Sephiroth1991

Would it be a good idea or a bad idea to run some sea foam through my 84 corvette CFI engine?

aklim

Depends. IF I were selling it, good. If I am paying for snake oil, not so good. Which are you? If you think your injectors can stand a good cleaning, send them to FIC. If not, save your money. Thing like this, you don't know till you test it or it is completely FUBAR. The clogging creeps up slowly so you don't notice it. So you can spend money on snake oils in the HOPE that it does something or send it out and really KNOW it does something. Your call.

Kevova

Is there a particular reason? TBI injectors normally don't have too many problems. The spray pattern can be checked with a timing light. If pattern is irregular or injector is dripping, I would just replace it. There are several products for decarboning. Just be sure to follow instructions, myself I have no experience with seafoam. I have only used GM Top Engine Cleaner which the EPA had a problem with and BG44K which mostly found at repair shops not parts stores.

antfarmer2

In the gas it would not hurt but don't do it in your vacuum.

aklim

I don't know about TBI injectors but I assume they are the same as TPI. The fuel flows through them and it leaves varnish. I have checked TPI injectors before with a bench so I know the spray pattern and the volume. After all these years, I'll bet there is some build up. Not sure how much but there will be some. Even after 3 years, my TPI ones have some build up.

cv67

I dont think it its worth it wont clean your valves off maybe some surface oil thats it

Get it good and warm and run it hard todays gas has plenty of cleaners in them

aklim

It stabilizes fuel over the winter but there are others that are cheaper and do the same job. Someone has to pay for the snake oil.

VikingTrad3r

i agree here.

personally i use petro canada fuel up here and it is supposed to have teh same "techron" as you have down there. up here we call it "tactrol". or i might have that reversed.

if you suspect your injectors are clogged up just a bit, go for it. but if you are too far gone and having major issues this will not solve it.

use gas with the anti varnish stuff like tactrol in it and your injectors may experience a slow, long, cleaning process over time. i have zero proof for this though.

don't put it in the intake. it won't fix any major carboning. i know, i tried on my 85. hahaha. i tried all the snake oils and then finally capitulated that it was too far gone and tore it down to the block, cleaned it all up, re sealed it, cleaned (not replaced) injectors and it ran like new.

aklim

Techron here Tactrol there, snake oil in my book. Every "Top Tier" fuel has some sort of additive package. BP has 7 good things that happen if you use their fuel. And if you believe it, I have a bridge to sell you. One previous owner, slightly used and well maintained. Cash only. Nothing bigger than a $20 bill.

At that point, the placebo effect is the strongest, I'll give you that.

And that explains how my injectors show flow improvements after cleaning, how again? It might make you think that it is slowing it down but I doubt it cleans much except on paper. Either way, I have no patience for the slow route.

Don't worry. There will always be some fool out there that wants a $500 job done for $5 which is why they can sell the snake oil. One wise up guy and 20 idiots that think they can get something good for cheap and easy. As they say, "Fast, Reliable and Cheap. You can pick any 2 but not 3.".

Silver96ce

Instead of Sea Foam, try using a Top Tier gas. There has been some discussion of whether it is useful but here is a link to Consumer Reports recommending it after testing -
http://www.consumerreports.org/car-m...h-extra-price/

Remember YMMV.

Silver85

Are you trying to solve a problem with it? If so you will most likely be disappointed. Will it hurt? I doubt it. I use it to "fog" my boat intake and carb for winterizing but it probably does more simply to make me feel better than fix anything.

aklim

Then it did the job. It fixed your wallet

viii

I know I will take some shots with this, as the posters above are more knowledgeable. However, I have run seafoam in my 85. Through the booster (not in the oil). I followed the instructions for running it out (that's the fun part.. my neighbors love me). My issue was pinging at wot. Cured my pinging issue - but also temporarily - lasted about one year. Ran it through again last year.. im still good.

Silver85

Since we are coming out of the closet here.....

I did it in my 2001 v6 Mustang DD and it fixed a hesitation on acceleration a few years ago.

aklim

It's always fun to do the same job again and again, isn't it?

Silver85

this from the guy who has his fuel injectors bench flowed and cleaned over and over and over again?

aklim

Every 3 years. I wish I could find a more permanent solution to the build up. I'm kinda nitpicky when it comes to having 8 injectors flow at the same rate and knowing it works as opposed to guessing it is OK based off a SOTP (virtually useless) dyno feeling. That feeling didn't register any difference on another car before and after service. MPG was a much better indicator.

viii

I had original and really bad leaking injectors that I swapped out about 10 years ago -- which I guess were part of my running/starting issues. For me, the injector swap was a job... pouring in a 1/2 can of seafoam is about as easy as it gets given the results.

aklim

Kinda like a payday loan to buy a TV or one of those "rent to own" things. At the end, you'd have paid way more but today, the "investment" is slight enough to not notice. If I wasn't so nitpicky, I probably can go another 10 years without cleaning a thing and it would, according to the SOTP dyno, be "just fine". My buddy's wife never changed oil either. She just topped it up and drove it for a few years and dumped it. Of course it cost her more in the long run buying a new car but today, it's so cheap. $3 for a bottle of oil.

Tom400CFI

Here, READ THIS...then you decide.