Should I use Sea Foam?

So I've had some vibration at Idle. The first time the dealer told me it was normal. The second they said I needed to clean the throttle body and my battery was bad. Went ahead and did that and its slightly better, but still there sometimes. My thinking is maybe if I clean off some more crap it will get a little better. Anyone experience any negatives to using it?

 

It might help. I use that stuff in all my ATVs and generator. Some people swear by it. Can't hurt.

 

Knowing the year and mileage of your truck would be helpful.

And what did they claim the battery had to do with it? Where there other bad battery symptoms? No start, weak start, etc?

 

It won't hurt anything to run some through the tank, and can in fact help. The stuff works wonders with small engines.

When was the last time you changed your spark plugs?

 

Question, I have two 4 wheelers (ATVs). Do you put the seafoam in the gas tank on them or some other method like putting it in the oil?

thanks

 

when my OEM battery was failing last fall, my lights were dimmer but it still started up fine until one night it would barley crank, turned off head lights and it cranked fine. I leave my lights on all the time.

seafoam was used last year and it cleared up a rough idle, so maybe an injector was dirty on mine

 

Vibration at idle? Hell.... anyone checked your spark plugs? Motor mounts?

 

I personally run it through my gas tank just like a fuel injector cleaner every 5th-6th gas tank (about once a month), I always have just an old habit not even sure if it makes a real difference on my newer vehicles. I do know it really helped my dirt bikes and older Ducati Monster that were more sensitive to the quality of the fuel, I also live in CA where everything has like 8-10% ethanol which my Ducati HATED.

on my last Tacoma I also would run it in my valve covers for like 10-20 miles at the end of every oil change, also habit, also not sure if it really helped, but sold my Tacoma at 125k miles and had it inspected and the master tech said it was beautiful mechanically, valves looked great which is why I ran it. Haven't done it on my new Tacoma yet but only have 15k miles so will probably start soon.

 

In the tank. Or google "Seafoam Torture" if you want to run it through a vacuum intake to clean the valves/cylinder before an oil change. Just make sure your neighbors don't call the fire department - it generates a lot of fog.

 

Can it be used on push lawnmowers as well. Mine is running a bit funky as of recent

 

That's where it does best! NY also has a pretty high average ethanol content which I'm sure your lawnmower absolutely hates. Small engines aren't designed to handle ethanol at all so unless you have an ethanol free gas station local to you its best to run seafoam almost constantly in small work engines, I put some in EVERY gas tank in my dirtbikes, and would run it through every oil change too.

 

For small engines if you can find non-ethanol gas use that otherwise you need to use an additive to treat ethanol or your small engines will not last

 

It's not a replacement for a fresh spark plug and air filter - but if the carb is dirty Seafoam can sometimes clean it up enough to get things running well again.

It does seem to work better on smaller engines. I picked up a 50cc scooter that hadn't run for 2+ years. Emptied/drained the tank, added Ethanol-free gas + Seafoam and a fresh battery. The bike started right up and stumbled for about a mile before it cleared up and now runs like new.

YMMV

 

you can make your own fuel, just add water and the ethanol will separate out leaving gas on top

 

2009 around 52000 miles. I dont know if they said the battery actually had anything to do with it or not.

 

Not sure, the spark plugs are due to be changed soon I think..60,000 miles? If I do bring it back a 3rd time ill make sure they tell me exactly what was checked. Honestly though I may just bring it to someone else and stop wasting my time.

 

170k miles on my 09 Taco and never changed the spark plugs

my 99 Taco had them changed at 150k
my 88 toy 4x4 would eat plugs every 20k until running platinum's
2005 sienna van has 205k miles and original platinum plugs in it

 

Uh oh. Waiting for the maintenance nazis to come out and eat you .

 

no need to replace parts that don't need replacing

 

Works great on old diesel tractors I know that. Heard it is a good product from many sources.