SeaFoam for C5?
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
SeaFoam for C5?
Every 4,000 miles or so, I add a pint of SeaFoam motor treatment to my 2008 Ford Ranger and it's amazing how smooth the transmission shifts and the truck seems to run quieter. I know a lot of car restorers use it religiously.
My 2001 C5 only has 20,000 miles on her. Would it be unnecessary or harmful to add it every once in a while when filling up at the gas station? That's usually added when the tank is fairly low so the SeaFoam and the pumped gas mix well.
Thanks for the recommendations to get the skip shift eliminator installed. While my C5 was getting fresh fluids, belts and hoses, one of the main guys in charge installed it at no charge. My gosh...that has made such a difference!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My 2001 C5 only has 20,000 miles on her. Would it be unnecessary or harmful to add it every once in a while when filling up at the gas station? That's usually added when the tank is fairly low so the SeaFoam and the pumped gas mix well.
Thanks for the recommendations to get the skip shift eliminator installed. While my C5 was getting fresh fluids, belts and hoses, one of the main guys in charge installed it at no charge. My gosh...that has made such a difference!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Barry6547 (02-23-2017)
#3
Melting Slicks
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I add a can of Techron at every other tank filling of Shell. With the fuel filer and pump inside the gas tank in my 04 plus known gas gage issues with the C5 because of build up on the sensors, the added cost is just another maintenance item I am willing to pay for.
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Barry6547 (02-23-2017)
#4
Le Mans Master
I used to add Seafoam to my 2001, but switched to Techron every other tank due to gas sensor issue.
About twice a year I pull out the big guns and add a can of BG 44K...
About twice a year I pull out the big guns and add a can of BG 44K...
Last edited by Choreo; 02-24-2017 at 08:51 PM.
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Barry6547 (02-23-2017)
#5
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Barry6547 (02-23-2017)
#7
Techron is what they are now recomending on the newer Direct Injection engines. But Sea Foam is really a good product, great for diesels too and just out of curiosity if you want check out some of the videos on You-tube about all the different people using it in their 2 stroke outboards. My son used it in his 70 Johnson last summer and it made a difference. There is some junk out there but Sea-foam is not one of them. I use it in everything and have run it through the Vette once since I got it less than aa year ago.
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Barry6547 (02-23-2017)
#8
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[QUOTE=Choreo;1594161247]I used to add Seafoam to my 2001, but switched to Techron every other tank due to gas sensor issue.
About twice a year I pull out the big guns and add a can of BK-44...
Seems folks talk about gas sensor issues...is that a common problem with
C5's. My 2001 C5's original owner apparently had problems with the system not showing the accurate amount of gas in the tank. So, in your opinion, Techron may help eliminate those type issues? Maybe just use the Seafood for the Ford Ranger.
About twice a year I pull out the big guns and add a can of BK-44...
Seems folks talk about gas sensor issues...is that a common problem with
C5's. My 2001 C5's original owner apparently had problems with the system not showing the accurate amount of gas in the tank. So, in your opinion, Techron may help eliminate those type issues? Maybe just use the Seafood for the Ford Ranger.
#9
Instructor
Thread Starter
Techron is what they are now recomending on the newer Direct Injection engines. But Sea Foam is really a good product, great for diesels too and just out of curiosity if you want check out some of the videos on You-tube about all the different people using it in their 2 stroke outboards. My son used it in his 70 Johnson last summer and it made a difference. There is some junk out there but Sea-foam is not one of them. I use it in everything and have run it through the Vette once since I got it less than aa year ago.
#10
I don't know if Techron is just a chemical used in some fuel system cleaners or a brand name of a certain one but I know they recomend it whatever it is in these newer direct injection engines because carbon is supposedly more of an issue with this type of system due to the location of the injector.
That being said I have used Sea foam in my 2014 Sonata with Direct Injection just to help it from building up too much to begin with.
If you have any diesels around like tractors, mowers or know anybody that has one try some in it and if it you'll be amazed how much it cleans the injectors and pump and pretty much eliminates a lot of the diesel rattle
Now with that being said with these new diesels with particulate traps and oxygen sensors the whole way back and the extra tank you have to put cleaner fluid in I'd probably be afraid to put anything in the tank with these things. And you couldn't give me one, we have a Ford and a Chevrolet at a Nat. Park I work at and those things go back to the dealer constantly with emission problems. I guess they work for some people but definately not us and I'll sure never have one.
Last edited by Rabbitman; 02-23-2017 at 10:05 PM.
#11
Burning Brakes
Use the Techron Concentrate in the black bottle.
It's usually around $14 for the larger bottle
It really does help with the gas gauge issues.. It cleans the
sulfur off the sending unit.
It's also good for the regular stuff too.
I do like seafoam, but in my Newer GM's I use techron religiously
It's usually around $14 for the larger bottle
It really does help with the gas gauge issues.. It cleans the
sulfur off the sending unit.
It's also good for the regular stuff too.
I do like seafoam, but in my Newer GM's I use techron religiously
#12
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I run a bottle of Techron in my gas tank about 2-3 times a year. No fuel sensor issues so far. I've never used Seafoam in any of my cars, but that's not saying it isn't a good product.
