2016 Tacoma won't start after seafoam

Hi all, I inherited a 2016 base model Tacoma and I am having trouble getting it started after adding seafoam to the gas tank.

I use it to go camping once a month so it doesn't get driven often. I just got back from a 200 mile trip was getting ready to do some maintenance (change brakes). I put a bottle of seafoam in the gas tank which was half full. I let sit for a few days and went to start it so I can go top off the gas but it just cranks now. I have not had any starting issues before this. The battery is fully charged too and the cranking sounds healthy. I've also used seafoam on my 08 highlander and haven't had any issues.

Is there anything I should try or do before I call a tow truck?

Thanks!

 

Gas Additives: Recently watched Scotty Kilmer, utube mechanic explain that Sea Foam is only for 2-cycle engines. See; “Never Use Seafoam Additive In Your Car”.

He explains why you should not use it as a gas additive. I have to say this was new news to me and good to know.

One product he did recommend as a gas additive was GumOut Multi System Tune Up.

Good luck, Woodcutter

 

Is it firing,getting fuel....key light flashing?

 

Confirm the fuel pump is actually coming on (should hear it spin up when you turn the key to "on"). I'd personally try topping off the gas tank, attempting to dilute the seafoam (assuming that's the actual problem).

I guess the classic pull a plug, first see if it smells like gas, check for sparking.

Could be lots of things causing issues on an 8 year old truck that only gets driven once a month.

You only need three things for it to run, and you've got starter covered, so just start troubleshooting gas and spark, one thing at a time.

 

He got that because it was originally developed as a fuel stabilizer to address the problem of moisture in boat gas tanks which often tend to sit. There's lots of opinions out there. SF is an excellent fuel stabilizer and helpful with the deposits and some of the less desirable effects of ethenol fuel, ideal for something that rarely gets run. It's basically an organic solvent and works in a totally different way then something like techron which uses chemicals to attack the fuel deposits that build up on the injectors. Seafoam also works well to flush and clean the inside of a crankcase, 1 oz per qt 500mi before an oil change.

 

I used Techron fuel injector cleaner once and for a couple of weeks afterwards I had a strange start up behavior where it seemed the car would turn over on the first crank. I also had some weird idling at lower than normal RPMs.

I simply kept driving and flushing with Top Tier fuel and havent had any problems since.

You can try diluting what's already in your tank with good fuel, but if it doesn't work, it may just make the problem more of a pain for a shop to fix. I tried looking for the best way to drain the tank and I didnt find anything super easy, but I also didnt look all that hard.

 

THIS GUY SOLVED IT! I got it to start.

I was using a spare key I had cut at home depot. I didn't know there was a chip in the OEM key. I used the original key, the key light that ive never noticed before went off, and the truck started right up.

Damn I'm dumb. I haven't bought a vehicle since 2008 and I inherited this tacoma so I didn't know any better

 

Love it when it's something simple

 

Kudos to @HondaGM
Op glad your back running!

Also my belief is the Atkinson motor does a cleaning cycle.
The sea foam etc may help clean tank
Filter etc. Not saying do it or don’t agree or disagree.
I’ve used Bg44 before.

 

kilmer is a shill of a moron, who does far too many things for clicks.

i tend to do the opposite of kilmer, and i'm still alive...

 

After running thru any brand of fuel cleaner/stabilizer a new fuel filter is a good idea.

 

OP, I highly doubt putting Sea Foam in the gas tank could have anything to do with a crank-no-start condition....
I definitely don’t agree with everything Kilmer says, but I wouldn’t go as far as to call him a shill or a moron though. Lol.
That said, I’ve been using/loving Sea Foam for 20+years and never had any probs using it in 2 or 4 strokes or even diesels. That shit works great IMO...

 

Welcome to the forum

 

I have never been able to get through one of his videos, good or bad I can't stand his delivery style.

 

Glad to hear you figured it out

 

Good to know you've figured it out.
Now on the fuel additive debate

 

Did he explain exactly how he came to that conclusion?
Question everything.

 

I notice that too a couple oil changes ago when I added techron cleaner... The truck felt and sounded more sporty, like the ECT button was clicked. I like when the engine turns over in the least amount of cranks though.

 

he definitely panders to the emotional and/or impulse side of youtube, with a lot of "trust me, i know what i'm talking about"

 

I get Gene Wilder young Frankenstein vibes from him...he's a complete nut. Still kinda entertaining though.