In this article, let’s talk about the truth about SeaFoam. Cleaning agents are popular for removing the grime from your car’s engine, but what about Sea Foam?
The detergent product is supposed to be good for breaking down gunk and water in engines, but there is a debate that’s been going on for years whether it’s good or bad. Can SeaFoam hurt your engine?
If you’re a car enthusiast and are interested in improving your car’s performance, you may have heard of the fuel-additive brand like Sea Foam, which has been around for 80 years.
But you’ll find contradicting experiences from different car forums and car websites. Due to opposing views of car enthusiasts and experts alike, we will shed a light on the truth about Sea Foam in 2021.
Can Sea Foam hurt your engine?
Can Sea Foam hurt your engine? The answer is NO. The truth about Sea Foam is that it is generally safe to use in all types of gasoline and diesel engine fuels; however, it can be harmful under certain conditions.
If you use the product improperly, and in a way that is not following manufacturer guidelines, then you could seriously damage your engine.
Let’s talk about Sea Foam ingredients, and what makes them safe and effective.
Sea Foam Ingredients
Sea Foam only contains 100% organic petroleum-based ingredients that are non-corrosive and harmless to fuel systems and any engine parts/components. These ingredients are available online and the composition is relatively simple: pale oil, naphtha, and isopropyl alcohol (IPA).
| Ingredients | Weight (%) |
|---|---|
| Pale Oil | 40 – 60 % |
| Naphtha | 25 – 35 % |
| Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) | 10 – 20 % |
Both Sea Foam Motor Treatment and Sea Foam Trans Tune have three components, but they use slightly different ratios. If you want to get technical, here’s a link to Sea Foam’s safety data sheets.
Water is a problem in fuel tanks, as water separates from gasoline and can freeze in supply lines at cold temperatures. Isopropyl alcohol is one of the Sea Foam ingredients.
According to Chem Europe, petroleum-derived IPA is very well-known for its ability to solubilize (makes it easier to dissolve) water in the fuel.
The fact is that products like Sea Foam are marketed as cleaning agents for engines – not a replacement for oil. The product should never be used in place of an oil change as this can do severe damage to your engine.
Does Sea Foam work?
According to Reader’s Digest, Sea Foam has been around for almost 80 years, and it’s one of the most trusted treatments for all engines. While the company makes a range of excellent products, the main one is Sea Foam Motor Treatment.
Sea Foam products claim to work through fuel injectors and carburetors to remove harmful residues and deposits from fuel passageways, intake valves, pistons, and chamber areas.
According to most users, Sea Foam does works. Sea Foam increases fuel efficiency by breaking down deposits and freeing debris, which can clog injectors. It does significantly improve the efficiency of combustion in the engine.
Expect some smoke coming from your exhaust pipe when you run the car. The smoke is only a harmless carbon residue that comes from burning those deposits and dirt built up inside your engine.
When you use Sea Foam, make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully–one of which includes not mixing it with oil or petroleum solvents. It may produce harmful vapors and combustion gases.
However, the truth about SeaFoam is that it won’t miraculously fix broken items. If your car has serious underlying problems aside from carbon deposits such as bad fuel pump and bad fuel injectors, Sea Foam can’t fix it.
As mentioned above, it can clean out carbon which could be reducing your engine’s efficiency but that’s it.
Is Sea Foam bad for old engines?
According to some car forums, Sea Foam might not be a good idea to use for old engines that are in really bad shape. They claim that cleaning agents make the engine move and can dislodge debris and improper sealing that could then cause a leak.
While some may think that using a fuel additive for your car may cause further damage, this is actually the opposite. other drivers found that their old cars’ performance improved after using Sea Foam.
Most people don’t realize is that 65% of Sea Foam users drive cars with more than 100,000 miles. This is where Sea Foam High Mileage comes in.
Sea Foam created a High Mileage cleaner to clean stubborn deposits from engine areas, which have accumulated due to harmful buildup over the years.
Aside from old engines, Sea Foam has products for marine engines and fuel injector engines. To help you decide which product you can use in your car, listed below are the types of engines that Sea Foam High Mileage works for.
