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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Yea or nea to Seafoam.....???
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Message started by raydawg on 11/26/12 at 18:34:54

Title: Yea or nea to Seafoam.....???
Post by raydawg on 11/26/12 at 18:34:54

Heard a guy say he puts a nip of sea foam in every other tank of his bike in winter as it helps to stabilize the fuel from our drastic temp changes around here (condensation). I can ride to work in 40 degree sunshine, with my bike getting warmer as the sun beats down upon it when parked, only to have it chill to the 30's and cloud up within the hour.
Does it have merit?

Title: Re: Yea or nea.....???
Post by verslagen1 on 11/26/12 at 18:58:23

Well, hell, if he put a little in every other tank all winter long... that's at least 3 tanks... some of U'z use that all year long during the riding season... so he aint worried about his gas going sour is he.

Title: Re: Yea or nea.....???
Post by Gyrobob on 11/26/12 at 19:23:43

53405845405646210 wrote:

fuggedabaddit. Sea foam is nothing more than a strong solvent. No more, no less. If you think putting some solvent in your gas is helpful, have at it.

Title: Re: Yea or nea.....???
Post by 360k+ on 11/26/12 at 19:50:31

023C372A272A27450 wrote:

fuggedabaddit. Sea foam is nothing more than a strong solvent. No more, no less. If you think putting some solvent in your gas is helpful, have at it.

Keep in mind, "solvent" means oil dispersant in one form or another. Some solvents can be detergents, and no, I am not talking about your Mom's dish washing soap! Industrial grade detergents will totally wash clean your cylinder walls while you drive (i.e., a tattoo shop sign: Ears pierced, while you wait [think about it!]). This, in your fuel, can reduce the lifetime miles of your engine. There are times when detergents are good, and times when they are not!

Title: Re: Yea or nea.....???
Post by ZAR on 11/26/12 at 19:51:27

Ray I've been using Star Tron ethanol fuel treatment for over a year now and it seems to do the trick. It's used in my generators(sometimes sitting several months between running) my bikes and my tractors.

I work in a small engine/tractor dealership where we see over 250 units a month through the service department and have tried most everything out there. Seafoam is good for a slightly dirty fuel system but will have no effect as a stabilizer. Many other stabilizers do not deal with the ethanol and that is the root of most fuel problems.

Title: Re: Yea or nea.....???
Post by Kilgore Trout on 11/26/12 at 20:39:12

I don't want to set off the great fuel stabilizer war of 2012, but is there anything wrong with sta-bil? It's supposed to "remove" water (whatever that means).

Anyways, I hope not, because I just topped my tank off with sta-bil treated fuel for the winter. Do'h! I should have asked which product was suzukisavage.com approved before buying! :P

Title: Re: Yea or nea.....???
Post by Gyrobob on 11/27/12 at 05:00:51

sta-bil is good

Title: Re: Yea or nea.....???
Post by ToesNose on 11/27/12 at 06:19:15

I've used Sta-Bil for decades in all types of motors come winter and never had any problems nor heard of any problems associated with the product during the seven years I worked at a auto supply store.

Title: Re: Yea or nea.....???
Post by oldNslow on 11/27/12 at 07:10:48

Another vote for Sta-bil. I've used it for a long time with no issues. It's easy to find and not very expensive.

Title: Re: Yea or nea.....???
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/27/12 at 07:38:54

A friend on the coast recommended that stuff, he said get the Marine Grade. I had some gas for over a year & the car never stumbled. Tho, it was stored Un Vented,,so it wasnt able to "exhale" its good stuff into the air & "Inhale" moisture.

Title: Re: Yea or nea.....???
Post by Routy on 11/27/12 at 08:23:50

I never have any fuel problems, and I never use any additive of any kind.
And I used 1 1/2 yr old 50:1 gas off and on all summer in a little tiller....started 2nd pull every time.
Next spring I will (try to) fire it up on the same gas,....we'll see what happens.
But I'm the one that removed the carb bowl off my s40 for the sole purpose of seeing the Ka Ka left in the bottom after 4 yrs of e10. Problem was, it was spotless,....I still have the pics I posted.
Truth known, e10 already has the additives needed to keep the fuel system clean. Thats why we don't see any cars w/ sophfisticated F/I systems parked all along the roads everywhere.
But I'm just an amazing person,....because I'm the only one running a vac petcock that doesn't have any fuel problems ! ::)

Title: Re: Yea or nea.....???
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/27/12 at 09:33:35

I guess I didnt wait long enough,, the Gakk in the bottom of my carb bowl was green & Eaux My Gawd did it stank!

Title: Re: Yea or nea.....???
Post by Serowbot on 11/27/12 at 09:37:07

040B110A16100301090710620 wrote:

But I'm just an amazing person,....because I'm the only one running a vac petcock that doesn't have any fuel problems ! ::)

Yet... :-?...

