Rep Power: 0

Hi,

I've been trying to do my homework on Seafoam before trying it on my coupe. But I'm still learning the maintenance ropes, so it'd be nice to get additional input.

I'm going to wait until the oil needs to be changed again (late spring, I think). And then use 1/3 bottle in tank, oil, and brake booster line. I want to make sure I've identified the brake booster line, picture attached. I can take the booster line off of the little spigot on the mid-back of the intake manifold (I think?) and I'm considering using a turkey baster (like a big syringe) to drip the seafoam in. The 'spigot' is circled in the picture.

I'm fairly sure of the procedure: have a friend idle car at ~1500rpm with BB line off, slowly allow the line to suck up 1/3 bottle of seafoam (In my case, slowly drip the seafoam into that metal tube on the manifold), stop car, let sit for half an hour, drive spiritedly (which will be difficult for me in my small suburban city Tons of police).

Just for quick clarification, when people refer to adding Seafoam to a "crankcase" do they mean engine oil, or manual transmission fluid?

My car has 350+k miles, should I forego the seafoam in case it damages this relic of an engine?

Thanks

<edit>
I went back and looked at the tube I highlighted in the picture, and noticed that there is no check valve on it, which is mentioned along with the brake booster quite often. A smaller, flimsier (like, aquarium quality) hose is directly behind it, visible in the picture. This does have a small check-valve-looking-thing, and is connected to the bottom of the intake manifold.
</edit>

 
Rep Power: 204

You can go to the sea foam website and they have quite detailed info there on how to do it. The overall procedure is 1/3 brake booster, 1/3 crankcase (engine oil), 1/3 fuel tank.

Personally I do use Seafoam and I quite like it. However, I don't do it in the brake booster or in the engine oil. If you pour it too fast into the brake booster there is a very real chance you can hydro lock your engine. Which means you'll have to replace the engine and I don't trust myself enough to gamble an engine on it. The idea of pouring alcohol into oil is just ridiculous to me so I don't do it in the crankcase either. Every fall I treat 1 full tank of gas and I run it down until my gas light comes on as a regular maintenance approach. I've done my Civic twice now and all is well.

You just have to understand that Seafoam is not a miracle cure for an old tired engine. If that's what you are doing then there is a very real chance that the Seafoam will dissolve carbon that is in essence keeping your car from burning/leaking oil. It's not Seafoam's fault.

I really love the stuff in 2 stroke engine's, lawnmowers, weedwackers, dirt bikes, etc. I guess they just sludge up faster with mixed gas and a bit of Seafoam makes them run like new again.

 
Rep Power: 0

Awesome, thanks for addressing the old engine aspect!

It would probably be more realistic of me to reach a point where I can financially handle replacing the engine and transmission before trying new things that affect the engine directly. . :\

This is pretty much what worries me every time I even pop the hood. but to me more than half of the fun/enjoyment of car ownership is learning new things

And I've heard a few horror stories about hydrolock, that does sound scary.

 
Rep Power: 0

I've done it in my car, just don't put too much in too fast in the vacuum line.

I put it in my crankcase (engine oil) too, make sure you only drive about 100-150 miles only and then change your oil. So all that stuff comes out.

And just put it in your fuel tank as well.

I usually put a bout 1/2 vacuum booster, 1/2 crankcase, 1/2 fuel. So I use about 2 bottles of it. Other half you can save it or put it in your fuel again.

I was afraid it would open up a few leaks. But if it does, I was ready to fix all these parts. I haven't maintained my own car for a long while. It's about time I make sure the car is working properly and being maintained properly as well.