After much reading here, I decided to do a Seafoam tx every 3000 miles on my Justa, even though it allegedly does NOT have direct injection. (Just hit 3K today.)

Following a video I had watched here, I poured about 1/2 a bottle (6-8oz) into the valve cover breather tube while having an assistant hold the engine between 2-3000 rpm.

It smoked greatly for about 5 min and eventually cleared out. (After getting the full amount in, I immediately reattached the breather tube to the valve cover.)

I then read further on the bottle which suggested pouring it in and letting it "soak" in, with the engine off for 5 min, then restart and clear it out.

Anyone here want to comment if this may be a preferable method to what I did?


Thanks,

DOC

 

You should let it soak.

Most people around here soak for at least 15 min. Seeing as you have a Justa and only 3k miles, it was probably pretty unnecessary.

 

DOC, It's too late now but it would have been interesting to "see inside" the combustion chamber (pistons, head and valves) before the Seafoam treatment. Inasmuch as there was little chance of carbon buildup at such an early stage, it's unlikely it would have made any difference if you had let it soak.

Although I have used Seafoam in my gas tank, I have often wondered if any independent laboratory has actually tested this product. I understand it would be time consuming to remove the head, examine appropriate surfaces including valves, of an engine with carbon buildup. Then reassemble, do the Seafoam treatment and follow with another tear down.

I hope someone can refer us to such a study that has been performed. If I sound like a "doubting Thomas", perhaps it's because I am.

I hope that by questioning this I haven't offended those who swear by Seafoam.

We can discuss the diet pills that burn "belly fat" on another forum.

 

I wouldn't Seafoam a non-S at all, much less at 3k miles. Shouldn't be necessary nor beneficial at all.

 

For those who feel it was either premature or completely unnecessary, then what accounts for the vast clouds of smoke that seemed to be way more than the video showed with a MCS?

Thanks,

DOC

 

The smoke cloud is probably just the seafoam itself, but I'm sure it's taking some crud out with it.

I think a seafoam treatment can never hurt just to make sure your valves are clean. It's still cleaning out gunk and buildup, even if it doesn't accumulate as much in a Justa as it is in an S.

Just my 2 cents...

 

Seafoam is a good idea on any vehicle - pretty much any car is going to get some buildup, even if they don't suffer from the flaws of the MCS... But yeah, not really needed at 3k miles. I'll probably start when it's time for my 22,500 mile oil change about a year from now and do every 15k from there. Seafoam, let soak, give the car a good "Italian tune up" to get any loosened / softened / dissolved stuff blown out, then change oil.

Has made a huge difference in the smoothness of idle and the way the engine ran on some of my cars in the past that were bought used in the past, so I have to think that even if no one's done a before/after tear down and inspection the stuff does make a difference.

 

So is the preferred method to try to get 6-8oz into a warm engine with as little running as possible, let it sit for 15 min, then restart and drive?

Thanks,

DOC

 

The bottle says to use 1/3 of the bottle. I slowly pour it in as it idles and then once the right amount is in I shut the car off and let it sit 30-60 minutes. I start it up, let it stumble and idle then rev it a bit for a few minutes then go for a drive to really get it blown out.

 

Sorry to resurect this thread, but i figured it was better then starting a new one

I have an 07 mcs which has 52000 kms on it now and i could swear i feel like the engine is down on power and less urgent im thinking of doin a seafoam like treatment.

Unfortunately i cant get it here, is it ok if i use ATF instead?

I just had the plugs and oil changed at 50,000 if i do the treatment do i have to change them both again?

Thanks

 

First of all, I'd strongly suggest that you do a search for "Seafoam" in the "Second Generation Minis" - "Stock problems/Issues' section. You'll find more than you wanted to know about how to use it and what you can substitute for it. That said....DO NOT USE ATF! Don't know where you are, but you can use any product for fuel injector or carburetor cleaning that is designed to be added to your tank or down through a carburetor. Prestone, Gumout, STP, Redline, and many others make these products. Use it like yetti 96 describes above. I like to reserve about 1/4 of the can to use as a "flush" after the soak and second startup. With your mileage, you might want to consider 2 treatments.

Cheers Jon

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...seafoam-2.html

 

I was just reading about it earlier somewhere here but didn't get much information. I have a 07 MCS with 29K and want to do a seafoam. I guess I'll research some more but would you guys recommend after an oil change or is that really irrelevant? Sorry bout the newb question.

 

immediately before an oil change