Do you change oil after Sea Foam???
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Do you change oil after Sea Foam???
Well I finally got the sea foam and am planning on running it through the intake as per the directions. My only question is should I change the oil after I do this? It doesnt say to on the can but I think I remember reading here somewhere that people were changing their oil after they used it. Thanks.
#2
I think it's not a bad idea to change oil and spark plugs after a Seafoam treatment ( one that's drawn in thru a vacuum source). I've noticed that as the Seafoam (whitish) smoke begins to dissipate, the smoke turns a little bluish. I'm not sure if that's the carbon burning off or if it's where the rings have to re-seal after the Seafoam has washed down the cylinders. When using Seafoam, or most any 'fuel system cleaner' type additive, there will usually be some ash residue left on the spark plugs.
Mike in AR
Mike in AR
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ditto the above remarks except sparkplugs after a vacume treatment, Oil would be optional. But if you add it to the crankcase I would change it very soon.
#6
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I disagree. Why take the risk of ruining your bearings just to save a few bucks? GM uses TEC (top engine cleaner) the exact same way Seafoam is used. If you look at all the instructions for running TEC, changing the engine oil is always the last step.
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#8
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Sorry guys, but your wrong not to change your oil Despite the fact that you believe it all burns off, some of it inevitably slips past the rings and enters your crank case.
Here's an easy solution to end the argument: Why not just do the seafoam treatment when you are due for your oil change?
That way you're going to change your oil anyway, so you have no worry about who is right and who is wrong on this thread.
Here's an easy solution to end the argument: Why not just do the seafoam treatment when you are due for your oil change?
That way you're going to change your oil anyway, so you have no worry about who is right and who is wrong on this thread.
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I agree with the above statement, if Seafoam is designed to eat away sludge and carbon, wouldn't it compromise the integrity of the oil?I would have a hard time leaving a solvent that strong mixed with the oil that is supposed to lube everything.
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Well all this makes sense however I dont see how it could comprimise the oil if one of its uses is to be added to the crankcase. It says on the side of the can that it can be put in the gas tank, put in the intake track or put in the crankcase but it never says anything about having to flush the crankcase afterward.
#11
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if you put it in the crankcase it gets mixed with the oil, and some small amount of it will always be in the crankcase (unless you dissasemble, and clean the engine). The minute amount that may slip past the rings will probably be a gas, and should end up going through the PCV, and back into the engine. The small amount that does end up in the crankcase is probably quite irrelevant
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Yeah but does it say wether it's safe to leave it in or does it say to change the oil afterwards?I haven't used it in awhile so I can't remember.I wouldn't want to leave it in for very long at all though.
#13
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it says to change the oil after around 200 miles, however there will still always be some left over as not all the oil comes out when you pull the drain plug.
#14
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MMA Alex, sorry but I think you're incorrect. The liquid doesn't evaporate into a gas to get past the rings. When doing a seafoam treatment, one of the steps is to nearly choke the engine to stall, then shut the motor off. At that point, you have liquid seafoam in the cylinder. It's this liquid that will seep down and enter the crankcase. While the amount of seafoam that slips past may be irrelevant, why take the risk of wiping out the bearings or doing seal damage. And in the long run, the detergent will break down the carbon inside the engine which can cause problems in itself. I've seen the long term affects of leaving seafoam or TEC in a cylinder, and it literally etches the cylinder wall. And yes, it will ruin bearings.
Mtrdrms, while it is okay to put Seafoam in the crankcase, keep in mind this is a strong detergent, not an oil additive I certainly wouldn't leave it in the motor for a long time. And on that note, you can put all sorts of stuff in an engine in the short term, even water (in the very short term). The old timers used to put automatic transmission fluid in their crankcase the day before they changed their oil. This was to take advantage of the strong detergents in the auto tranny fluid.
The long and short of the situation is: Why risk it?
But hey, you guys do what you want. I'm only a ASE master tech, an award winning GM tech, and have been turning wrenches for over 15 years, what could I possibly know about the subject.
Mtrdrms, while it is okay to put Seafoam in the crankcase, keep in mind this is a strong detergent, not an oil additive I certainly wouldn't leave it in the motor for a long time. And on that note, you can put all sorts of stuff in an engine in the short term, even water (in the very short term). The old timers used to put automatic transmission fluid in their crankcase the day before they changed their oil. This was to take advantage of the strong detergents in the auto tranny fluid.
The long and short of the situation is: Why risk it?
But hey, you guys do what you want. I'm only a ASE master tech, an award winning GM tech, and have been turning wrenches for over 15 years, what could I possibly know about the subject.
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Excellent reply. Your right, why risk it. I just thought that since it doesnt say, on the can, to change the oil after a treatment it wouldnt be necessary.
#17
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when added to the crankcase.
Ive never been a big fan of stalling, or nearly stalling my motor by pouring liquids into it, and 22re's tend not to have too many issues with carbon buildup. Either way if the piston rings are in good condition, and properly installed the amount that would/could actually leak down into the crankcase would be negligable. The other thing to mention however is that most people use seafoam as part of a full tuneup, and end up changing the oil, plugs, etc at the same time.
Ive never been a big fan of stalling, or nearly stalling my motor by pouring liquids into it, and 22re's tend not to have too many issues with carbon buildup. Either way if the piston rings are in good condition, and properly installed the amount that would/could actually leak down into the crankcase would be negligable. The other thing to mention however is that most people use seafoam as part of a full tuneup, and end up changing the oil, plugs, etc at the same time.
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