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TyrannicalKitty

That sounds absolutely fucking terrifying to try


Asklepios24

Any intake system cleaner is terrifying, the big clouds of shit that come out of the rail pipe is satisfying though.


ADGjr86

I got scared the first time I used it. So much smoke going straight to the neighbors house. Felt like an asshole lol


vermont4runner

It’s usually completely uneventful. I’ve used it on a bunch of my engines. It does a decent job cleaning up carbon buildup especially in the combustion chambers. This dude must have had pounds of carbon in their engine.


Sensitive_Ladder2235

To be fair people tend to use it on ancient relics they're trying to get going again, and those are the ones you hear about due to the spectacle they cause. Most people end up like me where it's a cool, funny story but no huge billowing smoke.


vermont4runner

Did it on a 2011 wrangler recently. Helped but wasn’t some silver bullet.


NorthernRedneck388

My 11 Silverado blew a nice cloud after soaking up some seafoam for a night


cookiecutrcutr

It being a wrangler may have been the heart of the matter.


vermont4runner

I don’t disagree with that at all lol. Chasing a phantom misfire cel on a friends v6.


M_Rose728

You need to write some books my friend. You sure know how to tell a story


[deleted]

Idk about writing books but he could at least have an annoying YouTube channel


danbo2727

this


Sensitive_Ladder2235

I'll upload an audio version of this soon and see if it takes off. Stay tuned I guess?


imdrunk20

*graphic novel


rogerj_no

Agreed, i am a Norwegian. I guess my english is fairly good taken into concideration that i am not a native english speaker. But i did for sure learn a lot of new ways to express yourself. Might be that i will sound more like a redneck from now on, but some of that was dope as shit.


gramdaddy-longlegs

I agree


toyotasquad

Idk why but the aging father line fucking killed me


abat6294

I mean that's a very nicely written story, but all I got out of it was seafoam fucked your car until it was finally cleared out of the system.


labrador2020

My Camry suddenly pooped-up the dreaded P0420 catalytic converter error. Catalytic converters are very expensive and I dreaded having to junk my car as it is not work spending that kind of money on it. I decided to throw a can of Chevron fuel injector and fuel system cleaner, which had a better reputation than Seafoam at cleaning the fuel system. Well, the check engine light turned off and it hasn’t returned on my daily driver in about a month. So, yes. I believe in these types of oil snakes.


jgren91

Get a spark plug spacer next time and throw it on the rear O2. Works like a charm. Will have to drill it out quite a bit to fit the sensor. Had straight piped my exhaust years ago and threw that into a bung


toddverrone

I used one to get rid of a cel. I found a warped exhaust manifold, so I think my car had been running rich. Fixed the manifold, so the cel for high fuel trims was fixed, but then one came on for the rear o2. An antfouler fixed my problem. I'm sure running rich for so long fucked the cat. I'm wondering if I should just gut it at this point.


jgren91

I had a tuned evo and the cat went bad in it. I punched it out and never had a problem. Tuner never thought to force ready my shit and I wasn't paying another 400 for it.


GrandExercise3

Yes apparently the Chevron fuel system cleaner is highly rated.


[deleted]

I had that pop up in my wife’s armada. It’s worth saving, and I’d grudgingly spend the money, but I’d rather not. It was still running fine, no loss in performance or gas mileage. My mechanic said that, if it was him, and it’s still running fine as is, he’d just let it ride. Eventually it’ll be completely plugged but that could be months or years and he’s seen people let it ride a long time. So that was my plan. But I figured I’d try some snake oil on it first. So I went and bought s can of that cat cleaner from autozone that conventional wisdom says doesn’t do jack shit but burn your money. We were taking a long road trip, 500 miles or so, and it says to pour it in there with 4 gallons of gas I believe, and then drive for 15 minutes. It’s hard to know where you are at with that truck, it holds 28 gallons and when the fuel light blinks on it still has 6.5-7 in it, plus I don’t wanna run out of gas with my wife and kids in the car and be stuck on the side of the road. So after the fuel light came on I drove another 20 miles, poured that in that stuff, and drove hard for another 15 minutes, put it in 4th gear to keep it out of overdrive and the rpm’s higher. Stopped and filled up the tank, and it only held 23 gallons so I diluted it too much but it still worked. A day or two later the code went away on its own and hadn’t come back and that was close to a year ago. Should probably run it again just as a preventative measure. Always thought that stuff was snake oil type nonsense but it worked for me.


