Does anyone have any advice on using a product called "Seafoam Engine Treatment" for cleaning your caburator?

Question

I have a two stroke Outboard motor and it was suggested that I try using this product before I dismantle the carburator and have it cleaned. Do I just have to add it to the fuel? or do I have to pour it into the carburator while the engine is on?

Looking for advice.

Answer 1

Don't use that, or any other type in a two stroke engine.

Two cycle engines receive all their lubrication from the fuel/oil mix. Running a cleaner in it will clean it allright, it will clean oil off the cylinder walls, piston pin and crankshaft bearings!

Clean the carb if it is needed.

Answer 2

I've used this on my 99 Mustang GT. I sucked it up on my vac line near the throttle body straight into the intake. You can also pour it into the gas tank. When you use it the way i did your car will smoke (white) out of the exhuast. They say thats cleaning the intake removing carbon. all i can say is my idle improved 100%

Answer 3

I run SeaFoam in all my boat engines, including outboards, snowmobiles, tractors and the trucks. It is good stuff. I can remember however, when it was much cheaper. d**n, I am old.

Answer 4

never used it but i worked in an autoparts store and people bought it all the time. they said it was great. all you do is pour some in the gas i would guess a small amount in a boat motor gas tank

Answer 5

Yes, it works great. But, do not spray it directly into the carbs while running the engine. This allows the engine to burn it without any lubrication. Mix it with the gas. If it is a old two stroke make sure that the oil to gas mixture is right. If it is oil injected then don't worry.  Try it thru a few tanks. You will tell a difference.

Also another brand to try is Berrymans Chemtool which I know is sold thru Wal Mart. It works just as good in my opinion.

If the carbs are really bad then a cleaning may still be in order. These additives are mainly good for mild problems.

For example on my I/O it seems after sitting up every winter I have a back firing problem when running above 3/4 throttle. A one tank treatment always cures this problem. I have used on my 25hp Evinrude once a year as a preventive measure and it runs great.

Answer 6

Just need to pour it into the fuel tank.Sea Foam is the best treatment i have ever used.I seen it do thing you wouldn't believe it could do.It works....They also make another SeaFoam for the transmission and it works miracles. By the way don't get the two different SeaFoams mixed up.Ones for the fuel and engine oil ,the other one is for the tranny. I believe in it and so can you.

Answer 7

You are confusing "carburetor cleaning" with "decarb treatment".

A carburetor has to be taken apart to be properly cleaned.

I use B-12 for carb rebuilds, but you never want to add something that strong to your tank.  Seafoam is naptha, light oil and isopropyl alcohol.  B-12 is acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methanol, toluene, isopropanol and some other really harsh stuff.

Seafoam is not a strong enough solvent to clean a carburetor that's been gummed up with the varnish left behind by evaporating gasoline.

Seafoam will clean carbon build-up from rings, cylinder walls and pistons.  As a fuel additive, it prevents (or at least slows) carbon build up and conditions fuel to help prevent varnish from forming.

I add an ounce of Seafoam per gallon every time I buy gas, as a preventive measure.

Read more about the decarb procedure here:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?...

An excerpt:

"Decarbing is a 2 part process. The first part is preventative, done by using a fuel additive to prevent carbon build up. SeaFoam is one such fuel additive and can be found at most auto parts stores. It also works as a fuel system cleaner and should be used as a preventative maintenance procedure.If Your intent is to REMOVE the existing carbon buildup from the cylinders, heads, and rings, a spray decarb solvent product, such as SeaFoam Deep Creep, Power Tune, or Ring Free, is needed to do the decarb process. Free moving rings are what seals your cylinders and gives you compression. Compressed and stuck rings means loss of compression, broken rings, damaged pistons and heads, and eventually, engine failure.Run engine at fast idle, with engine running and warm, slowly spray liberal amount into each carb. Its gonna smoke up the place. Spray for a couple minutes, now spray a larger amount into the carb(s) until engine chokes out and stops.Remove spark plugs and spray the decarb product liberally into each cylinder, install the spark plugs, let it soak for an hour or more. Start the engine and run at medium throttle, or if at the lake, run it at full throttle. It won't hurt to spray some more through the carbs. Run it for atleast 10 minutes to flush the crud out of your engine. Now remove and clean, or replace the spark plugs. It works well to do the spraying, the night before you go to the lake. This way you can let it soak overnight, and run at full throttle at the lake.Don't do this in front of the garage door or the house, unless you want it covered with greasy black crud."

Answer 8

Just add it to the fuel.  It seems to work pretty well for me on my outboard.  I actually just put some in my pickup today.