To Seafoam or Not to Seafoam

I am curious if many people out there have ran seafoam through their tacos. I used it in my old Dakota, and I still use it in my mower, weed wacker, and chain saw. Turns out my '12 taco is a bit more advanced than my old dakota ever was. I wasn't sure if people have used it then experienced electrical problems' or any such thing. People seem to be totally for it or totally against it. I dig it, but am not sure about running it through an expensive truck.

 

I dont use it as a habit but I did run a bottle through my truck and had no problem.

 

People who are for it have likely had a good experience, else they would not be for it. People who are against it may have had issues, but in many cases are simply reiterating bad info they've seen on the web. People go on the web and say something is terrible and the next thing you know 1000s are repeating what they've heard with no real knowledge of the issue.

 

I really can't see how it would cause ELECTRICAL problems. It goes in the gas tank and/or engine oil.

 

I used to run it through a vacuum line in my Dakota as well. I have a buddy who has a Tundra, and he said on the tundra forums guys were saying it could cause electronic issues. *shrug*. I just wanna dot my ts and cross my i's before I ruin my tacoma lol.

 

It cant. Thats just urban myth. As you pointed out, something in the gas tank can not cause electrical problems. Maybe fuel gauge or sensor problems but not electrical problems.

 

I used it in my 2007 Hyundai. I had a heck of a time getting emissions to pass. I ran a bottle of seafoam through the gas tank and then it passed no problem. I'm hesitant to run through the vacuum line unless as a last resort. Otherwise I've had good experiences.

 

The guys on the tundra forum are obviously retarded. Unless you're pouring it over the electrical components, it CAN have NO impact at all.

Also note that seafoam is pretty simple stuff. Its components are pale oil (diesel), naphtha oil, and isopropyl alcohol. Certainly won't hurt anything at the extremely low concentrations used for mixing with fuel. As far as sucking it straight into the vacuum tube goes, shouldn't hurt anything.

 

I've fouled an o2 sensor on one of my 240's in the past. Than again, the car had 175k miles on it and was smoking like crazy.

 

I'm working on running a can through my tank right now. had a little smoke at first, but gas needle is falling a little bit slower

 

Dump it in, it's a great smoke show. Freaking the neighbors out is always fun.

 

Putting it in the gas tank would be fine, oil okay, but I wouldn't vacuum line it unless its a last resort or you have a justifiable reason to. A 2012 Taco hopefully wouldn't need that. I will probably run some through the tank or another "cleaner" before the next oil change.

 

Won't hurt through a vacuum line, just as long as you obviously don't dump it in so fast as to hydrolock the engine.

 

When I saw this thread I told myself I was going to keep my "mouth" shut--but you know how that goes...

Seafoam was developed in the 50s for cleaning out varnish and sludge in marine engines that were run cold (because of cold water) and/or improperly stored during winter (that's the "sea" part in the name). Because it did benefit ill-treated engines it got to be known in conventional wisdom as a "wonder product", and the manufacturer capitalised on that legend.

It consists (and always has) of high end (more volatile) hydrocarbons (think kerosene, < 95%) and isopropanol (<2 5%)--here is the MSDS--all of which are in contemporary gasoline. It is not needed in any properly maintained engine, nor IMHO is it even desirable. In fact in 70+ years on this planet, 45 in New England and 26 here in Florida, I have never used it (or had any even perceived desire to use it) in any vehicle or other engine I have owned--it is snake oil, admittedly of the finest kind, but snake oil nonetheless.

The only reason I can think of to subject your engine to it would be if it looks like this inside:



If used per their current instructions, added to gas or oil, it will likely do not harm; though direct injection via vacuum lines and just dumping it in the intake it has been known to foul O2 sensors and mess with cats.

You can brew it up yourself for about $1.50/pint--here's how...

 

I have used it several times without issue in vacuum lines and everywhere else indicated. If you're hesitant to put it in a vacuum line, you could always just install an oil catch can to help keep the top half of the engine clean instead.

 

I tend to agree that it likely won't do much good for a regularly operated conventional modern fuel injected engine.
Probably not a terrible thing to add to fuel in engines that are used infrequently, and especially if the engines have carburetors.

 

Ran it through the vacuum lines on an 07 Tacoma, 04 Tundra and a 2002 Sequoia. Never any issues. Only time was a misfire cause I moved while pouring and one of the cylinders wasn't happy with me. Turned the engine off and back on, CEL never returned.
Do it and don't look back. There's a fair number of videos that demonstrate it DOES remove carbon from the cylinder walls and piston heads.

 

Anyone else home brew this stuff? Seems too easy, but don't want to make the mistake of going cheap and doing $K of damage to a newer vehicle.

Maybe I'll try it in my lawnmower first!

 

I just looked at that page... gotta love the "2 parts diesel, 1 part gasoline" section. You know, since what that really amounts to, is just "add a bit of diesel to your gas tank". Kinda pointless to add in the gasoline component.

FYI: the "naptha" oil is commonly available as "coleman camp fuel".

 

I put a small amount in my lawn equipment and my bikes, for winter storage. Other than that, the only other time I used it was in the head of my Cobalt SS, which was direct-injected and the heads were known for heavy carbon built-up which threw codes etc. I likely wouldn't need to use in my Taco but it won't hurt it, if you do.