Techron, Seafoam, or Thinner?

[QuirkySwede]

There's much regarding "solutions" for preventing or removing fuel system build-ups, either carbon deposits or brown varnish residues. Starting with three popular brands, compare what each has, its purpose, merits, and measured* effectiveness.

Should any ingredients be run through the fuel and combustion system, and if so, how and in what amount?

Where do they differ, what do they have in common, and why?

Is there a more effective DIY approach at a lesser cost?

Chevron Techron F. I. Cleaner (MSDS)	CAS #	Amount	Note
1. Distillates (petroleum), hydrotreated light	64742-47-8	< 80%	deodorized kerosene
2. Stoddard solvent	8052-41-3	< 50%	mineral spirits
Chevron Techron Concentrate Plus (MSDS)	CAS #	Amount	Note
1. Distillates (petroleum), hydrotreated light	64742-47-8	40 - 70%	deodorized kerosene
2. Stoddard solvent	8052-41-3	15 - 40%	mineral spirits
3. Solvent naphtha (petroleum), light aromatic	64742-95-6	5 - 10%
4. Benzene, 1,2,4-trimethyl-	95-63-6	1 - 5%
.
Seafoam Motor Treatment (MSDS)	CAS #	Amount	Note
1. Distillates (petroleum), hydrotreated heavy paraffinic*	64742-54-7	40 - 60%	* "Pale Oil" on MSDS, more
2. Naphtha	64742-49-0	25 - 35%	solvent, degreaser
3. IPA	67-63-0	10 - 20%	isopropyl alcohol
.
Gumout Flex Fuel Vehicle F. I. Cleaner (MMSDS)	CAS #	Amount	Note
1. Distillates (petroleum), hydrotreated light	64742-47-8	60 - 100%	deodorized kerosene
2. Benzene, 1,2,4-trimethyl-	95-63-6	1 - 5%
Gumout High Mileage F. I. Cleaner (MMSDS)	CAS #	Amount	Note
Cumene	98-82-8	1 - 5%
Cumene	98-82-8	1.935%
Naphthalene	91-20-3	0.0002%	"mothballs"
Gumout High Mileage Fuel Sys. Cleaner (MMSDS)	CAS #	Amount	Note
1. Propane	74-98-6	30 - 55%
2. Additive package		20 - 45%
3. Solvent naphtha (petroleum), heavy aromatic	64742-94-5	1 - 5%
4. Naphthalene	91-20-3	0.2%	"mothballs"
Blend of kerosine and additives.
Gumout Professional Fuel Sys. Cleaner (MMSDS)	CAS #	Amount	Note
1. Detergent/dispersant	55 - 65%
2. Kerosine	8008-20-6	40 - 45%	kerosene
Blend of kerosine and additives.
Gumout Regane Complete Fuel Sys. Cleaner (MMSDS)	CAS #	Amount	Note
Blend of kerosine and additives.
Naphthalene	91-20-3	0.0788%	"mothballs"
Solvent naphtha (petroleum), heavy aromatic	64742-94-5
Gumout Ultra Concentrated F. I. Cleaner (MMSDS)	CAS #	Amount	Note
1. Distillates (petroleum), hydrotreated light	64742-47-8	60 - 100%	deodorized kerosene
2. Benzene, 1,2,4-trimethyl-	95-63-6 1 - 5%
Gumout Xtra Concentrated Carb. Cleaner (MMSDS)	CAS #	Amount	Note
Kerosine	8008-20-6	90 - 95%	kerosene
Blend of kerosine and additives.
.
Marvel Mystery Oil (MSDS)*, (MSDS)*	CAS #	Amount	Note
1. Distillates, hydrotreated heavy naphthenic	64742-52-5	70 - 80%	* "Naphthenic Hydrocarbons"
2. Mineral Spirits	08052-41-3	20 - 30%	solvent, degreaser
3. Chlorinated Hydrocarbons	00095-50-1	0 - 1%
.
BG 44K Power Enhancer (MSDS)	CAS #	Amount	Note
1. Distillates (petroleum), hydrotreated light	64742-47-8	15 - 40%	deodorized kerosene
2. Mineral Spirits	08052-41-3	15 - 40%	solvent, degreaser

If I missed any big ones, please provide the product name, MSDS link, and breakdown as above.

* Such as before and after photos with detailed explanation of process, or measurements taken before and after with tools or other devices producing comparable results.

Related links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrocarbon
http://hydrocarbonchains.blogspot.com/
http://www.chemistryland.com/ElementarySchool/BuildingBlocks/BuildingOrganic.htm

Edits: Added Gumout , Marvel Mystery Oil, and BG 44K respectively.

[JRL]

What's the question here?

[JRL]

Since you're not being very specific...
I'm not a chemical engineer
What I do know is that Seaform seems to work well for most Volvos.
I've had some amazing results if you follow the instructions.

Techron is just a fuel (injector) cleaner and it never hurts to add a bottle every oil change or even more often if you want to spend the money.
That you just dump in the tank.

