Seafoam like tune up in a can

[ghostler]

A few have suggested using Seafoam to cure a rough idling Voyager. I tried that several thousand miles ago on my 2001, while 900 miles away from home. I followed the directions, 1 oz per gallon, 16 oz can was enough to treat 2-1/2 tanks worth. It was noticeably smoother by the next fill up, was idling smoothly after the second tankful.

Prior to this I thought I'd have to rebuild the carburetors. Now, several thousand miles later, it has been idling a little rough again. Put another dose of Seafoam. After a 175 mile ride this afternoon, smooth idle has been restored.

This stuff is the next best thing since J.C. Whitney's miracle overhaul in a can pellets with liquid plate oil additive that I used to use on worn out car engines 40 years ago.

[SgtSlag]

It has many uses. I am getting ready to mothball my bike for the Winter, and SeaFoam is key to prep'ing it for storage for the next five months or so. It won't perform miracles, but it has its place, and its uses. Cheers!

[ghostler]

It has many uses. I am getting ready to mothball my bike for the Winter, and SeaFoam is key to prep'ing it for storage for the next five months or so. It won't perform miracles, but it has its place, and its uses. Cheers!

Good luck in prepping your bike and hope to hear of your riding again in Spring.

Interesting that Seafoam works well as a preservative. Being further south, we don't have the long period of cold. We might be hit for a few weeks with a little snow between, but we've had riding weather in January with temps in the 50's here in eastern New Mexico. OTOH, several years ago we had -18 degree F weather in February for a whole week. That was bone chilling.

[voyager55]

That's spring like weather here!!

[Wahrsuul]

I've had good results using it like that several times. Also as sort of a "shock treatment" to a bike by doubling the dose. I've used it in the oil as engine cleaner and down the intake to clean gunk out of the combustion chambers. I have a list of uses here somewhere...

[PKarl]

Seafoam does work but at what cost ? recently I completely redone my carbs and found everything was a rusty color inside but it wasn't rust it was plastic I think the seafoam had started to work on the plastic floats and coated the whole insides of the carbs with this rust color coating ...got everything cleaned up and back together and it runs great now..but no more seafoam for me

[voyager55]

Never heard of that problem with Sea foam. I've used it in every motor I own for many many years.
Maybe you have rust in the fuel tank & fuel system?
Ethanol causes many problems with plastic & rubber seals

[Furchin]

PKarl,
10 to 1 it is the ethanol that caused the rusty looking color. I have seen what you describe inside of carbs before and it was without a doubt caused by the ethanol gas. The best thing you can do is add a gas treatment to each tank fill up. I use one in a super concentrated formula (1/4 oz per 4 gal.) and have not had a problem at all.

[SgtSlag]

I've been using SeaFoam for 8 years, without incident, in three motorcycles, two lawnmowers, two cars, two trucks, and a snowblower. No issues yet.

When I start my bike(s) up come Spring, they run like they were shut off yesterday. SeaFoam is one of the few additives that I trust. I've seen it clean out stumbling carbs, smoothing them out completely, several times, with just one treatment. It is not a miracle product, but it is very good, with multiple uses.

Ethanol gasoline, on the other hand, is only used because the government forces me to. I hate that crap, but I have no choice -- 100% gasoline is available in very few locations, certainly not enough to avoid ethanol gasoline. Wish it were. Cheers!

[bobingeorgia]

Is Seafoam available at Walmart, autozone etc?
e have a (1) ethanol free station in our area 10 miles away and out of the way for me, but doable now that I have a bigger tank than my PC had.

My voyager arrived with what appeared to be a full tank of gas. After riding for 50 some miles the needle had not moved on gas gauge. I was afraid of it malfunctioning. Nope , only held 1.3 Gal. I was pleased with the mileage , better than my PC.

[ekap1200]

I have been using seafoam for years also. George you mentioned you rough idle had started again, have you drained the carb bowls ? Sea-foam will start to break up the rust that has passed thru your filter . It starts to clump together as it builds up in the float bowl. Use the sea-foam treatment and then after a good ride for a half day or so, drain the bowls. You will be surprised what gets thru the filter, and starts to collect in the bowl. I am a firm believer in this product. But like all magic it comes with a cost. If it loosens up the rust that may be in ones fuel tank it will to some extent get past the filter and in the carbs. I have used sea-foam, draining the carbs 2~3 times a season and replacing the air filter in a careful manner too not let anything down the air box and keeping up on replacing the fuel filter. I have over 72,000 on the odometer. The carbs have never been off this machine. I keep a baby food jar with a fitting installed in the lid and graduated marks on the glass to get a rough measurement of the fuel in each carb. And you can see what has gotten into each bowl. I do one bowl at a time then start the engine and go on to the next one. I also don't like the ethanol but what can you do its here to stay.....

PS.. George have your carbs been checked for being out of sync a bit , and has the fuel filter ever been changed. ?

[Steve do]

Bob, my 03 does the same thing, around 50 to 60 miles it comes off full. Make sure the low fuel light comes on when you turn the ignition on, it will go out when you crank it, that doesn't mean it will come on when you get low on fuel. Mine didn't work when I first got it, I bought a new sending unit, now it comes on when I have 1.2 gallons remaining. It is under the false tank, 4 10 m bolts hold it in, if you have to take it out, you will have to wiggle it around a little.
The 1.2 gallons give you a little reserve, once you get used to the millage you are getting, based on your driving speed, you will have a good idea how far you can go.
When I drive 60 to 65, I get in the upper 40s to low 50s mph, at 85 to 90 on the interstate flowing with the traffic, I get around 35 mph, but you do cover some miles. You should be able to get over 200 miles/tank, unless driving fast.

Steven

[debron]

My gas gauge needle doesn't budge until I've ridden 50-60 miles. If I hit 80 miles before the needle hits the "F", I know I'm getting good mileage, high 40's. If I make it to 90 miles, I'm over 50 mpg.

[kjsett]

Just bought 3 cans of seafoam for $8/can at O'Reillys Auto Parts. This was in Phoenix, AZ so don't know if that sale is elsewhere. Normal pricing i find Walmart best price.
My wife let's her bike sit a lot, so i try to keep it dosed on a regular basis. I do mine about every 5 fill-ups, or that rare time when it gets to sit for awhile.
Enjoy,
Ken

PS. It does work, i got back from a trip last year and the bike started running rough and backfire when the throttle was let up. One dose of seafoam and it went back to normal.

[Lance McCaw]

I used seafoam also thinking my rough idle was dirt or something. Found out its bad fuel in missouri. In my hometown in IL i burn premium 91 octane and the 1987 runs like new. As soon as the oxygenated fuel got in my carbs the bike had a miss at low idle. Ran ok on the highway but i could here the miss all the time in MO till I got home and refilled with premium. Problem dissappeared.

[bobingeorgia]

bought 3 cans at PepBoys yesterday. Buy 2 get 1 free.