1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Sea Foam

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Old Jul 23, 2006 | 07:11 PM
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Sea Foam

Does anyone here use Sea Foam on their cars?
My room mate has used it in every car he has owned but they are all fuel injected piston engines. I was wondering if rotaries would have any issues with it?
I've done some reading on Sea Foam and it says for any gasoline engine so I assume I'd be all right. I see some of the seals in the engine though being different than a piston engines seals that they might have some conflict with it?
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Old Jul 23, 2006 | 08:14 PM
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Punch in "Seafoam" under Search threads,you will find at Least 10 pages of Info on The subject.(cliff note:it works great on a rotary engine.)
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Old Jul 23, 2006 | 08:29 PM
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I agree. This is probably the 8 hundredth thread started on this same subject. Search first whenever possible. Works great.
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Old Jun 1, 2007 | 10:33 PM
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my friends engine blew a week after he used sea foam. 100,000 miles on an s5 vert. and he blew a week after using the stuff.... carbon locking?
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Old Jun 1, 2007 | 11:06 PM
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back from the dead... There will always be some against it. Personally, i have used it in every car i have worked on with no problems.
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Old Jun 1, 2007 | 11:12 PM
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Used it and have no problem!
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Old Jun 1, 2007 | 11:18 PM
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Seafoam is the preferred method of carbon removal, and it will not cause an engine to blow after use. It's very effective and gentler on the seals than the old ATF that has been used for many years. Regular use, i.e., a can in the fuel tank with each oil change is a good maintenance practice.

With high mileage and heavily carboned engines, there is a risk of cleaning out enough carbon that the engine may end may allowing more fuel/oil injected mix to bypass the worn oil control o-rings, producing more oil smoke in the exhaust. For those engines, they were near terminal to begin with as the carbon build up has been masking/sealing worn components

I've found that after the treatment, since the engine usually runs better, an owner may tend to push it harder with the new found performance and that's where engine failures arise from. There is the odd chance on a heavily carboned engine that the treatment may loosen large chunks of still hardened carbon that may catch and break an apex seal.

For this reason, if this is the 1st decarbonizing treatment in many years/miles, it's best to introduce the Seafoan through a vacuum line and allow the engine to set for a day or two, thus allowing the Seafoam to thoroughly soften all of the carbon. For this process,I recommend sucking up 1/2 can of Seafoam at idle at a fast enough rate to kill the engine. Let it sit and soak, the use the 2nd 1/2 can in a slower ingestion to help pull out the remaining carbon.

I sometimes follow up with water pulled in through the same vacuum line to clean the rest of the remaining carbon out. Inside a combustion chamber, water will literally steam clean the inside.
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Old Jun 2, 2007 | 12:58 AM
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Originally Posted by 87rx7girl
my friends engine blew a week after he used sea foam. 100,000 miles on an s5 vert. and he blew a week after using the stuff.... carbon locking?
or coincidence.
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Old Jun 2, 2007 | 03:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Manntis
or coincidence.
Indeed, I've used it in cars, boats and jet ski's with no problems ever.
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Old Jun 3, 2007 | 12:48 PM
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Trochoid. Is It Possible To Remove Carbon That Is Keeping The Apex Seals In Shape And Damage Compression?
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Old Jun 3, 2007 | 01:14 PM
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Originally Posted by HEYTOYOTAGUY
Trochoid. Is It Possible To Remove Carbon That Is Keeping The Apex Seals In Shape And Damage Compression?
Huh? What are you asking? Carbon is not there to keep the apex seals in running order.
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Old Jun 3, 2007 | 01:24 PM
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Originally Posted by HEYTOYOTAGUY
Trochoid. Is It Possible To Remove Carbon That Is Keeping The Apex Seals In Shape And Damage Compression?
From what he said, it seems possible that it could happen, but it would still be a good thing to get rid of because if the carbon build up got to be too much instead of it filling a hole and sliding with the seal it would eventually break off in a reasonable sized chunk and cause damage that might be more expensive to fix.
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Old Jun 3, 2007 | 01:33 PM
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I sed sea foam through the brake booster line of all 3 gens of RX-7. Nothing but good results in all cases! The SA had even sat for 3 years when I did it.
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Old Jun 5, 2007 | 03:58 PM
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Hello Is Any One There!!! After Much Thought I Came To The Conclusion That I Will Try Sea Foam So I Went And Bought Some Now I Have A Question Does Any One Have An Idea If It Is Better To Feed It Through A Vaccum Line Or Through The Gas Tank??
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Old Jun 5, 2007 | 04:05 PM
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^^^did you not read through this thread???
Originally Posted by trochoid

For this reason, if this is the 1st decarbonizing treatment in many years/miles, it's best to introduce the Seafoan through a vacuum line and allow the engine to set for a day or two, thus allowing the Seafoam to thoroughly soften all of the carbon. For this process,I recommend sucking up 1/2 can of Seafoam at idle at a fast enough rate to kill the engine. Let it sit and soak, the use the 2nd 1/2 can in a slower ingestion to help pull out the remaining carbon.

I sometimes follow up with water pulled in through the same vacuum line to clean the rest of the remaining carbon out. Inside a combustion chamber, water will literally steam clean the inside.
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Old Jun 5, 2007 | 04:10 PM
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I have used it both ways I think it is WAY more effective through a vac line...

if u follow the brake booster line to the other side of the motor it ends at another rubber hose that goes right to the intake.. just push it in there I use a funnel and pour it in.. works great car runs FANTASTIC
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Old Jun 5, 2007 | 04:57 PM
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thats what i thought.
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Old Jun 5, 2007 | 06:44 PM
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yeah but when you do it in a vac line doesent it only go to one rotor? With my Rb holly mani it draws vaccum fromt he rear rotor only.
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Old Jun 5, 2007 | 07:24 PM
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Originally Posted by HEYTOYOTAGUY
Trochoid. Is It Possible To Remove Carbon That Is Keeping The Apex Seals In Shape And Damage Compression?
I see you've just joined and are posting quite a bit, slow down and spend some time reading, and welcome to the forum and the Darkside.

If the apex seals are sticking, they cannot perform their function. If you are unsure how they actually work, download the FSM in my sig line and read the engine build section.

As far as how to get the engine to ingest the Seafoam on the 12As, pour it down the carb for heavy quick cleaning, in the tank for slower cleaning. Through the tank also cleans the entire fuel system and carb internals.
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Old Jun 5, 2007 | 08:25 PM
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from what ive heard it works better on rotary engined than it does on piston engines.
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Old Jun 6, 2007 | 10:29 AM
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Originally Posted by kgray
Personally, i have used it in every car i have worked on with no problems.
+1
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Old Jun 6, 2007 | 01:21 PM
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Thanks For The Advice I Feel I Must Explain My Self Though Im On Disability And Have Nothing Better To Do!
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Old Jun 6, 2007 | 01:21 PM
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Happy To Be A Member!!!!!!
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Old Jun 6, 2007 | 01:52 PM
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I'm going to have to say this. I have found that the best way to administer Seafoam is to run it through a partial tank of gas. The vacuum induction method will also work, but I think you really don't get your money's worth out of it that way. Every couple of months I'll run a can through and it seems to work great. Just my opinion.
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Old Jun 6, 2007 | 02:18 PM
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Originally Posted by guitardedcracker
from what ive heard it works better on rotary engined than it does on piston engines.
You misspelled "Damn" in your icon gif
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