I believe it is still the oem one.
My 07 was also seafoamed at 66k, didn't smoke at all, and no cel. It's at almost 79k with no problems.
As for the vacuum line, I used that method on both, I did quite a bit of reading on it, and I remember that on some cars the brake vacuum line didn't reach all cylinders, but on the I6, it would. If you did use the spray, it wouldn't be the same as the brake line, since that is putting it in the crankcase, instead of going past the intake and burning in the combustion chambers, then out the tail. With the brake line, it would go throughout the crankcase, then with the lack of a pcv, back into the intake, and then burned, doing a better job of cleaning. Could do both if you really wanted everything clean.
plaen said:
Um, no.
First of all, the I6 does have PCV. It does not have a PCV valve.
Second, the vacuum line goes from the PB booster to the intake manifold. Not the crank case.
Sounds like it's a thumbs up on doing it then. I'll look for the spray type for the intake side and a can for the crank case before the oil change. Probly use techron in the gas tank. Maybe say a lil prayer for my cat.... 
The temps are up to 50 today here so I finally decided to pull the trigger on seafoaming the intake. Used the spray version, about 2/3 of a can. She smoked a bit but not as much as I was expecting! Hopefully thats a good thing. Took it out for a short test drive after and ran it to the revlimiter. She ran good! 
If you don't have some kind of small fueling issue to start with, then the Seafoam is probably not going to be much of a noticable tretment. I did all 3 of our vehicles over the weekend; all of them were running decently before the treatment and all of them seem to be running about the same after the treatment.
I will say that the '97 Jeep TJ with nearly 200K on the odo smoked the most...it blanketed the entire street in fog..!!. My '04 VW Passat with 111K and the Wife's '02 TB with 127K smoked about the same as each other; not much really, much less than expected.
FWIW....used the spray can on the VW and TB....used the booster hose method on the TJ.
For the $20 that it cost it was probably a decent preventative maintenance, especially as all of these vehicles have to run for a good few more years yet....
Dave.
I will say that the '97 Jeep TJ with nearly 200K on the odo smoked the most...it blanketed the entire street in fog..!!. My '04 VW Passat with 111K and the Wife's '02 TB with 127K smoked about the same as each other; not much really, much less than expected.
FWIW....used the spray can on the VW and TB....used the booster hose method on the TJ.
For the $20 that it cost it was probably a decent preventative maintenance, especially as all of these vehicles have to run for a good few more years yet....
Dave.
Yeah, was just a lil nervous about doing it since I've heard it could cause the cat to plug from all the extra carbon burning off. Ran good before the treatment too. Just a pm thing I wanted to try/do.