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Seafoam, have you ever tried ATF instead?

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Old Jun 8, 2006 | 07:27 PM
  #1  
frankjake's Avatar
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From: Southern Oregon
Seafoam, have you ever tried ATF instead?

Years ago I had a Chevy Chevelle. It developed a valve ticking and I took it to a mechanic who told me to try something first.

He said to start the engine and pour ATF (auto trans fluid) directly into the carb slow enough so the engine didn't stall. He said this would clean the engine especially the valves and lifters and the "tick" should go away.

So I do exactly as he said and I'll tell you, talk about heavy smoke! Tons, I mean tons of bluish/white smoke poured out the exhaust, I kept the RMP up while I was slowly pouring the ATF into the carb. I have to say, it worked. No more valve tick and the engine seemed to have a bit more get up and go. I never thought about checking the mileage, but back then gas was only 50 cents a gallon and we weren't too concerned about mileage. LOL

I wonder if the seafoam is similar to ATF in it's cleaning ability? Has anyone ever tried ATF, using similar procedures as the seafoam? Isn't Marvel Mystery Oil basically ATF? It's says you can use it in the gas tank. Maybe have similar effects as Seafoam?
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Old Jun 8, 2006 | 08:46 PM
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From: Ft. Collins, Co
It is full of detergent I hear. I have heard of intake cleaning with atf but have never tried it.
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Old Jun 8, 2006 | 08:48 PM
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A friend of mine used ATF. Smoked up the whole street. He said it worked well.
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Old Jun 8, 2006 | 09:14 PM
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my mechanic suggested the same when i mentioned seafoam. never had it done
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Old Jun 9, 2006 | 07:17 AM
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i've done it, never seemed to make a difference.

then again, there wasn't anything wrong with my engine, i just wanted to have some fun
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Old Jun 9, 2006 | 08:13 AM
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From: Fort Worth, TX
That is an OOOOLLLLLDDDDD trick to burn off carbon deposits. It works, but I have only done it on older carbuerator equipped cars. Will really smoke you out.
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Old Jun 10, 2006 | 05:27 PM
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From: Colorado
Yea I've heard of putting a small amount of ATF into your gas, and that's suppose to like clean and lube your fuel system. But I think I also remember reading somewhere that it was a bad idea, idk...
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Old Jun 11, 2006 | 12:16 PM
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From: Springs, Colorado
My dad had it done to his jeep, i wonder how well it would work on the 22re, and how much should i put in? thanks.
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Old Jun 11, 2006 | 03:04 PM
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From: Revelstoke B.C
I've added it to the oil just before an oil change , seems to quiet things down a bit , not sure how long i would want to run it in there though
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Old Jun 11, 2006 | 03:49 PM
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From: Tipton, PA
I have used ATF in oil and to clean the top end. You can take off your big hose on your brake power booster and let it suck through the top end. As far as in my oil, what it does is softens up all the rubber and makes them swell for a better seal. The detergents in ATF are nasty, in a good way. In my Peterbilt, I put a quart in each fuel tank once every couple fill ups. It cleans the injectors.
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Old Jun 11, 2006 | 07:14 PM
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From: Lacey, WA
i strongly don't recommend sucking anything through your brake booster hose, it doesn't go to your "top end," it goes to straight into the cylinders! using a big hose can slurp a lot of fluid, which in turn ends with broken rods.
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Old Jun 13, 2006 | 10:14 AM
  #12  
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From: Oklahoma State
Originally Posted by kyle_22r
i strongly don't recommend sucking anything through your brake booster hose, it doesn't go to your "top end," it goes to straight into the cylinders! using a big hose can slurp a lot of fluid, which in turn ends with broken rods.
Yeah, I've heard of some guy that hydrolocked his engine doing that. I've been using BG 44K in the gas tank.
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Old Jun 14, 2006 | 09:30 AM
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From: Springs, Colorado
ok, but can i put it in my tank? and i should do it right before an oil change?
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Old Jun 27, 2006 | 02:02 PM
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From: San Diego
on the sea foam bottle there are directions for adding before the throttle body
into the oil.

and into the gas..

all depends on what you want to clean...

RX-7 guys like marvel mystery oil... I think is a marvel is smells like atf and its a mystery to the rx-7 guys..
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Old Jun 27, 2006 | 03:59 PM
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From: so.cal
Originally Posted by DavidA
That is an OOOOLLLLLDDDDD trick to burn off carbon deposits. It works, but I have only done it on older carbuerator equipped cars. Will really smoke you out.
one time i was doing this girl a favor of putting in the qt of oil she handed me. turned out she had ATF and all of her family was at me for it. doing something in the dark, i didnt even spill a drop, and i get rousted.
they just did an oil change and there was never any problems. dont know if it ever ran better.

another old carb trick is a bit of water down the carb while running, removes carbon deposits real well.
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Old Jul 5, 2006 | 03:50 PM
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From: Gum Spring,va.
pouring it into your itke will not do anything for your lifters..lmao but it does work , but its kinda nasty for convertors , stick with sea foam ,and just before an oil change add a can o marvel mystery oil to the oil and let it rin for a while ,thats what will help lifters.
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