Seafoam bad for turbo'd engines?
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Seafoam bad for turbo'd engines?
So I bought a bottle of Sea Foam for my WRX and one of my buddies said that he heard those types of things were bad for turbo'd engines. Anyone have any info or common myths about this stuff that might explain this? I was too tired to ask why 
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Seafoam is basically an internal engine cleaner. You can dump it in your gas tank, or you can have your car suck it up through a vacuum line, but only use about 1/3 of a can.
It basically clears deposits from inside the engine, and when used through the vacuum line makes your car smoke like Hell, but apparently they're all deposits that shouldn't be in the motor.
I've never heard of Seafoam being bad for a turbocharged motor, but this stuff is very popular with the domestic crowd. From what I understand, after using this stuff your car will feel like a brand new car. I've personally never used it myself, but I've really never heard anything but good things about it.
Before using it, I'd recommend getting some more info on it.
It basically clears deposits from inside the engine, and when used through the vacuum line makes your car smoke like Hell, but apparently they're all deposits that shouldn't be in the motor.
I've never heard of Seafoam being bad for a turbocharged motor, but this stuff is very popular with the domestic crowd. From what I understand, after using this stuff your car will feel like a brand new car. I've personally never used it myself, but I've really never heard anything but good things about it.
Before using it, I'd recommend getting some more info on it.
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I don't have any concrete info on this, but my guess is that it might be bad for a turbo because of all the carbon and soot coming out of the exhaust when you use the vacuum line method.
But as far as using it as a fuel or oil additive, I couldn't see it being any worse than putting a bottle of fuel-injector cleaner in the tank or a can of engine flush in the oil pan.
But as far as using it as a fuel or oil additive, I couldn't see it being any worse than putting a bottle of fuel-injector cleaner in the tank or a can of engine flush in the oil pan.
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What I have been told is any type of engine flush treatment is (or could be) bad for the seals (especially for oil cooled turbo's).
Also, there is the potential build up on the plugs.
As far as fuel injection cleaners and other additives (except for Octane boosters)....I've learnt not to use those frequently as there is definately a tarnish like build up on the plugs.
If anything, I would run the fuel system cleaners a tank full or two prior to changing out plugs.
Also, there is the potential build up on the plugs.
As far as fuel injection cleaners and other additives (except for Octane boosters)....I've learnt not to use those frequently as there is definately a tarnish like build up on the plugs.
If anything, I would run the fuel system cleaners a tank full or two prior to changing out plugs.
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Seafoam's not new. In fact, it was one of the first of its kind. I've heard that you can put it in your oil, but everyone I've talked to has said that they've changed the oil 200 miles later because of the possibility that it could eat seals. I can't personally tell you whether there is any proof behind this theory.
As for just adding to your gasoline, that's probably your safest bet, but I never use a product that I haven't heard of or without consulting numerous others that have personally used a product.
I guess maybe your best bet could be to contact the company and find out if it is ok to use with a turbocharged vehicle, and make a record of the time, day, and the name of the person you talked to in the case that something with your car was damaged. That way, if you chose to go forward with some sort of legal action to have them cover the repairs you would have at least some type of proof to fall back on.
As for just adding to your gasoline, that's probably your safest bet, but I never use a product that I haven't heard of or without consulting numerous others that have personally used a product.
I guess maybe your best bet could be to contact the company and find out if it is ok to use with a turbocharged vehicle, and make a record of the time, day, and the name of the person you talked to in the case that something with your car was damaged. That way, if you chose to go forward with some sort of legal action to have them cover the repairs you would have at least some type of proof to fall back on.
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you know people that kept it in their oil for 200 miles??!! youre supposed to put it in the oil, run it for a few minutes, and then change the oil....it significantly thins out the oil
I think I will contact the company though...I just hope I dont get the usually "Its safe for all types of engines!" form letter crap
I think I will contact the company though...I just hope I dont get the usually "Its safe for all types of engines!" form letter crap
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Originally Posted by MBasile
you know people that kept it in their oil for 200 miles??!! youre supposed to put it in the oil, run it for a few minutes, and then change the oil....it significantly thins out the oil
I think I will contact the company though...I just hope I dont get the usually "Its safe for all types of engines!" form letter crap
I think I will contact the company though...I just hope I dont get the usually "Its safe for all types of engines!" form letter crap
I don't trust any of those "additives," and I mean any. I have never used them in either one of my vehicles and I never will.
