Snake Oil

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
02/17/2015 at 08:18 • Filed to: None

So we all know about Seafoam, the magical substance that improves absolutely everything just by tossing some in your oil and fuel systems, but what the hell is this?

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Honestly, since I have a 4cyl with what I believe is low compression and I don't really have anything to lose I might toss some of this in and see what it does.

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DISCUSSION (24)

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/17/2015 at 08:24

pretty sure it's just like zmax or any of those are micro/nano/angel lubricants. Never used it but I bet it's just really thing viscosity oil.

E. Julius > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/17/2015 at 08:26

Fuck it, why not?

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/17/2015 at 08:28

I think it's supposed to help re-build things like piston rings and valve seals but if it's too far gone, it won't do much. I've seen these things before - basically your seals and piston rings get very very tiny pits and holes in them from use. This additive has material that supposedly gets into those pits and holes to help make a better seal so you don't lose that little bit of oil with each stroke.

However, I don't know if the chemistry works or not. That's just how these products claim to work. It also apparently plugs the holes of VVT type engines (probably V-TEC too) so it at least adds viscosity? That's the one quetion I would have is whether or not it's just a viscosity modifier or if it actually will deposit some material into your engine.

505Turbeaux > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/17/2015 at 08:28

yeah that stuff doesn't do much at all. Thickens up the oil some to prevent blowby, maybe some anti smoking agents.

Dont knock the seafoam though, I have cured numerous intake and deposit issues by running it straight

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/17/2015 at 08:35

Meh, IIRC, these are just increasing the viscosity of the oil to decrease blow-by. It's nothing that putting a heavier oil in won't also do. Seafoam's good stuff though. You can clean all sorts of shit with it.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > 505Turbeaux
02/17/2015 at 08:40

you think Seafoam would help My idle Issue? Which reminds me, I have an update on that I should call you at some point

davedave1111 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/17/2015 at 08:41

It's always informative to read the MSDS for these products - you can usually find them on Google. In this case, it's not so much snake-oil as just plain mineral oil.

http://s7d9.scene7.com/is/content/Gen…

JawKnee > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/17/2015 at 08:44

I added the v8 can at every oil change in my 86 cutlass. No idea if it worked but between that and seafoam that tank ran forever

505Turbeaux > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
02/17/2015 at 08:46

it might help it out. I feed it right in through a vacuum line when the car is warmed up, about 1/3-1/2 the bottle, shut it down for 5 minutes to let it soak in. Start it back up, you will see probably worse than this . Rinse repeat. It is only going to help. Cures alot of pinging too

Kinja'd!!!

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > 505Turbeaux
02/17/2015 at 08:59

My engine doesnt ping though. When are you available for me to call?

505Turbeaux > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
02/17/2015 at 09:03

later on, maybe tonight. Ill send you a text

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > 505Turbeaux
02/17/2015 at 09:04

okay

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > JawKnee
02/17/2015 at 09:14

So you just toss this stuff in the oil and you're done with it?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
02/17/2015 at 09:15

Yeah I'm thinking of doing seafoam through the fuel and vacuum lines (as I did on the LeSabre to mild success) then tossing this stuff in the oil. Hopefully she'll idle a little better afterwards.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > 505Turbeaux
02/17/2015 at 09:16

Yeah, I've used Seafoam. I'm not knocking it, but it did nothing to the LeSabre, probably because its been run on synthetic its whole life and was probably already clean as a whistle.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
02/17/2015 at 09:17

well, I guess I have nothing to lose from trying it so I might as well.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
02/17/2015 at 09:17

Cant higher viscosity oil cause engine issues?

505Turbeaux > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/17/2015 at 09:24

well, I am sure it didnt hurt anything! Good to keep that intake and those valves clean regardless

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/17/2015 at 09:32

oh I'm sure it can. Oil additives always worry me. The manufactures of the oil do way more research and work coming up with the best blend and have their own additives. That's also why I don't mind spending more on higher quality oil.

Fuel however, I use seafoam a few times a year. It's essentially just isopropyl alcohol if I remember correctly. Fuel system seems more resilient to contaminents than oil would. Bad fuel - goes in, burnt, maybe a knock or two, then it's out. Bad oil - gets continuously recirculated throughout the system and never really leaves.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > 505Turbeaux
02/17/2015 at 09:37

Have you had any issues with the cat sensors? I've heard you should pop them out so they don't get gunked up. But I guess that's what the seafoam should help with.

I used to seafoam my old f150... Holy hell the cloud of smoke that came out.

505Turbeaux > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
02/17/2015 at 09:39

no never, that being said the car needs to be at operating temp so the cats and sensors are hot enough to burn any of that right out of there. And that is even with cat sensor sensitive cars like Audi 2.7Ts and the like

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > 505Turbeaux
02/17/2015 at 09:45

interesting. I may have to seafoam the sebring soon then. Knowing Chrysler they probably tack welded the sensors into place. "Looks like you have a bad aft sensor.... You need a new exhaust from the cylinder heads back. That'll be $4350"

505Turbeaux > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
02/17/2015 at 09:58

haha I think when you go in for your final service when the warranty is almost up they totally spot weld those things in there

JawKnee > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/17/2015 at 14:48

If I remember correctly they suggest you add it before the oil during a change.