first time using seafoam

[chetrick87]

I have an 05 explorer xlt with the 4.0. I'm idling a little rough and figured it can't hurt to try the seafoam. Also my avg mpg is at 11.4. I've been trying to figure out the best way to use it and most effective. I've done a quick search and the only writeups I found were for older generations. But with what I did find the best way to do it is by using the pcv valve hole. So do I take the hose off the valve, take the valve out, then put that part of hose on the bottle? Then what? Thanks for the help

 

[Wfw1]

I add seafoam directly to my fuel.
Also, you can put some in your oil and run the truck just before you change the oil to help flush the nasties out.

 

[chetrick87]

Do you add it right before you fill up?

 

[chetrick87]

Did you notice any changes?

 

[Hudsonf]

Do you add it right before you fill up?

Yes.
Edit: I did the vacuum hose method on my old Taurus. I don't know if it really cleaned anything or not but it sure did smoke out the neighborhood.

 

[Number4]

If you put it in the oil and run it the hundred miles, stuff you get loose can clog the oil pump.
It most likely will do nothing for your MPGs through the intake.
Plugs would be your best bet. Or a bad sensor. How many miles on your current plugs?
There is a spray version that you can use to fog the engine over night. Remove each plug and spray into the cylinders.

 

[chetrick87]

My truck has 74k on it. I'm not sure on the plugs and wires I haven't changed them. I've had the truck for 5k miles

 

[Number4]

I'd bet my second bor......my first born that those plugs are OE. They'll tell you today's plugs are good for 100k, don't buy it.
I'd replace the every 60k. Did that on mine and went from 13 MPG's to 17. Just doing the plugs. The gap becomes too wide.

 

[chetrick87]

Yeah I plan on doing that. There doesn't look to be any in a difficult spot.

 

[shucker1]

I add seafoam directly to my fuel.
Also, you can put some in your oil and run the truck just before you change the oil to help flush the nasties out.

Drop it it in right before you add the fuel. It has a better chance to mix with the fuel.

If you run it through the intake do it before you change the plugs. You don't want all of the "Washed Out Trash" fouling a new set of plugs.

 

[chetrick87]

I'm just going to add it to the fuel this first time. Then do the plugs probably next week. Does the fuel filter get a little cleaner from the seafoam?

 

[shucker1]

No sir.

It's usually a paper element and cannot be cleaned.

 

[chetrick87]

Thanks. Just waiting for my fuel to be low to add it

 

[chetrick87]

I added the sea foam to my fuel. My avg mileage on the cluster went up from 11.1 to 13 mpg

 

[gtyates]

Have you tried manually cleaning the throttle body? My wife's '04 was idling a little rough and gas mileage had dropped a little bit, but after cleaning the throttle body out it idles perfectly and gas mileage is back where it should be. We have 92k on ours.

 

[Number4]

I added the sea foam to my fuel. My avg mileage on the cluster went up from 11.1 to 13 mpg

You shouldn't get any gains on the tank using Seafoam. And sometimes have to run more than one tank. Did these gains come after the seafoam tank?

 

[chetrick87]

I haven't cleaned the throttle body. I checked it out and it did t look that bad. When I do clean it am I suppose to open it up? Do I have to be careful not to get any spray or dirt down there if it's open?


And I reset the avg mpg when I put it in. And it's stuck at 12.8 now two tanks after. It could be the weather change also I suppose.

 

[gtyates]

Yes, you need to open that valve up and clean it. Make sure you clean the edges of the valve. Sometimes carbon builds up in the edges and does not allow it to close tight, allowing extra air in at idle. I used a throttle body cleaner to do this. Mine did not look too dirty either until I cleaned it. Cleaning totally solved the rough idle issue for our truck. I sprayed the cleaner on my rag and then wiped everything clean.

 

[Number4]

Buy a throttle body gasket and clean it off the car.

 

[Sixonemale]

There may be some confusion here, cleaning the mass air flow sensor and air intake to the throttle body may get you some gain toward a smoother idle, but with my '02, what finally smoothed out my idle was cleaning and/or replacing the "Idle Throttle Control Valve." Don't get that confused with air intake to the throttle body. Cleaning the ITCV or replacing it, since it's about a $35 part, could solve your problem. Cleaning and finally replacing it, solved my rough idle that I had for many years.