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I've used fuel system cleaners on cars that I have resurrected from junkyards, but it was always followed by changing the plugs out 2 tanks of gas later. Always seemed to work well.
Oil additives on the other hand....no thanks.
Oil additives on the other hand....no thanks.
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I've used it on quite a few of my scoobies and just did it on my F XT the other week. I used a vac line to take it into the intake for about 1/3rd of a bottle then put the rest in the gas tank. A few others on the Forester Forum have used it too with no ill effects, lots said it helped with the idle. I've got 60K on my motor and thought I'd give it a shot. It does smoke like crazy but my idle seemed smoother. I can't say I'd want to put it in the oil though.
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Originally Posted by Email response from Sea Foam
Oh, the internet and forums! Thank them for recommending Sea Foam, scorn them for being so unknowledgeable.
Sea Foam is a 100% blended petroleum oil product, so it is an OIL product, NOT A CHEMICAL like available retail oil system "FLUSHES" are.
Originally formulated and marketed starting in 1940 to cure problems in fuels and oils commonly occurring in the small engine industry, it is unique because it is OIL. Unique because you can NOT damage internal components when Sea Foam is used within the parameters printed on the product container and available on the internet.
This 100% OIL blend is specifically for drying moisture in gasoline gas/oil mixes & Diesel fuel and oil (yet not a chemical), adding lubrication to fuels and other lubricants for protection, cleaning fuel and oil residue back into liquid, cleaning carbon deposits off cylinder heads, pistons, valves & ring lands, and stabilizing fuels for up to 2 years.
NO CHEMICALS!! No affects on plastics, rubber products,gaskets, o-rings, seals or other components.
Used as a pre cleaner to doing an LOF service or as a "Quick Cure" for minor oil residue problems, Sea Foam can also be used as an after service additive to continue to re-liquefy old oil residue and keep moisture out of your oils. Sea Foam does NOT thin out your oil, has no affect on its lubricating properties, and works with synthetic oils also.
As a pre service cleaner or residue quick problem solver, always drive the engine a minimum of 30 minutes before doing your LOF service.
After putting Sea Foam into your crankcase at recommended amounts, Monitor the oil for color and clarity to determine when an oil service should be done, since Sea Foam is a high detergent cleaner, your LOF service WILL be necessary sooner than normal until residual old oil residue is eliminated.
Sea Foam is a 100% blended petroleum oil product, so it is an OIL product, NOT A CHEMICAL like available retail oil system "FLUSHES" are.
Originally formulated and marketed starting in 1940 to cure problems in fuels and oils commonly occurring in the small engine industry, it is unique because it is OIL. Unique because you can NOT damage internal components when Sea Foam is used within the parameters printed on the product container and available on the internet.
This 100% OIL blend is specifically for drying moisture in gasoline gas/oil mixes & Diesel fuel and oil (yet not a chemical), adding lubrication to fuels and other lubricants for protection, cleaning fuel and oil residue back into liquid, cleaning carbon deposits off cylinder heads, pistons, valves & ring lands, and stabilizing fuels for up to 2 years.
NO CHEMICALS!! No affects on plastics, rubber products,gaskets, o-rings, seals or other components.
Used as a pre cleaner to doing an LOF service or as a "Quick Cure" for minor oil residue problems, Sea Foam can also be used as an after service additive to continue to re-liquefy old oil residue and keep moisture out of your oils. Sea Foam does NOT thin out your oil, has no affect on its lubricating properties, and works with synthetic oils also.
As a pre service cleaner or residue quick problem solver, always drive the engine a minimum of 30 minutes before doing your LOF service.
After putting Sea Foam into your crankcase at recommended amounts, Monitor the oil for color and clarity to determine when an oil service should be done, since Sea Foam is a high detergent cleaner, your LOF service WILL be necessary sooner than normal until residual old oil residue is eliminated.