Potential negative effects of improper use
Sea Foam had a negative reputation because of its issues in the past. It has somewhat bad side effects if used incorrectly, but there are ways to use it safely.
So if you’re still asking if can Sea Foam hurt your engine, again the answer is no if you use it correctly. Moreover, watch out for the following side-effects of using Sea Foam too much or without following the labeled instructions:
1. Decrease fuel economy
Too much Sea Foam in the fuel tank can increase and in some instances create clogging in the fuel system. This may decrease your gas mileage and even result in an engine stall.
2. Issues with O2 sensors
Some car enthusiasts had their oxygen sensors fried after using Sea Foam. The problem is that users are not supposed to run Sea Foam through the entire fuel system.
3. Incompatible with some injector systems
Some engines rely on the timing of fuel injectors and are not compatible with Sea Foam. One example is the Mercedes-Benz brand whose system relies on a high-pressure pump to maintain an even flow of fuel.
Sea Foam IC5 Fuel Injector Cleaner was made specifically to restore injector spray patterns and clean fuel injectors. IC5 works great to maintain fuel economy and restore lost power.
How to use Sea Foam properly?
Since most problems arise from improper use of sea Foam, here’s how you can use it safely:
1. Don’t spray Sea Foam into air intake
Do not spray the product straight into your car’s intake, as this could damage your engine. It is recommended to put the Sea Foam directly into the gas tank instead.
That said, some people still recommend spraying it directly into the intake manifold.
2. Don’t pour it all at once
Sea Foam is not a substitute for oil, so you should avoid topping your engine off with new oil and running Sea Foam through it.
3. Use additive sparingly
Just because the product contains cleaning agents does not mean that you can use it as much as you want.
4. Use only what is recommended
Sea Foam, as well as other cleaning chemicals, should be used according to manufacturer recommendations.
5. Store product safely
Always store the product in a cool and dry place away from children and animals. You can even consider investing in lockable containers for your Sea Foam product.
Here’s the truth about SeaFoam – on how to use it in ways you might not know.
It’s best if you follow the recommendations of your local car care or auto parts store. Here’s a detailed step by step instruction from the Sea Foam website:
Directions
- For regular fuel system maintenance, add 1 ounce per gallon.
- For cleaning, use 2 or more ounces per gallon – the more you add to fuel, the better it cleans! Add when the tank is low to maximize cleaning concentration.
- For injector cleaning machines, use 50/50 mixed with gas.
- Use 100% Sea Foam for diesel injector cleaning machines or when priming diesel fuel filters.
- For 2-stroke pre-mix, add 2 ounces per gallon.
- When stabilizing fuel for storage, use 1 (one) ounce per gallon of fuel. Sea Foam works to stabilize stored fuel for up to 2 years.
Treatment Recommendations
- For cars and trucks driven regularly: add to fuel every 3,000 miles.
- Small engines: add whenever you refuel.
- For engine equipment used regularly, add Sea Foam to a fresh tank fill every 3 months or sooner.
- For all other engines and fuel tanks (not used regularly): Add Sea Foam to every tank of fuel.
The truth about SeaFoam
Sea Foam is made of engine cleaner 100% organic petroleum ingredients, which help engines start easier, run cleaner, and work better. Millions of people use this every day in many different places. It is used in cars, trucks, and even big tractors on farms.
Can sea Foam hurt your engine? We may sound like a broken record but no. If you follow the manufacturer’s directions, using Sea Foam is very safe for your car engines.
It doesn’t change anything except break up some of the gunk that are clogging the oil valves and passageways in the engine. Sea Foam is safe to use but it’s meant for cleaning your dirty fuel system and not as a replacement for oil or a fuel additive.
Hence, use it accordingly. In any case, if you suspect that your car’s engine is experiencing problems due to using Seafoam, talk with a mechanic and get a thorough inspection done.
Hopefully, we have shed light on the truth about SeaFoam. Did you try using Sea Foam yourself? Share your honest review with us! We’d love to hear from you.