#13
Le Mans Master
[QUOTE=Barry6547;1594161828]
My 2001 has been my DD since new for over 16 years. In my case, around my 5th year of ownership, my gas gauge just dropped to zero right after I filled up at the gas station and that was when I first experienced my issue. For the next few years I alternated Techron and Seafoam and experienced all kinds of wonky gas gauge issue off and on during that period. Sometimes I would have to add Techron to 3 consecutive tanks to get the gauge back. Then I discovered BK-44 - expensive, but always brought the gauge back after adding it to a single tank (in my case). Finally, I got tired of the constant failure and got Dealership to agree to replace my sensors the last week of my GMPP Extended Warranty. Ever since then I have followed the prescription in my initial post and no gauge problems since then (in 2008). Keeping fingers crossed!
Yes, it is a fairly common problem in C5s.
One local automotive shop quoted $5,000 to change out my sensors! Dealership quoted me $1,800 (which warranty covered). The shop that quoted me $5,000 must have thought I had a 2004? Still seems outrageous (may have been their way of saying they did not want to fool with it?).
I used to add Seafoam to my 2001, but switched to Techron every other tank due to gas sensor issue.
About twice a year I pull out the big guns and add a can of BK-44...
Seems folks talk about gas sensor issues...is that a common problem with
C5's. My 2001 C5's original owner apparently had problems with the system not showing the accurate amount of gas in the tank. So, in your opinion, Techron may help eliminate those type issues? Maybe just use the Seafood for the Ford Ranger.
About twice a year I pull out the big guns and add a can of BK-44...
Seems folks talk about gas sensor issues...is that a common problem with
C5's. My 2001 C5's original owner apparently had problems with the system not showing the accurate amount of gas in the tank. So, in your opinion, Techron may help eliminate those type issues? Maybe just use the Seafood for the Ford Ranger.
Yes, it is a fairly common problem in C5s.
One local automotive shop quoted $5,000 to change out my sensors! Dealership quoted me $1,800 (which warranty covered). The shop that quoted me $5,000 must have thought I had a 2004? Still seems outrageous (may have been their way of saying they did not want to fool with it?).
Last edited by Choreo; 02-24-2017 at 12:53 AM.
#14
Safety Car
In the ten years I owned my C5 I used Techron religiously, and Sea Foam once in a while.
I still use sea foam in everything.....cars....yard equipment....everything.
Getting on in years, if it always starts with two pulls... Im a happy camper
I still use sea foam in everything.....cars....yard equipment....everything.
Getting on in years, if it always starts with two pulls... Im a happy camper
#16
Le Mans Master
[QUOTE=Barry6547;1594161828]
Reference to "Seafood" a Freudian slip?
I used to add Seafoam to my 2001, but switched to Techron every other tank due to gas sensor issue.
About twice a year I pull out the big guns and add a can of BK-44...
Seems folks talk about gas sensor issues...is that a common problem with
C5's. My 2001 C5's original owner apparently had problems with the system not showing the accurate amount of gas in the tank. So, in your opinion, Techron may help eliminate those type issues? Maybe just use the Seafood for the Ford Ranger.
About twice a year I pull out the big guns and add a can of BK-44...
Seems folks talk about gas sensor issues...is that a common problem with
C5's. My 2001 C5's original owner apparently had problems with the system not showing the accurate amount of gas in the tank. So, in your opinion, Techron may help eliminate those type issues? Maybe just use the Seafood for the Ford Ranger.
#17
How much is a bottle of BK-44 and a bottle of Techron?
Do you just dump the entire bottle into the gas tank at the gas station when you're about to fill up?
Any specific "formula" of BK-44 or Techron or its just one type? Corvette has been sitting with a full tank of gas over the winter. Maybe I'll add a bottle.
Do you just dump the entire bottle into the gas tank at the gas station when you're about to fill up?
Any specific "formula" of BK-44 or Techron or its just one type? Corvette has been sitting with a full tank of gas over the winter. Maybe I'll add a bottle.
#18
Melting Slicks
At about 216,000 miles on the ODO, the powertrain group borrowed a club members 2002 Z06 for a week. They tore the engine down and inspected everything and put it back together for him. They were amazed at how little wear they found, how clean the heads and valves were and how well the compression was. Since he was also a gm engineer he religiously changed the oil and filter every 4000 miles, used only Mobil 1 and Mobil premium gas when possible and only used top tier gas. The Z was a daily driver, HPDE and Autocross car for 10 years at that time. Today that car is still heavily Autocrossed every year and is still running strong. He never used seafoam or any other aftermarket cleaner in the engine. He believed using a non-Top Tier gas was the major problem with buildup.
#19
Racer
I use both Seafoam and Techron. My C5 had 42000 miles when I bought her and I did the Seafoam gas treatment first. The gunk that blew out of that engine was amazing. After reading post on this site, I started using Techron also. I will continue to use both in every vehicle I own.
#20
Melting Slicks
When ECS tuned mine not long after I got it they told me they had to pull timing because of detonation at high RPM from carbon buildup. He suggested "direct method" - a trip to the drags - and repeat. I got it back to them about 2mo later and I got my timing back.....
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Barry6547 (02-24-2017)