Letter from Sea Foam

[Daytona]

I sent the makers of Sea Foam a question about whether or not their product thins out the oil forcing an oil change. This is their reply:

Sir,

Sea Foam used (as directed) in crankcase oil dries moisture and re-liquefies old oil residue. Sea Foam can be used as a pre service cleaner and as an after service additive with no affect on plastics, composites, aluminum, steel, gaskets, seals, or any other manufacturer supplied component.

See the attachment to this e-mail

You can NOT run any engine crankcase on pure Sea Foam, even though Sea Foam is 100% petroleum blended oil. A premium QUALITY oil, Sea Foam was not engineered to supply the film strength of a (made for) crankcase-use oil, like Mobil 1 synthetic or your basic Valvoline, Havoline or Pennzoil does.

When Sea Foam is applied to crankcase oil at 1 1/2 ounces Sea Foam per quart of crankcase oil (see product container), Sea Foam DOES NOT affect the viscosity or lubricating properties of that crankcase oil to which it is applied, including synthetics and blends.

Please see the attached reference sheet on using Sea Foam in Oil.

Thank You

Dick Davis
Technical Services Manager
Sea Foam Sales Company
Minneapolis, Minnesota


They also attached the following info as a Word Document to the email:


Sea Foam Motor Treatment used in Crankcase oil

All Gasoline and Diesel, Rotary style engines


Sea Foam may be used in an oil crankcase 2 separate ways, depending on your needs and expectations.

Sea Foam is most commonly used as a pre service old oil residue cleaner and moisture drier, and is also used as an after service additive.

1. As a pre service cleaner for residue, sticky rings or valve train noise, put 1 ½ ounces of Sea Foam Motor Treatment into the engine oil crankcase for EACH quart of oil capacity including filter. Drive a MINIMUM of 30 minutes/miles, MAXIMUM 100 miles, then do your oil change service (LOF). This begins the process of safely/slowly re liquefying the old oil residue so contaminants may flow and be filtered. This also makes your old oil dirtier, quickly, so a LOF service is necessary when the oil gets dirty.

2. As an after service additive into fresh oil, nearly fresh oil, or oil (used condition) that is NOT ready to be changed (by mileage), put the same amount as above, then SELF SET a program to MONITOR your oil for color and clarity on a mileage, timed, or event basis (like every time you add fuel, etc.) to determine when an oil service is necessary.

Sea Foam will safely and slowly re liquefy old oil residue, so it will probably make your oil need changing BEFORE your normal scheduled LOF service. Only your monitoring of the oil for color and clarity can tell when it is time to do oil service, or 3,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Check your oil level and monitor the color for needed service!

Change your oil when it gets dirty!

[NoSweat83]

His name is :dink:

[Daytona]

Damn filter. His name is Richard but signs it D i c k

[NoSweat83]

It was a good read.

[lonnie]

Thanks for the info I do still use seafoam I just don't think its as great as some say it is.

[01silveralero]

if ur car has been sitting for awhile then its is good to use with routine maint.

[strizay]

I used it in my Intrepid several times, some of the guys on that forum swore by it. Pour half a bottle in your gas tank the next time you fill up. Suck the other half into your air intake. Let your car sit for half an hour to 45 minutes then run it on the highway. You should get a nice smoke screen behind your car. If not then your car is already clean. I would never put it in my crank case, ever. Especially with the problems these cars have with gaskets.

[[ion] C2]

I don't get it, do you all still get all the word filters on dick? I have never seen the filter function in my time here. (Besides *********)

[01silveralero]

dickhead? filter always works also ion dont make me come back out to dearborn :p

[01silveralero]

I used it in my Intrepid several times, some of the guys on that forum swore by it. Pour half a bottle in your gas tank the next time you fill up. Suck the other half into your air intake. Let your car sit for half an hour to 45 minutes then run it on the highway. You should get a nice smoke screen behind your car. If not then your car is already clean. I would never put it in my crank case, ever. Especially with the problems these cars have with gaskets.

i did it in my crankcase still have lim gasket leak i been putting it off for months

[strizay]

All this stuff does is clean not repair so you would still have the gasket leak. Addickted, Dick Tracey, Dick Greyson,

[[ion] C2]

I see everything you guys are saying... no filter here, lol

also [ion] is a tag (like a clan, but it represents my game development company Ion Productions), C2's my alias

[01silveralero]

All this stuff does is clean not repair so you would still have the gasket leak. Addinkted, dink Tracey, dink Greyson,

i know i was just stating a fact there

[adam337]

why does everyone bitch about the filter? i can always see the words i and others type. o__O;

[01silveralero]

why does everyone bitch about the filter? i can always see the words i and others type. o__O;

:ninja:

[CiscoPath]

Riiiiiiiiiiiiight. Back to the topic at hand..........

I'm guessing it wouldn't hurt the engine to add Seafoam to the oil, say 100 miles before my next oil change? Or would that be too long, or not long enough.

[strizay]

Even though some people may say it's ok to put it in your oil, I personally wouldn't do it. I've never read about these cars having bad sludge problems, but they do have problems with gaskets. But if you really want to try it, the day you get your oil changed, drop about half a quart in there then run it for about 50 miles. Then immediately change the oil. I do put it in my gas tank and air intake.

[Daytona]

Riiiiiiiiiiiiight. Back to the topic at hand..........

I'm guessing it wouldn't hurt the engine to add Seafoam to the oil, say 100 miles before my next oil change? Or would that be too long, or not long enough.

Based on what I read here, that would be fine. I added some to my Daytona's gas tank for the 2-hr. ride back from the Bracket Finals Saturday evening and then changed out my filters and breather elements this morning. Haven't put any directly in my oil yet as I'm in between change intervals.

As for Strizay's comments, sludge and carbon build-up is common in all cars because of the gas and oil used by most folks. Gasket issues should not influence or be affected by a decision to run Sea Foam in your engine or gas.

[Oldsnut]

I put it in the oil for a couple hundred miles and then got the oil changed and had no problems.

[01silveralero]

Riiiiiiiiiiiiight. Back to the topic at hand..........

I'm guessing it wouldn't hurt the engine to add Seafoam to the oil, say 100 miles before my next oil change? Or would that be too long, or not long enough.

i still have it in my silver alero 1000 miles later we're see when i change it how black or whatever happens with the oil.

[Alero_1986]

does anyone know where this product is available in Canada?

[Vinalero]

UAP NAPA should have some.

[Alero_1986]

NAPA does sell it for $15CAD for a "small bottle". I'm pretty sure that I recall reading that people were able to buy it in the states for $5? or do I have that wrong?

[GA_turbo]

this is funny i worked right across the street from them . Also i dont know why on the letter they say that they are in minneapolis cause they are not.

[Cliff8928]

NAPA does sell it for $15CAD for a "small bottle". I'm pretty sure that I recall reading that people were able to buy it in the states for $5? or do I have that wrong?

Napa is definitely more expensive than other places. They don't have it at CT?

[Oldsnut]

I think success has gone to seafoams head. I bought some more about 3 weeks ago and it was at 6.98 a bottle vs 4.98 a bottle 2or 3 months prior.