Sea Foam - too much ok?

Tom R S · May 22, 2023

I have a handful of old tractors. Some get out for exercise more than others. I use Sea Foam to keep the Guelph from going bad. But sometimes I gorgeous if I have added it ot not.
So my question is, is it bad if I accidentally add too much?

Tom R S · May 22, 2023

Sorry I hit send to early.
The words auto goofed.
If I forget if I added it to the fuel is it a a bad thing to add too much?

jCarroll · May 22, 2023

If some's good...more is better and too much ain't enough.

504 · May 22, 2023

It will be fine, I just pour it in and run them

MarkB_MI · May 22, 2023

I dumped a full can of Sea Foam in the tank of my Yamaha Virago motorcycle and it developed so much power it twisted off the drive shaft!

Actually, no. The Sea Foam had no effect whatsoever on its gummed-up carburetors and I still had to disassemble and clean out the carbs. Which is what I should have done in the first place.

BarnyardEngineering · May 22, 2023

The only "too much" is if you give it what Vice Grip Garage calls "The I-talian Tuneup" where you "pour it straight down the yap (carburetor)." Too much is when you flood the engine and stall it. It'll usually start right backup and run fine.

IMHO don't waste it by pouring it into the oil.

john in la · May 22, 2023

Sea Foam directions right off their web site.
For regular fuel system maintenance, add 1 ounce per gallon.
For cleaning, use 2 or more ounces per gallon the more you add to fuel, the better it cleans! Add when the tank is low to maximize cleaning concentration.

rrlund · May 22, 2023

I hope not. My 4 wheeler was idling rough, so I just tipped the bottle up and dumped some in. I did the same thing with the lawn mower the other day. Didn't take long for that to smooth out. Pretty sure it'll all burn whether there's a lot of gas mixed with it or not.

dcarp · May 22, 2023

I owned a Virago in a prior life. Put about 80,000 miles on it before I foolishly traded it. Probably the best bike I ever owned. This picture was taken around 1980 in the middle of Canada. Rode from Houston to Niagara Falls, up into the wilds of Canada, back down the east coast, thru the Blue Ridge Mountains, down to Mobile, New Orleans, then back to Houston. Fun trip. Dont think I could do it now.

rrlund · May 22, 2023

It straightened the cam phases right out in my Ford 5.4L after I dumped a bottle on the oil. Totally silenced the
tick.

waugh621 · May 22, 2023

No such thing as too much sea foam.

Bob Harvey · May 22, 2023

Sorry, I can't remember the make-up of Sea Foam, but, my overall understanding is; it is 'snake oil'. The ingredients are all unusual solvents that react with stored in the cylinders hydrocarbons, dilute them so that they may burn off. I think there are 'downsides' to using the product. Just a messenger.

Russ from MN · May 22, 2023

It is snake oil, but follow the instructions, too much isn't better!

RESLLS · May 23, 2023

I like Berrymans B12 better. Seafoam is mineral oil and solvents. B12 is solvents only.
I also had a Virago. 1981 750. 121,000 miles. Original clutch, motor never apart. A buddy has it now and rides it almost every day. Have a 2002 1200 sportster now.

Texasmark · May 23, 2023

Its right on the can that it doesn't hurt anything and you BOO birds accusing it of being snake oil, you are full of it! Decades of sales and being on every auto parts type store's shelves I visit speaks for itself. Besides I ran deliberate tests to disprove your criticism on 2 and 4 stroke small engines, in my boat's engine, and in the oil to clean up sludge on the bottom of the crankcase on one of my tractors that I bought in an estate sale.....as outlined on the side of the can!

Tom R S · May 23, 2023

Well this has sparked (ha) an interesting discussion.
I just counted all the engines I maintain.
Total is 17. Includes old tractors, utility deseil tractor, chainsaws, outboard, atv, lawn tractors,
My wife's Accord and
My F150.
I have a wide variety of uses and I must say I have had no problems with gas going bad since I've been using Sea Foam. I believe in it because I hear a lot about reformulated gas going bad and that is all that is available here in SE Wis.

dhermesc · May 23, 2023

Kind of like beer - if a little is good a lot is better.

I usually have about 3X to 5X the recommended amount in a fuel tank. I made sure I had some Sea Foam and Stabile in everything I own last fall that was about to sit for months on end. After adding it the engine was started and ran for a few minutes to get it in the carb. This spring my old Garden Way walk behind sickle mower that I've owned for 2 years started on the first pull and stayed running. When I bought it the carb was pretty gummed up and getting it to run was a chore and keeping it running was no pleasure either. I only used it for about 5 hours last summer and it ran better and started easier every time I used it - with Sea Foam in the gas all summer. Sitting with the solvents in the carb all winter must have finally gotten it clean.

I am a bit more careful about adding it to a 2 stroke engine - I don't want the solvents to make it run lean and hot.

Texasmark · May 23, 2023

The SF isn't part of the fuel-oil mix ratio and Naptha is a lower hydrocarbon than gasoline so it shouldn't hurt anything. Boating forums suggest using SF over Starting Fluid as it has the light mineral oil for the 2 strokers oil requirement....for that short period, but the combustible properties will still light off a cylinder if fuel is missing.

Jim in LA · May 23, 2023

You can run an engine off of nothing but SeaFoam to get rid of carbon. There are videos on YouTube showing how it works. I have poured more than recommended amount in mower and four wheeler whith no negative results.

Sea Foam - too much ok?

Tom R S

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Tom R S

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jCarroll

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504

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MarkB_MI

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BarnyardEngineering

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john in la

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rrlund

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dcarp

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rrlund

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waugh621

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Bob Harvey

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Russ from MN

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RESLLS

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Texasmark

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Tom R S

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Texasmark

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Jim in LA

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