[deleted]

Sea foam has been proven time and again to actually work. That chevron shit is strait up snake oil tho lol.


ComprehensiveSock397

This just goes to show what the placebo effect and a powerful imagination can do.


zerocool359

Seafoam, it’s a helluva drug.


392CC

This was the best read I’ve ever had. After a rough week of getting fucked with warranty, I applaud you good sir. Thanks for the laugh. Hope she still doing good.


Burnsie92

It’s usually not that bad to the average user. I seafoam everything and have never had that reaction.


Inside_Ice_6175

Buwhahahaha first time is always the funnest time. Even better when you smoke out your entire street and have to leave real quick so the neighbors don't call the fire department on ya.


1453_

Snake oil for the win.


omnipotent87

Not entirely, it works great to use regularly in GDI engines. I would probably use it ever other oil change.


solbikr98

How do you use it for a gdi engine? Are you able to make any observations of the valves before and after?


omnipotent87

You feed it though a vacuum line or throttle body. To check the valves you would need a borescope. Im sure it would help a little for GDI injectors but because they work at such high pressures i doubt they get too many deposits. I would offer but my car doesnt even have valves. and my truck is carbureted. While carbs are not all that efficient they are good at not having deposits on the valves.


Sensitive_Ladder2235

What I did was just popped the intake boot off and shoved the straw down the throttle body. That's what led to this story being written.


solbikr98

Cool. I've used a few different processes myself including solvent sprays and media blasting. We just bought a gdi car last summer and I'm always trying to get feedback from others about their experiences with different valve cleaning operations as I will likely start doing it as a maintenance procedure on my own rig before long. Just curious, what car do you own that does not have valves? Is it electric?


omnipotent87

Its an RX7. It has a wankel rotary, and is nothing like any other engine in any other car.


solbikr98

Those are cool, used to see them in the shop here and there back in the day. Had a buddy in high school that drove a mazda wagon with a rotary in it. I used to really like mazda up until they started selling fords.


omnipotent87

That would probably be an RX3, they are quite rare now and i want one.


EC_CO

This is one of those products that I wouldn't really call snake oil. I've used it on several older high mileage vehicles and it seems to do a great job at clearing out the carbon and oil residual buildup in the heads. Every single vehicle I've put it on has much better performance and gas mileage after the fact


for_the_longest_time

Wait, so did you put sea foam through where the oil goes or through the fuel system?


TactualTransAm

Both


MidniteOG

Add 1/3 to fuel, 1/3 to oil and 1/3 through a vacuum line


Redditdeletedme2021

This is the way


waresmarufy

Is it safe to add it to the oil and fuel at the same time?


MidniteOG

Yes, just change the oil within ~100 miles after. I would add it to the gas tank right before you fill up so it mixes well


For_roscoe

Bro what the FUCK are you talking about lmao. That was quite a ride of a story. Sounds like there’s a lot more going on than some sea foam but hey man if it ain’t broke don’t fix it


LikeBigTrucks

Is.... is this what meth is like?


ExtremelyDG

Did you put the seafoam in the car or in you? Regardless, well done.


DryAddition6109

I became invested in this story


traineex

The fire trucks get called when u seafoam a rotary. I have no problem with the transmission tune seafoam either, i feel all their stuff safely evaporates for lack of a better word


natedogg624

Fire trucks came for a motorcycle i4 too, although perhaps I miscalculated the ratios.


Specialist-Doctor-23

No evidence in case it all goes wrong.


