seafoam and oil viscosity

[biggiesize]

Howdy fellas,
I've been sitting here thinking and experimenting about seafoam and marvel mystery oil in my crankcase.As a small engine technician at a John deere dealership,Im very aware of how well the additives clean parts.But for some reason,I cant escape the thought that if I add it to my oil and drive it at normal RPM's,These additives are going to dilute the protective viscious properties of the oil and in return do damage to the crank,bearings and such.I have no doubts that it would keep the heads and valves clean a s a whistle,but wouldnt it be at the expense of less protection?

 

[celly]

The general consensus around here is to put Seafoam in the crankcase just before you're about to drop your oil. An engine flush in other words. I wouldn't feel comfortable using it long term myself for the reasons you mention.

 

[biggiesize]

so right before an oil change,i should drain out a small amount of oil,replace it with some seafoam and drive it around for 45 minutes-1 hour?

 

[Electrohacker]

i just dropped in the recommended amount on top of my oil for about 100 miles or so

 

[biggiesize]

Gotcha.thanks.I have the 4.0 SOHC with all the sludge problems and although I have never missed a 3000 mile change,I want to make sure it stays clean under there.

 

[Glen4X4]

I myself put 1/4 of the can in my oil being cautious too and ran it for bout 50 miles then changed the oil.

 

[my98nnj]

Sludge in the SHOC? Just use a good detergent oil like Castrol GTX.

 

[biggiesize]

Yes.the sohc is bad for sludge in the valve cover.I have used nothing but Castrol since the first oil change and mine is clean but if you look at some of the nightmare pictures on here of the sludge buildup in the sohc,it just makes you cry on the inside.lol

 

[specialized7]

i had used seafoam in many applications, i tried it in the crank case of my old sohc and it sure seemed to run smoother with it in there but when i dumped the oil and put new stuff in i immediately had a timing chain rattle, i never did die on me, in fact i only put on about 1000 kms then totaled it.

Im going to try some in my ohv and see what happens

 

[biggiesize]

Just for kicks,I took a bottle of cheap oil (if there is such a thing) and added a proportioned amount of seafoam to it.I shook it up and poured some out and the seafoam definitely made the oil thinner.As for the viscosity,even though it was extremely thin,it still seemed to have a nice lubricated slick feel to it.So like you guys said earlier,I will add it a hundred miles or so before an oil change and drain it out.

 

[chance942]

Just for kicks,I took a bottle of cheap oil (if there is such a thing) and added a proportioned amount of seafoam to it.I shook it up and poured some out and the seafoam definitely made the oil thinner.As for the viscosity,even though it was extremely thin,it still seemed to have a nice lubricated slick feel to it.So like you guys said earlier,I will add it a hundred miles or so before an oil change and drain it out.

What is viscosity? Resistance to flow. Pour your cheap oil concoction and the regular oil down a flat equally smooth surface and see which one reaches the bottom first. Dump it as you are planning after 100 miles,no question. Marvel for say is not really intended for such low viscosity uses as nor in my opinion is seafoam. The only time I've ever used Marvel in oil was in radial and horizontally opposed bird engines that use str8 100w oil. The sump,wet or dry, on these 540ci "boxer" engines holds 4 gallons of oil.

 

[corkey]

i would put 1/2 a can of it in the oil for about 50 miles, and the other 1/2 in the gas tank, it will help the pump and fuel system resist the alcohol in all the gas now,

 

[Mikeri]

Seafoam and MMO are 2 of only 3 additives I use. Years of solid work. Highly recommended. After a couple of thousand miles, your oil should go down. This is the additive package in the oil burning off. Normal. When I am about 1/2 qt down, I like to add MMO, knowing an oil change is coming. MMO is a solvent and helps clean. I seafoam once, maybe twice yearly. Once the engine stalls, I pour what's left in the crankcase. Drive for half hour, and head for the oil change. I have an 89 Town Car with 257k miles...owned it since 19k miles. Runs like a top. I follow the above procedure. My 98 mountie only has 100k miles, so I am still breaking it in. The only other addivitve I use is on the Town Car. If I hear any rod slap, I add a can of RESTORE. Maybe once a year. Hope this helps.