Does Seafoam Always Cause Exhaust Smoke?

[Rofocowboy84]

Okay, so I decided to Seafoam my '04 XLT today. Followed the directions exactly, 1/3 in the oil, 1/3 in the gas tank, and 1/3 in a vacuum line. Then I shut it off for five minutes like the bottle said, and then turned it back on. Idling, no smoke, holding it at 2k rpm for a minute, no smoking, revving a few times, no smoke, though a bunch of liquid did come out the tailpipe. Now, I know my engine CANNOT be devoid of carbon deposits, I haven't exactly been religious with my oil change intervals, etc, and that's what causes the smoke, right? I'm starting to think I did something wrong. All of the videos I've seen, there's a bunch of smoke for a few minutes. I've driven it a few miles, and nothing's gone wrong, and I put it in the same vacuum line as the videos. Any ideas?

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Was the engine up to temp? It has to be for the Sea Foam to work right. If the engine was cold that would explain it.

I don't follow the can directions either. I always use the entire can through the PCV line.

 

[techboj]

This is my seafoam routine:

Drive the car around to get it warmed up.
Park and disconnect the hoses where you intend to introduce seafoam (I use the pvc and brake booster method - the entire can goes in)

Sometimes I'll put half the can in. Let it stand for about 15-20 minutes. Start the vehicle, bring it back to normal temp and then drive around. If I used only half the can, I would do the other half after about a week. Lots of smoke in either case.

Since you added the seafoam into the oil, I would suggest changing the oil immediately. Seafoam acts as a flush and you certainly would not want it circulating in your engine too long.

 

[Rofocowboy84]

Yeah, it was fairly warm, I didn't wait too long after driving it back from the parts store. Maybe because I didn't use that much. Also, I didn't use the brake booster line, so I'll probably get another can and try again. I did change my oil right afterwards, but it had been a while, so I plan on changing it again in a week after everything circulates, hopefully I'll get all of the junk out that I didn't with the first change. My question is, some people (including the How-To thread above) are saying to leave it in for a hundred miles or so, then change the oil. Thoughts?

 

[Carguy3J]

I agree with the other comments: 1/3 of a can isn't enough. I get everything up to temp, then suck in a full can through the vacum line. Shut it off (it should already be strarting to smoke and chug a little.) Let it sit for 15-20 min (5min is to short), then start it up after evacuating the neighborhood and donning your NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) gear. You'll probably have to "help" it stay running, keep your foot on the gas and hold it at about 1500-2000rpm until the smoke clears. I like to vary the rpm a little, and even let it idle down, then stomp on it a few times, after the initial smoke tapers off.

Some people will surley post on hear that it's "snake oil", and I used to be skeptical myself. However, a '98 Neon I had last year made me a believer. After fixing the exhaust leak (at the manifold), it still wouldn't run quite right. After three (3) cans of Seafoam through the intake, it ran like new. By the end of the 3rd can, it wouldn't smoke anymore after the 15-20min "soak" period. That's how I new it was done. Oh, and NO, I didn't do all 3 cans at the same time. 1 can, wait a day, 2nd can, wait, 3rd can.

 

[Rofocowboy84]

Alright, did it again today, half of the can (I think, lol) right into the brake booster line, turned the X off, waited 15 minutes, turned it back on, let it idle, revved it a bunch, etc. There was a slight wisp of white smoke for about three seconds, that's it, lol. Like I said, I know the engine can't be completely void of carbon deposits, so what's up?

 

[Kriegen]

As someone else already asked, did you make sure the engine was up to normal temp before you started the seafoam treatment?

 

[gijoecam]

Exactly what vacuum line did you use to introduce it into the engine? My thought is that it's not getting into the combustion chamber to start with. Add that much oil to the intake (and that's the bulk of what SeaFoam is) and it's GOT to smoke as it burns it off through the combustion chamber or in the cats themselves.

 

[Rofocowboy84]

As someone else already asked, did you make sure the engine was up to normal temp before you started the seafoam treatment?

And as I already stated, yes.

Exactly what vacuum line did you use to introduce it into the engine? My thought is that it's not getting into the combustion chamber to start with. Add that much oil to the intake (and that's the bulk of what SeaFoam is) and it's GOT to smoke as it burns it off through the combustion chamber or in the cats themselves.

The first time it was the PCV hose, but I realized that that only fed the one side of cylinders. The second time it was right through the brake booster line, which the engine sure didn't like while I was doing it, lol....

 

[shelbygt]

(From one of my previous posts)

Just an FYI: I asked my machine shop owner/friend what he thought of running Seafoam in the intake to burn the carbon off and he explained that the stuff does what it says and cleans the "gunk" off the parts, but where is the "gunk" going once it come off? He said that he has seen it where carbon has come off and entered the valves and cause major blow-by and eventually burns up a valve like a blow torch was taken to it. I have known this guy for well over 20 years and he knows his stuff and he wouldn't steer me wrong, so I thought I would pass this along.