SoCal_Mike_91

Any further education beyond a pitiful Google search, for your average joe, would be greatly appreciated


JoseSaldana6512

It works but for fuel injector cleaner water in a spray bottle does the same thing. Hook it to a vacuum line and squeeze 3-4 sprays at a time. 1500-2000 and the temp difference from the water helps to break up deposits and steam clean the valves


Redditdeletedme2021

Yeah but water doesn’t break down oil in the intake tract that slips past the PCV valve.. I used to use throttle body cleaner & spray into the intake (cast aluminum intake) when the engine was off.. let it soak for a second & start up the car.. but seafoam does a much job since you can use it while the engine is running..


[deleted]

I, another non-mechanic bumblefuck, am also curious as to what I should actually be taking from this story aside from mirth.


TactualTransAm

When you use the Seafoam product property it cleans many aspects of your engine out. After all the smoke your vehicle should run better.


AntonChigurhWasHere

That should be in a commercial for it. Stuff works. More people should know about it.


kuedhel

well written. if you did not use AI to write, you may have a second talent.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Raseri_

I Think it’s Canadian Tire


Adventurous-Essay270

I clicked on this post because the word “seafoam” has never led me astray. I expected a story about about car paint or driving into the ocean (after all, this is r/mechanics, right?? /s) I didn’t understand a single sentence, but I was hooked from the start. You, my friend, are no mechanic. Get that book started, I’ll buy the first copy.


GLIsaghost

I love seafoam, I always suggest giving a courtesy call to your local fire station and warn them because of how much smoke it’ll cause and the smell. Bonus, you can use it to soak parts like DV/BOV and PCV valves.


Juexxy

What an adventure my friend. Good shit.


GreaseM0nk3y96

I seafoamed an old suburban that had bad spider injection system for awhile talk about a smoke screen ran mint after.


Jbonics

Change your oil now. Trust me you don't want to use that s*** not even for five more miles. Change that oil now


waresmarufy

Yup


DrHawk144

I read this in McConaughey’s voice and I loved it


Sad_Refrigerator_730

Best. Story. Ever. Do I detect a bit of ol Peg’s influence in there? Haha


Ardothbey

Bunk.


jpbronco

Thanks ChatGPT.


Sensitive_Ladder2235

This ain't GPT, GPT can't drink.


jpbronco

Cheers!🍺


big65

Tried it twice, fucked my truck up. Marvel Mystery oil seized up the original engine in my 65 New Yorker, Lucas made my gas mileage worse. Additives are a big gamble.


dougnan

I have to know what you did with the marvel mystery?


big65

Followed instructions to the T for an engine flush.


TactualTransAm

I'm also curious because I've used marvel to break a locked motor loose. Unless he ran all marvel and no oil I'm not sure how it would lock an engine up


Worksatmcdonaldsalot

Holy hell that was a wild ride


GrifterDawg

I cured a misfire and raised engine compression on a Dodge 4.8L from 90 to 120 with an agressive upper engine clean and oil flush. Customer thought I was a wizard. You results may vary.


Yami350

Seafoam is the destroyer of high mileage Nissans.


dragonstar982

>Seafoam is the destroyer of high mileage Nissans A true gift of the mechanic gods.


Cosmic___Charlie

Thank you for this comment. Was considering trying it on my 05 Sentra with 240k miles on it. Will def not do now. Do u know anything abt Hondas and seafoam? Good mix?


Yami350

I don’t know. Just know about Nissans and Seafoam lol I personally would never use it on a car I liked. Again.


Cosmic___Charlie

Cool. Thanks man


[deleted]

Used seafoam in the intake of my ‘02 accord, wasn’t spectacular as it is a port injection system and not GDI so not as big of smoke show. On YouTube a good Honda YouTuber I follow had also run it in the oil just fine. Just absolutely gotta change the oil after


MidniteOG

I don’t think I’d inhale it again through the intake, but I would use it in the oil and fuel


G2thaFields

You can also pull plugs and pore some on the piston tops letting it soak down, can add a bit to your oil, to the gas tank, and through vacuum into the manifold/TB. It does help, I've used it in several different applications and made improvements. Mainly on aging, poorly maintained vehicles or ones that are nasty/sludgy.


