Sea Foam

[U68423]

I have read on other boards and this one that Sea Foam is the end all (Jesus in a bottle). Well last night I bought a can and did a de-carb, figured it would not hurt. Here is what I did warmed motor up, then sprayed a half can through each carb till almost empty, then I shut her off sprayed a little in each cylinder and waited about 10 minutes. I have to say I have never seen more smoke looked like the weed tent at Woodstock, also some neighbors were trying to cook out boy did I feel bad . After 10 minutes I started her up and got out on the lake ASAP so I would not kill these people again with the smoke. The boat ran rough for a bit but then seemed to run very nice much smoother then before, the only problem I had was that **** hesitation again at WOT (read my other posts)and getting chased by the fire tug . I cleaned the plugs and went out again no smoke idle is great very smooth but that WOT hesitation is still there but intermitantly, hope someone has some ideas have a great day....

 

[Hawaiian]

Re: Sea Foam

I thought Sea Foam is a fuel additive. I have two cans but have not got around to putting them in my tank yet. Do you put it in a spray bottle and use it as a de-carb?

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Sea Foam

They have a spray version called "Deep Creep". It's exactly the same except it comes in a spray can.

 

[U68423]

Re: Sea Foam

Anyone have an idea why this WOT hesitation came back after the de-carb ?

 

[wayne h]

Re: Sea Foam

just a though but did you install fresh plugs after your de-carb run??? i think they tell you to clean or change the plugs

 

[U68423]

Re: Sea Foam

I did not install new ones as they are only a month old, but did clean them. How can you tell if a plug is fouled on these new type plugs?

 

[Old120]

Re: Sea Foam

Hi All<br />I have used OMC 2+4 conditioner in my force 120. It made it run!! Could this be the same as Sea Foam?

 

[DJ]

Re: Sea Foam

A decarb, is hard on spark plugs.<br /><br />Replace them.

 

[Old120]

Re: Sea Foam

What is a de-carb? I have never heard that term before!

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: Sea Foam

Because of my concern, and confusion, I am quoting from my post on another thread. I would like to hear all others thoughts and theorys on my thoughts here.

I have a problem here, I am confused. I have purchased four cans of deep creep, and four cans of seafoam. But, after deep thought on the subject of lubrication I now wonder about using the spray. I have seen it posted on this forum (and I agree) that you should not spray carb cleaner into the carb of a two stroke engine while running, as the innerds will then be performing without the benefit of the 50/1 oil mix. Now the same individuals say to use the seafoam spray, by spraying it into the carborator, untill it floods the engine, and chokes it too a stop, then pour in more (through the spark plug holes) and leave set over night. Then if boat is in a body of water take off at WOT, to flush all of the carbon deposits from the engine. Now, I am not doubting any ones know-how or methods, but this seems to me to be a damned if you do, and damned if you don't situation, and I am very confused . Both items carb cleaner, and seafoam both does the same thing, and the sea foam does not appear to have any lubricating qualities, Why would you say it is imperative that if you want to keep your engine in top shape to use sea foam in this way, but under no circumstances should you spray in carb cleaner, as you do on a four stroke. This does not make sense too me, how about ya'all?? Does anyone have a sensible explanation why it is OK to use seafoam in this manner in a two stroke engine, other than the fact that someone says this is the way I do it, or the manufacturer says to use it this way on the can? I am not a doubting thomas, I am just puzzeled. There are many products and methods over the years, that have been touted by well meaning individuals, as well as rip off artist, that are not as they may be advocated. <br />

I am torn, should I use the seafoam spray in this manner on my two stroke outboard??? I have already purchased it, but am about afraid to use it, as reccomended.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Sea Foam

Seafoam was actually designed for Evinrude outboards. That's where it gets the name "seafoam".

 

[braindead0]

Re: Sea Foam

That's interesting, I always wondered about why Seafoam was named that.. I first heard about it from motorcyclists (and used it in my bikes).. now I use it in everything! Generally during the winter months (particularly for my mother-in-law who drives very little) I'll put a bottle in her tank. It's supposed to act as a fuel stabilizer as well.

 

[U68423]

Re: Sea Foam

Glad to see my thread is still alive, but can anyone answer my original question ?

 

[U68423]

Re: Sea Foam

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[braindead0]

Re: Sea Foam

Well, I'm not familiar with Force engines... and certainly not an expert in outboard engines... That being said I've been rebuilding and repairing motorcycle (2 and 4) engines for a long time.<br /><br />When you say WOT hesititation, are you slamming (well, moving quickly) from idle to WOT?<br /><br />Here's the first things I'd check. <br /><br />- If possible adjust the idle circuit (may not have any adjustment). <br /><br />- Check any vacuum lines/hoses for cracks.. if there is a very small crack in a vacuum line it can intermittently mess up your fuel/air mixture. In fact, you might want to just replace them (cheap).<br /><br />- You might have a carb float that's sticking or a float needle that's a bit messed up. Does it perhaps hesitate when you idle for a bit, but not hesitate if you just idled for a second and then back to WOT?<br /><br />One more question, is the idle very smooth or does is it perhaps still a wee bit rough?

