Maintenance :: How-To do Seafoam Treatment R55/R56

[DneprDave]

If I were to walnut blast the intake valves, I'd use an air compressor, a hopper type sand blaster and a shop vacuum.

Take the intake manifold off, turn the engine over until the valve you want to clean is closed and tape off the other intake ports

Put crushed walnut shell media in the hopper and blast away at the dirty intake port and valve, at the same time suck the used walnut shell media up with the shop vac. Check that the valve and intake port are clean using an inspection mirror and a flashlight. Repeat on the other valves.

Dave

[Goyo903]

All right. Small update. I just poured it in slowly in the pcv valve. Boy, was I shaking a leaf!! Never done this before and taking a piece of the car off was nerve wrecking. Now it was hard for me to take the hose off but I found the little plastic and just did a slight pressure and came off without a hitch. Now I am waiting about 35 for this to set. Hopefully it works.

Also this is what's funny. Remember that check engine I was talking about? It mysteriously turned off when I put the hose back. So I know for sure it's the carbon buildup!!

All right crossing my fingers for this to work. I'll come back later to give you guys the result.

[Goyo903]

all right small update once again. I did the treatment twice and no smoke :( Though I think there could be 2 reason on why there is no smoke. First reason, the Mini was hot, meaning I just got home from a 30 minute commute and decided to do the treatment, plus it was one of the hottest day in CA. Maybe the Seafoam just evaporated? who knows. Second reason, Maybe I left it sit for to long. First treatment I let it sit for 30 minutes and second treatment for 1 hour. On both occasions no smoke.

The good news out all of this though, the MIni is running like a champ. I do have the dreaded CEL, but I am hoping and praying it goes off in a couple of days or I might just go to Pep boys and they will reset it. Though the Mini turned on instant. I hear no rattle and running in idle is completely smooth. I am a true believer with this crazy seafoam treatment. Just sad I didn't get to see the smoke.

I will be trying to do the treatment once again on sunday when the temperature is a bit cooler. I will let it sit for about less than 20 min and instead of pouring it, i will use a straw. See if that works.

Once again, very informative thread. This thing does work!

[Flyinace2000]

FYI SeaFoam is on sale
5-pack of 16oz Seafoam Motor Treatment for Gas and Diesel Engines $25 + Free store pick-up
http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/57814/

[Rans08Convert]

Hey does anyone know if seafoam will help an 08 S Convertible (R52)
Thanks

[fishbert]

Originally Posted by Rans08Convert

Hey does anyone know if seafoam will help an 08 S Convertible (R52)
Thanks

The (marginally-effective) use of seafoam discussed in this thread relates to attempts to mitigate an undesirable side-effect of direct-injection engines; carbon buildup in intake ports.
The 1st-gen MINI does not have a direct-injection engine, so the discussion in this thread does not apply.

[Clubman S Turbo]

Fishbert, this is Catbert, think Im gonna disagree. I used a similar trick on an older Camaro, now given that carbs do not control fuel mixture as well but a glass of water poured slowly down the throat of 1 GM engine produced some seriously interesting results at the business end of my tailpipes, twin black streaks on the ground about 5 feet long. It does work, carbon is carbon, all engines get some.
Ever pulled off the head on an engine w/ a blown head gasket? Know how you will find it? The leaking cylinder will be sparkling clean without any Orbit gum, if it was a coolant passage to cylinder bore leak. Course, this was prob before you were born.
< long sigh, Im old > LOL

[drsimmons]

Have a question on seafoam. I've got a BSH OCC installed and also installed the boost tap on the inlet side. When I do the seafoam treatment, do I merely remove the plug on the boost tap, add the seafoam then hook the tube back up without the plug or do I put the plug back in before hooking up the tube?
07 MCS
I'm not having any rough idle issues, etc. but I'm at 62,000 miles and would like to do this treatment as preventative maint.
Thanks

[Mini2na]

I leave the boost tap and plug in place. You can remove (on the boost tap) one of the small side allen head plugs and install one of the supplied threaded "boost gauge" attachments nipples. Then install a tube (I use flexible gas hose with a small bead pushed into the end to limit the size of the orifice) to the nipple and suck the seafoam into the engine. It is MUCH easier than trying to pour seafoam into the line.

Keep the hose just above the level of seafoam or it will suck the seafoam in too fast.

[drsimmons]

Thanks for the response. Sounds like the way to go.