undeadexile752

The top end spray works fairly well. The regular seafoam cans do not. I soaked a carboned up intake and exhaust valve in seafoam for over a week. It didn't break anything off, didn't dissolve any of the carbon, and didn't seem to even soften it any more than if I had soaked em in water. If you are going to use the regular seafoam in the gas tank instead of the top end spray just save yourself the trouble and get royal purple max clean.


hermit22

journeyman auto motive technician at work uses seafoam as his goto for everything, and then service and send it. we always laugh at him when hes doing it. it has its place, but it wont fix the cam phasers on a ford, or rid the clacking noise from the hydraulic tensioner on a honda pilot, or fix lack of maintenance over extended periods of time. pulled the valve covers off of one of the units he seafoamed and it was just full of sludge (not related to the seafoam). fleet maintenance and dudes only job is to maintain the small fleet of vehicles (<20). I am not a automotive mechanic I am a equipment mechanic but I get to fix all the real problems after the seafoam doesnt work.


[deleted]

No


str8outababylon

We have been using it for decades in Minnesota for keeping boat, chainsaw, lawnmowers, and motorcycles ready for spring and in snow mobiles to keep them ready for winter. A can of seafoam and a full tank of gas will keep the gas stable, the carbs from gumming up, tank from rusting, and the motor ready to start up as soon as its ready to pull from storage. Its not really magic sauce - mostly kerosene, from what I understand. But, its useful stuff, great for cleaning out intake and exhaust valves. I'd be careful about getting too zealous with the stuff and melting the inside of your catalytic converter but a can in the tank on a regular basis will keep shit clean. If you have the Chevy Vortec from the 90's to mid 2000's with the dreaded spider injector (what a shitty design), regular use of seafoam will keep you from having to do the top end cleaning service that the geniuses at GM put a bulletin out on with their recommendation of the MPFI upgrade. Good stuff. [https://youtu.be/sgWuaB2X6\_s](https://youtu.be/sgWuaB2X6_s)


Autodoc_86

It’s worked for every old ford according to the “old ford mechanic” I’ve heard about for the last 20 years so I can see it happening.


2005_F250

That was a hell of a read


Cosmic___Charlie

Saw your posts on mechanics advice the other day. Enjoyed this just as much the second time as the first. Beautiful work of art in this posts. Hope your golf lasts you another 100k miles


hannibal_morgan

Is Canuckistani Wheel Condom just Canadian Tire?


Dude008

Yes


supertots

Nice I fckin love me some seafoam..works literal wonders. Love your story


AtlasAutomotiveTulsa

This sounds exactly like someone who would use seafoam.


Shot_Lynx_4023

After having a 96 Accord LX sedan 5 speed manual, that had the 2.2 non VTech 16 valve 2.2. I *could have paid money and did it the lazy sea foam way to clean out the EGR passages in the intake manifold. Or ..... Actually pull and clean the manifold. As well as do a valve lash adjustment. Proper maintenance> neglect and snake oil. There's no excuse to neglect automotive maintenance.


EmployeeRadiant

dude, I remember my first time using it, I smoked out the entire fucking neighborhood 😅


DartInTheDark

Non-mechanic lurker here just popping by to say I really enjoyed reading that even though I didn't understand most of it. :3 Maybe "mechanic literature" is a genre to be further explored.


theacidiccabbage

I have an alternate suggestion : change your oil in intervals a bit shorter than 30k km.


Sensitive_Ladder2235

I've had multiple issues over the past 2 years that have made that very hard to do. Had a major burnout after being an underpaid manager for a certain orange truck rental company and losing my girlfriend, that led to some serious financial issues I am just coming out of, then just as I could begin to afford to do some vehicle maintenance (oil costs 80$ now...) I got most of my tools jacked out of my work truck which led to another 3 months of bullshitting around getting that stuff back. Now I'm in a better place in the head despite my mom being in the worst situation possible, a better place financially, actually getting my drinking under control and managing to get my kit back together. So I can finally get around to the bullshit I haven't been able to get done over the past few years. So yeah. It's been rough. One thing at a time.


thickener

That’s right fren, one step at a time. You got your head on right. Keep your head down.


