seafoam question

oceanman · Post by **oceanman** » 17 Oct 2007, 22:05

thanks everyone for their two cents.
it wasn't my intention to start another 'seafoam' thread but what i was wondering i hadn'd seen addressed in the all the other ones...
koan,
i recently did a full replacement of the pcv, so i don't think it would be that. if it is an exhaust leak what are the usual suspects? the smoke was coming out more lower near the turbo than higher near the exhaust manifold. i didn't have the heat shield off so i couldn't tell for sure. what exactly is 'blow-by'? is that from worn piston rings and or valves?
if this helps: i am constantly pulling codes (with the help of this forum) a2-436,153,212 (o2 sensor), occasionally various missfire codes 451,452,etc. and rarer still knock sensor. i have replaced the upper engine mount (no knock codes since), almost all of the vac hoses, and i need to replace the intercooler hoses. i want to go with silicone but in the mean time i did an electrician's fix and wrapped them up really well with black vinyl tape. they are old rubber hoses and are a little past their prime. the tape has been on there for about a week and the check engine light hasn't come on yet. every time i fix or replace something there's a longer interval without a cel so i think i'm getting close... is it possible to get o2 codes with an exhaust leak?
btw: no i didn't spill any seafoam on the turbo. i know you had to ask- there's plenty of klutzes out there...
thanks,
mike

Post by **mrreilly** » 24 Oct 2007, 11:32

Well, I just bought a can of this seafoam and I'm planning on putting it in on Friday morning. I just want to make sure I'm thinking of the right stop where it needs to be sucked in.

It is that little tree thing right? Just take one of the covers off and hook up a line to it and suck about half the can right?
I have been reading a lot and thanks jtp for that link. I just want to make sure this is what I'm doing I never found a pic of where the seafoam is to get sucked in.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 24 Oct 2007, 12:34

Suck in half a jar (be careful, it goes quick) and then turn the key off, let it sit for 15 minutes and then crank it up and be ready for the stink bomb.

jchrisloyd · Post by **jchrisloyd** » 24 Oct 2007, 15:07

I just did the seafoam intake treatment yesterday thru the vacuum tree. It smoked quite a bit, the car seems to have a lot more zip, and also now has power with the air on. It was amazing.

96 850, GLT

Post by **mrreilly** » 25 Oct 2007, 07:30

Thanks for the replies. Hopefully I'll get up early enough tomorrow to do this. How long does the smoking last for?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 25 Oct 2007, 07:51

Smoking seems to depend on how much crud is in your engine that needs cleaning out....15 minutes to half an hour. If you smoke a ton, be ready to reset codes. A lot of times codes are set for 02 sensors and/or cat converters. No harm done...but the car's computer doesn't know what to do with all of this dirty exhaust.

I personally haven't done the seafoam treatment because although many report great improvements off the bat, no one so far has claimed that they are lasting. My car runs great, so why mess with something that's not broken?

jchrisloyd · Post by **jchrisloyd** » 25 Oct 2007, 07:54

My 96, 850 GLT smoked for a good 10 min or so. I then drove it on the highway for about 15 min. Once that drive was complete, no more smoke.

waynej · Post by **waynej** » 25 Oct 2007, 23:07

I didn't want to smoke out my neighbors so I parked near an interstate onramp to do the Seafoam treatment. Didn't have anyone to turn off the engine, so it accidentally got a full can minus about a quarter cup I poured down the breather hose the day before. When it started it ran very rough with a little smoke for about 10 seconds then smoothed out enough to drive. As soon as it smoothed out I jumped in and drove it hard, the smoke only lasted about 10 seconds, but in that short time it left an extremely dense cloud of smoke about 35 yards wide and about 100 yards long!
I don't recommend putting a full can in, it could have easily have hydraulicked the engine and bent a rod.

Next I will try another can in the gas tank. Works best to wait till you have 1/4 tank or less of fuel than pour in a full can. Drive it hard for 20 or 30 minutes then fill the tank. If you let it sit overnight with that high concentration it could soften rubber seals and hoses and cause a real mess.

Has anyone tried the Seafoam transmission stuff ?

volvoaddict007 · Post by **volvoaddict007** » 26 Oct 2007, 01:31

Reading all of this I'm wondering if you could run this through the PCV system or maybe that is what is happening anyhow. Seems like it could be a way of cleaning out the oil seperator ( under the intake manifold ) and lines periodically.

My guess here is that the people getting the most smoke and improved performance are those with clogged PCVs and therefore dirtier intakes etc...

va007

Post by **mrreilly** » 26 Oct 2007, 12:15

Just did it. I'll report back later this evening hopefully. So far so good though!