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

 

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.

 

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!

 

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/

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

Defenders of Speed have a nifty looking Seafoam kit.

 

Just bought my first Mini this weekend. It has 71,000 miles on it, so I think I'm going to try Seafoam in the next few weeks. I'm used to late 90's Honda engines, so this is new to me.

 

It definitely works. Cleared a spot of hesitation I was having when jumping on the pedal. Fun to do it, too.

I like this new DoS method. Smart.

 

Just pour it into my car
I cant wait to see the smoke!!

 

make sure to record all that fufn ;]

 

There is no smoke at the first round! I did it again... And it smokes like hell! Lol
My neighbors thought my car is on fire tho

I had around 57k miles on my r56 MCS and the car runs so smooth now!!

 

Looking for some feedback on the new DoS Seafoam kit from users. Do you feel it bathes the back of the valves better than pouring it in the PCV tube or sucking it in through a tube hooked to the boost port?

 

I stopped using the PCV pour method, just get the spray can like in the DOS kit and insert it like the directions say. I used the joint where the cold side replacements usually start. Where the hard tube ends. Adjust the little red tube though, you'll want to bias it (1/3) towards the throttle. The tube should end just about where the DOS kit does.

Install the red tube and go start the car, it won't stall like having the PCV free. And I use my sunshade to hold the throttle down to up the RPM. LOL

Another change from can directions, I stop spraying when puffs of smoke start to come consistantly from tailpipe.

 

Pictures please

 

Hey - That's Me! I was the test fitter for Clint's Seafoam kit. I think it works great and would highly recommend it!

 

I'll need a picture too. I don't know where this "joint" is..... sorry.

 

Definitely very interested in this thread! I would consider the DoS kit, but if I already have carbon it kinda sounds like the kit will only help prevent more buildup not really reduce existing. I know it can't hurt, but is it worth the $120?

 

Sorry guys, I wasn't being very clear. LOL



That's just about how I have mine, I'll make adjustments to the end of the tube before I reattach it to the hard pipe coming from the IC.

To adjust (sorry if it doesn't make sense again), pop off the intake pipe, and insert the red tube assembly holding it 12 o'clock. Look down the pipe and if the red tube is hitting the walls, take it out and bend the red tube gently so that it isn't spraying at the wall and down the middle of the pipe as much as possible.
If this doesn't make sense it'll have to wait til my next treatment. :D

Make sure your can comes w/ the little red tube and the black guide. I save them for future or backup use because the O'reily near me seems to have tube thieves and most of the cans are missing.

 

Thanks for the update. I guess for $120 you are paying for the convenience and engineering it took to make a permanent "one man" seafoam treatment.

 

i think the kit would be good, especially if it has some sort of atomizer for the nozzle. I didn't see anywhere that mentions anything like that. The long feed line also helps keep the can upright so you're getting a full spray and not just propellant.

Another good thing would be so you can drive to some empty industrial area to run your treatment. Your neighbors won't be as pissed off at you for creating a supercell sized cloud of noxious smoke.