| Author | Message | ||
     Greg_e |
Since I just bought my bike and I'm sure it has been abused, I thought I better run some cleaner through it and also it is almost time to store it for winter. Many people seem to recommend Seafoam as a fuel system stabilizer so I was doing a little looking around and then watched the video on the Seafoam site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D11ZVYwj62w&feature =player_embedded Has anyone here ever actually poured that stuff down their intake? That seems like a really good way to bend a rod if you get a little too excited during your pouring. Last time I checked liquids don't like to compress. Mostly I'm just after the fuel stabilizing properties and maybe a mild injector cleaner. How much should I dump in the XB9 tank to get fuel stabilizing without going overboard to where I will lean out the mixture too far? I didn't find any info on the Seafoam site about how much per gallon, and nothing really in the archives except a lot of talk about snake oil. Please let's not start a religious war about Seafoam vs. Stabil vs. something else unless there is clear proof that one product is superior or one product will do harm. I've used Stabil in the past and had only OK luck with it (slightly better than nothing at all), so interested in trying something different this time. | ||
| Xenox |
I think the recommended dosage in the fuel itself is 1 ounce per gallon by the Seafoam Co. I did this twice running the tank very low and refilling . I did this as a maintenance and not to cure any ills. Seafoam was recommended by one of the top Buell tuners if not the best FWIW . I don't know if he would modify the dosage though...maybe he would increase it ??. I was expecting to see some smoke from the Seafoam working and from the tuners heads up, but I saw none. | ||
| Xenox |
On the other hand, cleaning the intake tract could work by using a metering valve inline with a hose to the Seafoam, and to the nipple on the TB. I would start with the valve closed and slooowly adjust until I saw the slightest movement of fluid, it would look like bubbles in the line only extremely so and reduce from there! Until the slightest movement of anything could be seen or perceived. | ||
| Mmcn49 |
If fuel sold in your area is 10% ethanol and you’re planning on storing the bike for more than a couple of months you should use a fuel stabilizer, (regardless of brand) specifically made for gasoline/alcohol blends. I work for a company which manufactures equipment used in both the commercial & recreational marine industries. Many play boat owners who put their gasoline powered boats up for the winter without using the alcohol stabilizer had big problems. | ||
| Gunut75 |
The best fuel system cleaner/stabilizer I have ever used is OMC (Johnson/Evinrude) 2+4. Yes, it is called 2+4. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I did it on a high-mileage (~180k miles) truck I had by disconnecting a vacuum line and dipping it in the can with the engine running (I believe that method is recommended on the Seafoam can). It blew a cloud of white smoke while the Seafoam was getting sucked in. I then shut it off and let it sit ~30 minutes (?) per the recommendations and then cranked it up and drove it normally after that. No problems and the truck did run better afterwards. (Message edited by Hughlysses on October 08, 2009) | ||
| Ferocity02 |
I have Seafoamed every car I've owned. I believe I used a whole can in the fuel tank, half a can with the engine oil for ~100mi, and the rest sucked into the intake through the brake booster line. As Hugh said, you pour it in slowly, then dump the rest in to kill the engine. It's petroleum based so it's safe to use. I've never used it on my bike because I was told not to awhile ago. Maybe I will now. | ||
| Greg_e |
All the pumps here have fresh stickers that say 10% ethanol, they used to have one that said "May contain up to 15% ethanol" so at least they are being less vague. Is Seafoam good for alcohol/gas blends? Again it doesn't say anything about that on their site, in fact their site has precious little information at all. I may run it through the oil in the spring and see what comes loose. (Message edited by Greg_E on October 08, 2009) | ||
| Mmcn49 |
If you’re using it as a cleaner it doesn’t matter. If you’re using it as a fuel stabilizer for long term storage, if it doesn’t specifically say it’s for use with alcohol, it most likely is not and probably won’t work. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Greg- You didn't look far enough: Can Sea Foam Be Used with the new Ethanol-blended fuels? Absolutely! Sea Foam has been extensively tested and proven to work well in Ethanol blended fuels since they first appeared in the 1990s – even the newest E-85 blend. Ethanol has the effect of stripping the protective layer of motor oil from the cylinder walls, so the addition of Sea Foam Motor Treatment to your fuel actually helps to combat this drying effect by adding upper cylinder lubrication that helps to prolong the life of your engine. Additionally, Ethanol burns faster, hotter, and makes about 18% less power than regular gasoline – and all are detrimental to your engine’s performance. Sea Foam’s high temperature/low sulfur oil formula helps to slow down the burn rate (this is a good thing!) and reduces pre-ignition and detonation damage that can be caused by the use of Ethanol blended fuels. More info for use in gasoline engines here: http://www.seafoamsales.com/faqs/2-gasoline-engine s.html | ||
| Greg_e |
I'll take a look in a couple of days. I do have a Johnson Marine shop right around the corner from work that I can check for that other product. Oddly enough there isn't water anywhere nearby, nearest thing is half an hour away in any direction. | ||
| Odie |
Half hour!?!? That's way close!! We drive 2.5 hours to go to Lake Martin north of Auburn all the time. Seafoam works great. I have used it a lot in the past. | ||
| Andymnelson |
A buddy of mine bought an '07 Uly that had been sitting at a dealer for a year ad 1/2 without running. It ran like crap, the idle would hunt, it would randomly kill, etc. We used a can of SeaFoam (in the intake, fuel and oil), and it runs fantabulously now. | ||
| Bumblebee |
There's no doubt that Seafoam seems to work. I would not pour it down the air intake however. I think the drill is to add it to the gas and go for a ride. I have tried it on a fuel injected barn fresh find, once I got the bike running it was missing and hunting at idle, I seafomaed the bike and went for a 100 mile ride, after about 25 miles all the problems seemed to clear up, and it's been running fine to this day. Would the problems have cleared up without Seafoam? That I can't say. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I let my 1983 Honda Ascot set up for a few months without riding. Charged the battery, cranked it over, it wouldn't fire a lick. Finally figured out NO fuel was flowing into the carburetor bowls (each bowl has a drain on the bottom that lets you check). Drained the fuel tank, bought a couple of gallons of fresh gas, added Sea Foam, gave each carb a couple of taps to loosen the stuck needles. Fuel started trickling immediately and quickly started flowing well. Bike fired right up, ran on one cylinder for the first ~5 miles and then the second cylinder kicked in. Bike ran perfectly after that. Bike continues to run great and I make it a point to ride it more often (although it's hard to forgo the Uly...). |
