eightnine

hey i have a 89 4runner w/ 22re and was thinking about using seafoam to clean up the engine. However i asked one of my buddies about it and was told that if my engine is really that dirty (my engine is insanely dirty and covered with sludge from the P.O) that it can actually damage it by clearing up the gunk that is holding everything together. He said that eventually it will all get so clean that it will sieze up the engine. Is this correct?

ssupercoolss

i'm not a real big fan of putting anything in the engine other than motor oil. i have heard many times of people dumping some goo into their engine, only to dislodge the crud from inside the motor, and then having it get sucked up to the oil pump pickup. i think the seafoam in the intake, and some in the gas tank is a good way to go though.

Tim_Snapple76

if thats the case then you're motor is in Bad shape and needs to rebuilt/replaced anyway. if anything it SHOULD help to clean the insides and remove much of the sludge that builds up over time. kind of a steam clean i believe is what it does. through the intake helps to eat up the carbon buildup and through the gas helps to clean the injectors and fuel system of course. both good things to do regularly. if i were you i wouldnt run the seafoam in your crankase for more than 20 miles or so. then drain and service. tim

WATRD

If you have "gunk" as the only thing holding your engine together, then it would fail pretty quickly. Bumps would shake things loose, etc.

If used according to the instructions, I can't imagine how this could possibly happen, unless you manage to hydrolock the engine, but then, you weren't following the instructions.

Keep the Seafoam, ditch the friend's advice.

eightnine

yeah the engine needing a rebuild is a given, i just dont have the funds to do it anytime soon so im looking for a quick fix for a little bit to by me some time. My trucks only got 225km on it right now so im hoping it will last me a few more clicks.

Tim_Snapple76

how is the motor running now?

sh0kk86

just change your oil really soon after doing it.

toyotatom93

Whats so wrong with your engine at 225K km? Mine is at 320K and it rattles and smokes on startup; but when I did the seafoam I noticed a good improvement in throttle response and a little more torque uphills. In fact I was so happy with it I did it again a few days later and it smoked like twice as much as the first time. I saved about a third for the day I changed my oil, and poured it in the crankcase drove to toyota to get the oil filter then home and changed the oil.

My point is if my truck could handle it yours should be able to as well. The 22R-E is a bombproof motor.

razrwild

if its got that much sludge then drop the pan and clean that out THEN use the seafoam and minimize the chance of the chunks of sludge hurting the engine.

shaeff

seafoam is snake oil. do some research.

-shaeff

thook

Where would you suggest starting or going? I've done a Google search already, and within the first five search pages I've found nothing but positive things. That's not saying much I guess considering there's not much to be found, anyway. OR! Maybe that's saying a lot?

WATRD

Ain't the internet grand? Every photo is retouched, every product that works is snake oil and throttle body spacers give you 1000 horsepower!

thook

So, what are you trying to say? My 5" TB spacer is not worth the 5k I spent on the mod?

PoconoJack

I have always had good results with seafoam in various cars. The only bad thing I have really seen from it is that it can kill o2 sensors. I would guess that the o2 sensors it kills are ones on there last legs but still seafoam was the death of my $200 5 wire o2 sensor in my honda.

Other than that I dont think it will hurt anything that isnt already hurt.

***edit*** oh ya I just bought 2 cans for my truck today.

Tim_Snapple76

i've got a 1/3 of a can waiting for my crankcase. i've only got 160 miles till change.

HAVOC

I've put two cans in mine. Half in the oil, changed it next day. Half in the gas, filled tank afterward. Half in PCV, a ton of smoke.
I know, that's only 1 and a half. I still have half a can left. No ill effects from Seafoam. Follow the directions on the can.

GenXr

I've run for years on my gas tank and my crankcase and not had any problems.

Just don't leave in your crank case for 1000's of miles.

leebee

my old 86 had 430k km's plus when i got rid of it, 22re 5 spd, it started every day without fail. mind you, the oil leak did kill a couple of alts, damned oil pump!

your motor has plenty of life left in it, do your maintenance regularly and fix the small things before they become big and $$$ and youll be good to go.

lee

Pat8942

jnfrrs