legacycentral bbs

Ok, this is probly another one of my stupid questions.

Where exactly do you put the SeaFoam? By reading various posts i have come up with this.

You can add it to gas in your gas tank.
You can add it to engine oil.

Now is this something that is safe to drivew with? Or is it more of a flush

I dont want to add a bunch to my gas tank and oil then drive away only to realize its only meant to flush it.

Also is that the only places you can use it?

I tried to acess one of josh's posts that seemed like it would explain it but it wouldnt load the page.

thanks

The oil is supposed to be before a change. I noticed no difference with adding it to the gas (although my fuel sender died soon after which may be coincidence). The biggest help for me was pouring it through the PCV. Driving it for a few blocks after threw a smoke screen up behind me. There was a nice restoration of smooth running and better pick up.

Steve

So I should put in in my oil maybe 500 miles before i change it, and then drive with it in the oil for the next 500? And what exactly is the pcv?


<EDIT> Sorry steve i didnt notice the reply you left in my other post

I don't know whether or not you're meant to drive very long with it in the crankcase. I can't imagine Sea Foam in the oil being good for lubrication.

You can also feed Sea Foam to the engine's intake through a vacuum hose.

What I do is wait until I need an oil change soon and I have half a tank of fuel remaining.

Then I put some in the fuel tank and some in the crankcase.

Then I drive very gingerly until the tank is close to empty.

Then I do the intake treatment: I thread a nylon fitting in place of the PCV valve and connect a vinyl hose. I run the engine at a high idle and let it sip up the Sea Foam, and then shut the engine off. After about 10 minutes, I start the engine up (with the PCV valve reinstalled) and drive around until the smoke from the tailpipe subsides.

Then I refuel fully, and change the oil.

which thread of mine had pics/pages that wouldn't load?

Where you use it depends what you want to clean.

If you put it in the gas tank it should clean out the injectors, piston crowns, piston ring tops, and exhaust valves.

If you put it in the crankcase it should clean out the oil galleries, and finally though a vacuum line it should clean the intake manifold and intake valves, as well as the pistons, exhaust valves/ rings etc.

I did the vacuum hose thing on my Miata and it made a big difference. Have not done it on the Subie yet. Be careful to regulate flow through a vacuum hose or you can hydrolock the engine. I rigged up some clear plastic hose and a tap from the plumbing dept. of home depot. Vice grips on a piece of vaccum line will probably work too.

If you decide to dump it in the oil I would not leave it in the crankcase for long - just long enough to circulate around.

Dave

Ok, well the SeaFoam through the vacuum line sounds like something i need to do. Could someone with a haynes scan in a birds eye view of the engine and highlight the vacuum lines. I think i know what ur talking about but i would hate to put it in the wrong place. Also maybe a little more detail on how to regulate this.

These engines do build up some carbon, so I think the vacuum line is the best bet. I pulled the hose that goes from the valve cover to the PCV and flipped it up on the PCV to pour it wthrough the valve. Thing is, make sure the breather hose is cleaned first or it will clog the PCV valve with the oil inside and you'll have to clean the valve out. I had to slowly pour it in little by little and manually work the throttle so it wouldn't stall.

Steve

Here is the rig I used. Cost about $5 from Home Depot. The hoses and tap just snap together.

If you are stuck for a vacuum hose the brake booster line is always a safe bet...

http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/davidg ... m=b924.jpg

You don't need a valve... you can just regulate how much Sea Foam you allow the hose to sip.

Where do you guys get this SeaFoam?

Advance Auto Parts (In other parts of the country I think the same store is called Checker Auto Parts, Shuck's Auto Supply, Kragen Auto Parts, or CSK Auto) carries it, and so does NAPA.