Did I foul plugs while doing a decarb??

[crazy charlie]

1995 150 ocean pro sprayed 3/4 can of Seafoam in all carbs while running.Shut it down and pulled plugs one at a time and sprayed each cylinder.Waited 1/2 hour and started cranking it.Almost started but would not.I am assuming I flooded or fouled plugs..?? Charles

 

[jimmbo]

Fouled? maybe. Wet? definitely. Pull the plugs, crank the engine to purge excess cleaner, spray plugs with brake clean and dry, reinstall. Should start, and will run rough and smoke for a while. Take it out for a WOT run.

 

[crazy charlie]

yup,thats what I planned doing till it didn't start up

 

[jakedaawg]

What is it with sea foam? The proper way to decarb is to use a can of OMC engine tune and follow the directions.

 

[crazy charlie]

I assume you have never used it.Very good results every time I have decarbed.

 

[oldboat1]

Decarb? yes. Quick clean for carbs? Not so much.

I'm not a fan of running seafoam through carbs unless prior to cleaning (can muck up carbs, on my view -- can obviously clean them up, but also can move some partially dissolved stuff around). A lot of newbies here seem to have the idea that spraying in some seafoam counts as a proper carb cleaning and general cure all -- then come back and ask why their engine stumbles, won't throttle up well, etc. etc.

[end rant]. Think you should be OK pulling plugs and drying them off (opportunity to regap if using gapped plugs.) Actually, if plugs are showing the effect of that decarb, might replace them or clean them up with a bit of fresh seafoam and a shop rag -- or some carb spray.

 

[willamettejeff]

Decarb? yes. Quick clean for carbs? Not so much.

I'm not a fan of running seafoam through carbs unless prior to cleaning (can muck up carbs, on my view -- can obviously clean them up, but also can move some partially dissolved stuff around).

I run a little Seafoam in my tank all the time so carbs don't ever get mucked up in the first place. Add a little extra to my tank and run it into the carbs before putting away for the winter. Starts right up in the spring and never have carb issues. Seafoam, Startron, or others are cheap insurance IMHO.

And yes, decarbing engine can foul plugs, but rather clean or replace plugs than break a piston ring and suffer the damage that results.

 

[willamettejeff]

Here is a link to procedure I use to decarb:

 

[Silvertip]

Decarb? yes. Quick clean for carbs? Not so much.

I'm not a fan of running seafoam through carbs unless prior to cleaning (can muck up carbs, on my view -- can obviously clean them up, but also can move some partially dissolved stuff around). A lot of newbies here seem to have the idea that spraying in some seafoam counts as a proper carb cleaning and general cure all -- then come back and ask why their engine stumbles, won't throttle up well, etc. etc.

[end rant]. Think you should be OK pulling plugs and drying them off (opportunity to regap if using gapped plugs.) Actually, if plugs are showing the effect of that decarb, might replace them or clean them up with a bit of fresh seafoam and a shop rag -- or some carb spray.

Running sea foam or any other product through the carb throat cannot and will not distribute gunk around inside the carb because the sea foam cannot get inside the carb through the carb throat. He was indeed doing a de-carb -- he just didn't know it. De-carb cleans "engine" internals (de-carbonizing). Carb internals can only be cleaned by adding an additive to the fuel or by disassembling and cleaning the carb. Big difference between carb cleaning and de-carbonizing.

 

[crazy charlie]

Left it overnight and it started right up this morning without pulling plugs.Will do my usual adding of seafoam to the fuel when I am near the bottom of the tank.

 

[oldboat1]

Good luck, Charles. Should have a clean tank there.

 

[PWH1]

I run a bottle of Seafoam through the mine each spring. I add an entire bottle of Seafoam to a clean gallon milk jug, add oil (50-1) and then gas. Disconnect the gas line off the back of the boat and drop into gallon jug. Fire up boat (in tank) and let it run through the entire gallon. Takes about 40 minutes at idle ( i do turn off before running it dry). Once done, I reconnect the gas line and restart the boat and it it idle for about 10 minutes on the regular gas mix.

When I first purchased the boat the motor was terrible at start/idle. I went through the OB - new plugs, wires, cleaned carbs.... etc. I had improved results but still not where I wanted it. I then started using Seafoam as described and it has really made a significant difference. She starts very easily, idles perfectly and performs like an 1997 90HP 2 stroker beast should!

We leave next week for our annual trip to Canada and she will be on the water getting lots of use.

Enjoy!