 

[gss036]

Re: Sea Foam

I ran across this artice some time back and have used it several times to de-carb my 200 hp Mercury, works great and for those who question the lube part of SeaFoam, this calls for premixing oil/gas and adding SeaFoam. I think most poster take for granted the fact that the auto lube system on big engines lubes then engine.<br /><br />Tip for the Week <br />Do-It-Yourself Engine Tip; A Simple and Cost Effective Way to De-Carbon an Outboard <br />By Capt. Bob Dunkelberger dunk75@comcast.net <br />This works for Carbed, EFI, Ficht, HPDI, Opti-max and even 4-strokes... and should be administered after every 50-60 hours of use. <br />First you need a separate small fuel tank. One of those 3-gallon red Tempos works well or an empty gallon milk jug in a pinch, but it might be a bit messier. <br />I use Seafoam over the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) stuff like OMC Engine Tuner or Mercury Power Tune. Note: in the last few years they changed the formula and you have to let them sit up 12 hours. Who's got time for that? Seafoam does the job in 15 minutes and can be purchased from NAPA, Car Quest or other auto stores. <br />You'll need 3/4 gallon of gasoline and one 16oz can of Seafoam for each engine. Don't forget to add 3oz of oil if you are pre-mixing in a carbed engine. Use a 3 ft piece of fuel hose off the small tank. Connect this tank to your engine by pulling off the main tank fuel hose from the intake side of your water separating fuel filter and plug the hose off the small tank onto that fitting. Or you can separate the fuel line on the tank side primer ball, so you can still use your primer. If your engine has a fuel plug then you will also need a fuel plug on the smaller tank's hose. <br />Start the engine, let it warm up and start pulling the mix into the engine. You may have to increase the idle to keep it running once she gets loaded with the Seafoam. Run the engine 15 minutes at the dock or just cruising around under 2500 rpm's. Then shut it down and let it sit for another 15 minutes. <br />Restart the engine; the smoke you see is the carbon burning off. Do the whole thing again and let her sit again for 15 more minutes. If she smokes after the second time do it again. <br />I've never seen one still smoke after three doses. (I bought a Bronco two years ago that had 95,000 miles on it. When I used Seafoam on it I had the neighbors hanging out of their front doors looking for where the fire was after I started it the first time there so much smoke) <br />The gallon mix should be just enough to do this 3 times. You don't need a wide-open throttle and you don't need to change the plugs. The plugs are cleaned at the same time as the combustion chambers. My suggestion is that every 50-60hrs is the optimal time to change plugs in most engines. <br />I cleaned an antique Evinrude once that had a 1/4" of solid carbon on the exhaust chamber walls by running a 1/2 gal of the aforementioned mix through it. Seafoam, a great product, has been around since the 1930's and it's what they used when they were burning straight 4 stroke 40SAE oils in outboards. <br />For you guys with the 4 stroke outboards? Those engines work 10 times as hard as any auto engine ever will and they too will carbon up. Too many are under the assumption that it's totally the 2 stroke oil that causes the carbon, Wrong... it's also the additives they put in the fuels today. The carbon inhibitors in 2-stroke oil are there for this reason also. Remember when gasoline used to smell like gasoline, today it smells more like bad cologne. <br />For those guys that like to work the carbon treatment by spraying it down the carbs, Seafoam also comes in spray can called Deep Creep. It's the same stuff under pressure and notes on the can, "Oxygen Sensor Safe". After that, if your engine manufacturer recommends a daily additive treatment then do so. The tank and hose are a one-time purchase and the Seafoam is only costs $5-6.00 per can. <br />Note: Capt Bob Dunkelberger is a Marine Surveyor in New Jersey. Please feel free to contact him at dunk75@comcast.net with any questions.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Sea Foam

Lakeman... Another reason not to spray carb cleaner in your carb, it doesn't clean the important parts of the carb. It just blasts thru the throat, not the bowl or jets. So it doesn't have the anticipated result of cleaning the carb.<br />Thats what a rebuild/overhaul is for. <br /><br />U68423, Have you tried a different gas tank, with fresh gas, to eliminate the chance that you have water in the current tank. It took me a whole year to figure out I was buying gas with water in it, from one particular station. It would run ok, but would have a little stutter every few seconds.<br />I'm almost positive it was water, because it disappeared when I hooked up a portable tank with gas from another station. Now I have a water separating filter and no stutter.