Seafoam is added to three different places, 1/3 in the tank, 1/3 into the oil and 1/3 into a vacuum line and the latter two is what makes the difference.

Karosene itself is a really good cleaner but you really need to be VERY careful as to how to use it.
I've only used it once for a specific reason to clear out a gummed out engine oil passage, but again you really need to know how to use it, you can't just dump it into an engine!

I've never used the other products, some may be great, some may not

[QuirkySwede]

While I appreciate you taking the time to respond, JRL, it doesn't address the stated questions and if anything is counter to the goal of the thread. Testimonials are a dime a dozen and mire down a technical discussion more than they move it forward -- not helpful. Thread is aimed towards those into chemistry, engineering, the scientific method or the like, if that makes it any clearer.

[jreed]

Marvel Mystery Oil MSDS:
https://www.turtlewax.com/docs/default- ... ystery-oil
http://www.co.vermilion.il.us/MSDS/EMA/ ... %20Oil.pdf
1. Napthenic Hydrocarbons 70-80% (Solvent)
2. Mineral Spirits 20-30%
3. Chlorinated Hydrocarbons (ortho-Dichlorobenzne) < 0.25%

[erikv11]

While it can be fun to bash back at JRL, you might want to consider that he was directly answering one of the questions you asked:

... Is there a more effective DIY approach at a lesser cost? ...

Your question can't possibly be answered without deciding what is effective. And you can't decide that without testimonials ... Lots of them, to be fair.

Given the dozens of elixir-in-a-can products one can buy, even for this one specific application, I think it was spot on for JRL to start by addressing that part of your post. It seems most sensible to start by settling on a short list of products worth looking at, then look carefully at only those products.

[QuirkySwede]

jreed, thanks! Got that one added.

Your question can't possibly be answered without deciding what is effective. And you can't decide that without testimonials ...

Totally incorrect,
and no lab would proceed like that (though most PR firms would). How would one tell which testimonial is better? What if two that conflict? What is "effective"? Put it into terms that mean the same to everyone ("go one mile east" not "head yonder a ways"). Need to distinguish between real and just psychological or placebo. We can agree that 2 lies between 1 and 3, but terms like "amazing"? That's why drag races, for example, use a time and speed (measurements) so awarding the trophy doesn't come down to two guys bickering about who had the more "amazing" run.

Car's running bad so you have the head rebuild, put in new plugs, new plug wires, and a new MAF sensor all at once, then it runs fine. So how does one deduce cause-effect changing FOUR variables at once? And these product often have two, three, four, or more ingredients. How do you tell which one is doing what, if anything?

Again, going for a higher standard here than just internet chat for something a little more critical than upholstery colors. Let's be more scientific in approaching this, ok?

[erikv11]

JRL has boatloads of empirical knowledge, more than most of us will ever come close to having. On a matter like this I would consider his input valuable. But that's me. You make your choices, I can certainly respect that.

Aha, I see you have edited the original post to perhaps morph this into a more coherent question, I'm all for that, but if the opinion(s) of the most experienced users are indeed considered irrelevant, it may be tough to figure anything out on this one.

Here's another 1,000 or so formulations: http://bit.ly/1hjh6BL

[precopster]

I would dare say that 98% of us here on MVS are not chemical engineers, metalurgists or even certified vehicle technicians, nor do we have the background and technical vocabulary to understand what this gifted group of people would like to convey.

Most of us are car lovers who love to throw around ideas, some of them not so intelligently formed, so we can have an outlet when we come home from a hard day's work and want to wind down in ways other than the idiot box, (though sometimes it may be on in the background )

To dispose of people's comments by saying that they are irrelevant to topics because they don't have the technical knowledge to explain things in a scientific manner is simply egotistical. Even ONE person's experience may count if they have successfully overcome an issue where others have failed. It comes from the opinion that only ONE source is of info is the one beneficial to the forum community. Again it boils down to the average Joe coming here for sometimes some light conversation and some FRIENDLY banter.

If this isn't their bag and I think I speak for the 98% I previously mentioned, perhaps they should be writing for highly technical publications and publishing books on their favourite topics.

Matthews member Yahouda was one of the first to document a Sacer sensor swap into a Magnetti Marelli ETM. His pioneering efforts have paved the way for me as I picked up a soldering iron and started repairing them myself. EVERY opinion counts here on the forum. It's up to the individual to weed out the hearsay from the fact.

This is true in life as we go through it. Generally we don't like to be told we're wrong even if the path we're taking is a precarious one. We should trust that people will see the light one day without cramming our opinions down each other's collective throats. Life is way too short for this..........

As in one of my favourite Get Smart episodes I hereby declare "I am the real Abou Ben Boubi"

[castconcrete]

I do know that you have not listed one of the products that is used and trusted in many repair facilities including some of the local dealership service departments.
BG Products ... BG44K
I don't have time to run down the descriptive info that you are asking for, but I am sure that someone here can chime in. Off to work, have a good day all.