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Sea Foam started it all

EMT Joshua

Member
Joined
March 23, 2004
Messages
26
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City, State
Wisconsin
Year, Model & Trim Level
1998 Sport
So I ran Sea Foam through my engine 2 days ago and in addition to getting the cloud of white smoke from my tail pipe I also was getting some coming from the engine compartment. Yes I know that it shouldn't do that but that led me to find that my DPFE sensor was completely melted through. If you do a search on Yahoo you will find that this is an EGR Pressure sensor. I then ran to my local Ford dealership to get a replacement. (Autozone doesn't sell this part) $58.00 later my engine now sputters and lacks accelerating power and my CEL flashes when I accelerate and then remains constantly on otherwise. When I am at a red light with the X in drive/overdrive it sounds and feels like its going to die. I also think something is knocking when I accelerate on a cold engine. Anyone have any ideas? I'm going to replace the plugs and wires and probably the throttle positioning sensor today and see what happens after that.
 



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Why not get the check engine light codes pulled to find out what is causing the problem? You can change plugs, wires, and TPS, but you could just be throwing money at the problem and not fix it. Autozone will pull codes for free and usually give you a desscription of what the code means. I would get the codes read and go from there.
 






And it's not recommended to drive with a flashing check engine light, as it means that you have a potential catalyst damaging misfire... a misfire that is causing raw fuel to enter your exhaust system. I'd suspect that you've probably flooded or fouled a plug or two.
 






You may need to sea foam it a few more times. I know it took three treatments to decarbonize mine. If there is even a little carbon left in the cylinders, it will ping and knock. I also ended up replacing all the o2 sensors on mine. In fact the drivers downstream sensor was so crudded up with carbon from the sea foam that a bunch of white crusty stuff fell out of it. After replacing the sensors my miss and sputter was gone.
 






I find that odd... the induction system cleaner that we use at work will actually clean O2 sensors as it goes out the exhaust...
 






Eneurb, what product do you use for an induction system cleaner? I am going to assume something other than Sea Foam? I would like to get a nice product to clean out my system and if there is something better than Sea Foam then I would like to give it a try.
 






Sure you didn't just knock off a vacuum line? do you hear any hissing noises? Check the simple stuff before you get all crazy.
 






I am sure there are no vacuum lines or hoses loose. I spend about 3 hours last night nosing around in the engine compartment doing various things and nothing was out of the ordinary.
 






Did you try resetting the computer after Seafoam treatment?
 






You definately need yo pull the code(s).

Good luck .....
 






aldive said:
You definately need to pull the code(s).

Good luck .....

Again, what Al said. You gotta get the codes pulled to find out what the problem is...
 






EMT Joshua said:
Eneurb, what product do you use for an induction system cleaner? I am going to assume something other than Sea Foam? I would like to get a nice product to clean out my system and if there is something better than Sea Foam then I would like to give it a try.

We use a system of 3 chemicals by a company called BG (Bearing and Gear)... I don't know why the call their company that, there is a special sprayer required to do it.
 






BG can call their company whatever they want their products are awesome.

This thread has some good advice in it, check the codes, its likely you messed something up when you replaced the EGR sensor. Why did the first one melt?
Also you did reset the battery after you replaced it correct?
 






After re-reading this thread something came to mind. Maybe you need to find out what caused the DPFE sensor to melt in the first place, second, are you sure the dealer gave you the right part. I have had the dealer give me the wrong part on several occassions. Also, pull the o2 sensors, check the spark plugs, and look at them. They can give you a lot of info on how the engine is running.
 






I splurged and bought a OBD2 scanner. 2 codes came up - one is the O2 sensor again and the other is cylinder 6 is misfiring. I replaced the plug wires and the engine seems to be running better already. Tomorrow I'm changing out the plugs and the bad O2 sensor.
 






410Fortune said:
BG can call their company whatever they want their products are awesome.

I agree. They took the time to demo their product to us on a 2.5 Contour (with a tonne of miles on it) by first removing the upper intake to show how dirty it was, reinstalling it, running the cleaner and then removing it again to show how well it worked... quite impressive.
 






aldive said:
You definatelu need yo pull the code(s).

^^^^
Al is using the Turkish language

Regarding the problems, I can say that I think there were things wrong with your truck beforehand, but mostly normal tune-up items; I have never heard of Sea Foam causing such problems. I've heard a few people say, "Seafoam trashed my O2s" but then, I would argue that their O2s were probably worn out to begin with.
 






The plugs and the bad O2 sensor are now changed and shes running great. I have a feeling that the plugs were just bad that it was causing the misfire.
 






snocross1985 said:
Autozone will pull codes for free


is this true?

they give you the code number? or what?
 



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Yes, they will give you the code and what the suggested defective part is most of the time but it depends on the level of intelligence of your local AutoZone guys...
 






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