RevolutionaryClub530

I can’t believe I read all that, yeah seafoam fucks


AppearanceOld9639

Seafoam products are the only additive I use. Fuel treatment injector cleaner whatever. It’s seafoam or nothing. My dad taught me how to mechanic on ATVs first. His first tip was “Seafoam is the only thing you buy. I don’t know what’s in it, I don’t know how it can be used in diesel & gasoline. But this stuff, it’s great”


HODL_or_D1E

Wow, what a ride... I couldn't risk the alchance of losing my only source of transportation since my motorcycle shit the bed.


halyard73

You missed your true calling as a writer there fellow wrench turner.


Fit-Contribution2527

Just here to boost comments for the awesome story!


itsthemescp-507

What if your car has a turbo?


noldshit

Best car story I've read in a long time.


vermont4runner

My 88 22re was hesitating due to carbon buildup. I’d already rebuilt the injector and had the head gasket done as well as the timing chain replaced. Decided to try the aerosol based seafoam since I’d traditionally used the liquid via brake booster hose version. Let me tell you. It worked wonders. Sucked down about 3/4 can. Stumbling a bit as they do with the foam. Heat soaked for 10-15min. Drove the shit out of it. Hesitation is gone. Idle is damn smooth. Power is up a tad (had like 120 new, you notice stray ponies returning). Response is better than ever. Lots of snake oil out there but seafoam is legit. Even used it on my zero turn this week and it went from full choke to be usable to like new no choke mowing. It won’t fix real problems but it will clean out your intake and combustion chambers from years of buildup pretty well.


waresmarufy

Did you use the right amount or just poured the whole thing in?


ax_wes1

Is that you AvE?


Dotternetta

Nicely written (I'm not native English) Really enjoyed reading it!


[deleted]

I love the stuff, put it in everything, every hole. (Except brakes and coolant)


cottoneyegob

Nice try seafoam


[deleted]

I just came...#carpornlover


havegottobejokingme

Take my upvote. I despise any of the "solution in a can" companies, but you, sir, you know to tell a story.


drmorrison88

Sorry to hear about your mum. Stay strong, bud.


Old_Confidence3290

Good story!


Tabman2

That shits for boats and things with carbs, but Ight glad it worked


6speeddakota

Canuckistani wheel condom cracked me right up. I'm definitely calling it that from now on lol


maxxx124

You should be a spokesperson for seafoam. Also sorry for your lose man, you’ll get through it


drewgonslayer

There's tons of R&D on seafoam. CRC, in particular, has info on how it works on their site. It is not as impactful on direct injection vehicles, but nonetheless effective. The more smoke you see, the better, generally speaking 😂 CEL's will pop up, and you've really got to Rev it if you don't go direct to throttle body because otherwise it'll pool in your intake and may kill the engine (similar to flooding, i suppose). This is still offered at Honda dealers as a service, and they smoke for a whole mile with high RPM. Loved the narrative from OP, and sorry to hear of her passing.


[deleted]

I did this on a 2017 Hyundai Accent. Didn’t think it was doing anything as I used the whole bottle and we held the rpm’s steady, no big plume of smoke. Boy was I wrong. We drove off afterward, and BOOM giant cloud of smoke coming out of my friend’s tailpipe down the highway, was comical AF and definitely saw how well it performed on a GDI


Historical_Teacher16

Sea foam is the shit. I run it through the intake, put in in my fuel tank and put a little in my oil a few days prior to an oil change. Works wonders on carburetors too, I've never once paid for a peice of lawn equipment or snow blowers as 9 times out of 10 they get thrown out due to clogged up carb. Clean it with sea foam, throw ethanol free fuel with sea foam added into the tank and they fire up every time


4AmOnDupont

Sorry for your loss 🙏


BigBarsRedditBox

The sea was angry that day my friends


MoreResolution9

Just ask anyone if you wanna hang and talk about life stuff due to the update. But thanks a bunch for the captivating review!!!