Fuel additives

[tuffshot]

With Seafoam being the marine standard for a fuel additive, I am sure there are those who want to get their reccognition as well. The question is, are they equal or better than Seafoam.

I went to the local autozone to pick up a can of Seafoam, when I took it to the counter to check out the salesman started pushing a Lucas product. Not that I have an issue with Lucas products, I was just wondering if anyone may have had experiance with this product and how it compares, good or bad to Seafoam.

It is called Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant and Injector Cleaner
Tune-Up in a bottle

Thanks for any input


If it isn't good for the boat it will work in my old Jeep it is still pretty tuff with 211K miles on it.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Fuel additives

Do you have fuel injection on your boat? If so, it may have some benefit, however, I am sceptical. There is a whole lot of snake oil in the world. I once had a car dealer offer to "clean" my fuel injectors electronically. I was real unsure how that process would work.

Let me ask a question. What are fishing lures designd to catch? The answer is fisherman.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Fuel additives

If you are putting an upper cylinder lubricant in a two stroke there is nothing to lubricate up there. If you are putting an upper cylinder lubricant in ANY engine, it very likely is not a fuel system treatment that is intended to PROTECT the fuel system from the effects of ethanol, gum and varnish formation or any of the other ills. If "lubricant" is the first thing on the label then it is a primarily a lubricant. That is not the primary use for SeaFoam, Startron, Stabil, and the others. Besides -- do you really think the 18 year old dude behind the counter actually knew how any of this stuff worked and what it was actually for. Shucks, he probably couldn't find the dipstick on his own car.

 

[SteveRoss]

Re: Fuel additives

The new cars have "dipsticks" ??? I thought those things went the way of "buggy whips". I used to change my own plugs, points and condenser when I was a little younger.... Isn't the dealer's mechanic responsible for finding those things ??

 

[tuffshot]

Re: Fuel additives

Sure they have a dip stick. It's what some'''''

http://forums.iboats.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=64160&stc=1&d=1281910534

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: Fuel additives

I LOVE Seafoam(mechanic in a can)!!! It brings me more service and more service mean more $$$$$!!!! I have never see it clean a carb or unstop a injector and as a decabon agent Power tune,Carbon guard & Ring free works just as well. It will keep a clean fuel system clean but so will E10!!!

 

[RicMic]

Re: Fuel additives

Has any testing agency ever actually done a test on Seafoam or any of the other snake oil additives to see actually if they do anything they claim or exactly what effect they have? I know every engine manual I have ever read recommends AGAINST such additives.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Fuel additives

Has any testing agency ever actually done a test on Seafoam or any of the other snake oil additives to see actually if they do anything they claim or exactly what effect they have? I know every engine manual I have ever read recommends AGAINST such additives.

Well you missed a couple then.

All the major manufactures have their own brand of fuel additives and recommend they be used on an regular basis.

Yamaha recommends Ring free. Evinrude recommends OMC Carbon Guard. I?m sure that Mercury, Suzuki and all the others recommend the use of some kind of a fuel additive as well.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Fuel additives

Go to: Marine Fuel Additives for lots of info. regarding various products ingredients, etc. I've used Stabil Marine and Ringfree for years and no fuel problems at all, so far!. Of course, a good water/fuel separator is a very good item to install, in addition to the additives.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Fuel additives

But E-10 still needs to be stabilized. That doesn't happen by itself. Nobody is contending (or at least they shouldn't be) that any fuel system additive "unstops" anything. If it is "stopped up" the cleaner can't get through either. Fuel system treatments are intended as periodic or even regular "preventive" measures. Once you have a problem, chances are the can full of SeaFoam will do not good. E-10 alone will also not take care of carbon build up like SeaFoam will.

 

[mickjetblue]

Re: Fuel additives

The relativity of the effectiveness of the various additives and stabilizers is always an interesting subject for discussion.

However, I keep seeing the same products on the shelves, year after year.
I have yet to hear of one "going under" because it didn't work, or didn't sell.

I buy the ones on sale, and use them consistently.

Good luck!

 

[gss036]

Re: Fuel additives

Sea Foam has been around for 40 years and it does work as advertised, like was said above, once something is clogged up it can't get through to soak out the crud. I had a Honda mechanic tell me that he recommends Chevron Techron to help with the injectors on the fuel injected systems.
I guess I am thankful I have a new shiny tanks in my boat and new Honda etec engine designed to run on E10. I am on my last tank of regular gas as all our stations here now have alcohol added under state law requirements. Startron has a bulletin out explaining the effects
of alcohol.

 

[ksound]

Re: Fuel additives

I have a johnson 140HP Looper 1985, one cylinder was lower 90 vs. 125 130 on all the others. And very sluggish running motor. I took the plug out and kicked the engine over till I could see the piston was close to TDC - Top dead center. If it's too low the sea foam will run right out. I Tilted the engine so the cylinder I'm working on is as upright as possible. I then filled the cylinder up with straight sea foam. and screwed the plug back in finger tight. I left the sea foam in the cylinder for about 2 weeks. and when I went back to check, the cylinder was empty and I suddenly could see the inside of the cylinder was shining bright all the carbon was gone. eaten up by the sea foam. when I fired the engine back up it was a dramatic improvement in performance. the sea foam freed up the stuck rings and the engine runs so much better. I have a 500 rpm increase from this single treatment.

I hope this helps a lot of folks. Good Luck to all, Kenny