Seafoam as a stabilizer?

K

kyron4

Seaman
Joined
Dec 24, 2009
Messages
69
I have always used Sta-bil in all my small engines fuel ( boat motor,mower ,go-kart, snow thrower). I've read up on Seafoam and it seems to be a fuel stabilizer plus something to keep your engine clean. My first purpose is as a stabilizer, will it keep gas fresh for 2 or 3 months as well as Sta-bil ? My Lightwin's head and pistons are already free of any carbon and look "new" and the carb is a fresh rebuild, so it sounds like this seafoam is made to keep things clean as the years go by if used in every tank, does it ? Any input ?
-Thanks
 
Texasmark

Texasmark

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
14,778
Re: Seafoam as a stabilizer?

Having tired of crudded up engines, I choose to use stabilizers (after I learned of them) and haven't been sorry. Their cost is a small price to pay for the assurances I feel that I get.

I use Stabright Diesel treatment for my diesel, Stabil for all my 4 cycle lawn maintenance equipment, and Sea Foam for my 2c equip including the OB. There is no doubt it works for me having bought a semi crudded up used OB engine which is now nearly spotless, and I recall reading that is does stabilize fuel. The oldest mine gets is 6 months, so I can't speak for longer than that.

When I first got onto the product (thanks iboat participants), after my OB got to running so good, I had several old 2c lawn products around; couple of weed eaters, chain saw, and mini garden tiller. I got the spray (Deep Creep) and the Sea Foam and worked all this stuff over one day when it was raining and it revived all of them. The sad part is, I had just bought a new $135 weed eater and now I don't need it. It works for me.

Mark
 
lindy46

lindy46

Captain
Joined
Nov 27, 2008
Messages
3,886
Re: Seafoam as a stabilizer?

In the last tank of the season, I add Seafoam and StaBil, and run the engine to assure the mix is in the carb and engine. Works for me. Not sure whether Seafoam alone will keep the gas fresh for 5-6 months here in Michigan.
 
E

ezeke

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
Messages
12,532
Re: Seafoam as a stabilizer?

I use SeaFoam for a de-carbon treatment and StaBil for a fuel stabilizer. I do not put SeaFoam in my fuel tank.
 
Silvertip

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: Seafoam as a stabilizer?

SeaFoam is an excellent fuel system treatment. I've used it for years.
 
Gary H NC

Gary H NC

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 1, 2005
Messages
8,972
Re: Seafoam as a stabilizer?

kyron4 said:
So you can use Stabil and Seafoam together in the same tank ?
Click to expand...

I have used both together also and it starts right up every year.
Same with just using Stabil too.

Seafoam claims to be a stabilizer but i always add the Stabil to be sure.
The best use of Seafoam is to do a decarb on the motor.
 
asdasc

asdasc

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 28, 2008
Messages
680
Re: Seafoam as a stabilizer?

By the way, I had a small cup of Seafoam that I was using to soak the nozzle of my kerosene heater in. When I was done, I threw it on a small pile of reeds to use as a fire starter. I normally use a little gas or kerosene. The Seafoam burned MUCH faster and was easier to light than the gas or kerosene!

I can see why guys use it like starting fluid for starting 2-strokes.
 
samo_ott

samo_ott

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jun 18, 2006
Messages
5,125
Re: Seafoam as a stabilizer?

asdasc said:
By the way, I had a small cup of Seafoam that I was using to soak the nozzle of my kerosene heater in. When I was done, I threw it on a small pile of reeds to use as a fire starter. I normally use a little gas or kerosene. The Seafoam burned MUCH faster and was easier to light than the gas or kerosene!

I can see why guys use it like starting fluid for starting 2-strokes.
Click to expand...

Hard to imagine something lighting faster than gas! It lights pretty quick!
 
R

rjezuit

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 24, 2007
Messages
418
Re: Seafoam as a stabilizer?

Seafoam has a lot of naptha in it... charcoal lighter fluid. Rick
 
Texasmark

Texasmark

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
14,778
Re: Seafoam as a stabilizer?

samo_ott said:
What the heck is Startron? Never heard of it.
Click to expand...

Startron is the product of Starbrite company of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. It is an enzyme treatment, rather than a petroleum distillate. I use the diesel version in my diesel storage tanks to eat up the little critters that make an algae in diesel tanks. Seems to work and is advertised to be good for 2 years. We'll see about that as the fuel I have stored will probably take me 2 years to use. WW sells the gas version and some stores sell the diesel also.

Mark
 
dingbat

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,313
Vic.S

Vic.S

Rear Admiral
Joined
May 4, 2004
Messages
4,719
Re: Seafoam as a stabilizer?

We'll see about that as the fuel I have stored will probably take me 2 years to use.
Click to expand...
First line of defence is to keep a any water drained (It'll collect just due to condensation) because the bugs, which are always present, in diesel grow at the interface with water.
You may be able to kill them with a biocide.
An enzyme treatment should break up the debris so that it will pass through the filters and injectors without causing any blockages.

The bulk of Startron may well be a petroleum distillate but its is the enzymes it contains that do the business.
 
asdasc

asdasc

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 28, 2008
Messages
680
Re: Seafoam as a stabilizer?

samo_ott said:
Hard to imagine something lighting faster than gas! It lights pretty quick!
Click to expand...

Yes, I was surprised also. Although the gas I was using is old, bad gas that has pre-mix in it. When I lit it the first time I was prepared for a big FWOOMP!, and instead it lit like a candle and spread slowly across the pile.

The Seafoam spread much faster across the pile when lit, but still no FWOOMP!
 
Texasmark

Texasmark

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
14,778
samo_ott

samo_ott

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jun 18, 2006
Messages
5,125
Re: Seafoam as a stabilizer?

asdasc said:
Yes, I was surprised also. Although the gas I was using is old, bad gas that has pre-mix in it. When I lit it the first time I was prepared for a big FWOOMP!, and instead it lit like a candle and spread slowly across the pile.

The Seafoam spread much faster across the pile when lit, but still no FWOOMP!
Click to expand...

If you ever want a good FWOOMP and you have oxy/acetylene torches. Fill a balloon with acetylene and then toss a match on it... Kinda cool!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top