Title: Re: Yea or nea.....???
Post by sjaskow on 11/27/12 at 09:50:51

6E786F726A7F72691D0 wrote:

[quote author=040B110A16100301090710620 link=1353983694/0#10 date=1354033430]
But I'm just an amazing person,....because I'm the only one running a vac petcock that doesn't have any fuel problems ! ::)

Yet... :-?...[/quote]
Um, I have a vac petcock, 20000+ miles and no issues. Hell, I still have the little brass plug in. Do I win a prize? 8-)

Title: Re: Yea or nea.....???
Post by verslagen1 on 11/27/12 at 09:58:43

3B22293B23273F480 wrote:

[quote author=6E786F726A7F72691D0 link=1353983694/0#12 date=1354037827][quote author=040B110A16100301090710620 link=1353983694/0#10 date=1354033430]
But I'm just an amazing person,....because I'm the only one running a vac petcock that doesn't have any fuel problems ! ::)

Yet... :-?...[/quote]
Um, I have a vac petcock, 20000+ miles and no issues. Hell, I still have the little brass plug in. Do I win a prize? 8-)[/quote]

No, but you don't have to go to jail or pay a fine either. 8-)

Title: Re: Yea or nea.....???
Post by Routy on 11/27/12 at 19:07:36

57484E4954536252625A48440F3D0 wrote:

I guess I didnt wait long enough,, the Gakk in the bottom of my carb bowl was green & Eaux My Gawd did it stank!

Jog, send me some pics of the Ka Ka left by e10. I've been askin for even 1 pic for 2 yrs now, still haven't seen one.

Title: Re: Yea or nea.....???
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/27/12 at 19:10:56

You think I took a picture? It was a bit of green fluid, I doubt it was a teaspoon, I dumped it & cleaned the bowl./

Take a small container, approx the size of a carb bowl, put a vented cap on it so it cant just spill or get polluted, set it on a shelf & check it every month or so.,

Title: Re: Yea or nea.....???
Post by Dave on 11/28/12 at 08:15:00

2E213B203C3A292B232D3A480 wrote:

[quote author=57484E4954536252625A48440F3D0 link=1353983694/0#11 date=1354037615]I guess I didnt wait long enough,, the Gakk in the bottom of my carb bowl was green & Eaux My Gawd did it stank!

Jog, send me some pics of the Ka Ka left by e10. I've been askin for even 1 pic for 2 yrs now, still haven't seen one.
[/quote]

Routy: Although I usually agree with the opinions you post - the subject of ethanol fuel is one where you and I strongly disagree. I understand that you have not had any ethanol related problems....and that is great. It generally is not a problem for equipment that is used regularly, and the positive results you are having with your long term fuel test in your tiller may be a result of your 2 cycle oil containing a fuel stabilizer......or some other circumstance that makes you immune.

Your situation is not universally accepted, and my own experience has proven that equipment that sits idle for extended periods with ethanol fuel in the tanks and carbs can be damaged. The ethanol absorbs moisture, rusts fuel tanks, dissolves rubber and corrodes aluminum.

Ethanol can be a problem for the rest of the world, and is well documented:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/content/knowhow/outdoorpowerequipment/is-your-small-engine-at-risk-from-ethanol-damage

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25936782/ns/business-consumer_news/t/mechanics-see-ethanol-damaging-small-engines/

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/reviews/outdoor-tools/can-boutique-fuel-save-small-engines-from-the-wear-and-tear-of-e10

http://www2.wspa.com/news/2008/jul/28/ethanol_damaging_mowers_and_other_small_engines_me-ar-8632/

http://jalopnik.com/5043482/ethanol-in-gasoline-reportedly-wreaking-havoc-on-small-engines

Title: Re: Yea or nea.....???
Post by Digger on 12/06/12 at 21:11:21

The only thing I have to add here is that, if you have had a bottle of the red STA-BIL on your shelf for awhile, check for precipitate on the bottom of said bottle before using same.

BTDT!

Title: Re: Yea or nea.....???
Post by WD on 12/06/12 at 22:56:10

Having grown up where Ray is talking about... I used SeaFoam, or marine Sta-bil, or 2 stroke oil, or even a bit of ATF in the gas. You can't buy real gas in western Washington (except at marinas) and most of the fuel tanks have some degree of water/salt/silt contamination. E-10 is the minimum grade of garbage fuel sold out there (and by state law all diesel is at least B2 and was supposed to go B15 last year). You need something in the fuel to help suspend the contaminants so they don't precipitate out and plug small carb/injector passages.

I spent a cold night in the mountains when contaminated fuel wiped out my 15 liter Peterbilt. I replaced the jets in my Savage every year out there, they rotted away or silted up, until I started treating the gas. I put 6 carbs on my truck in 2 years. Had to change all 4 injectors on the Celica twice.

Are additives a cure all? Nope. Do they help? Kind of. Best luck was with highly diluted 2 stroke mix, 3 tablespoons oil per tank of fuel. Carried a small bottle and a measuring spoon in the tool roll. The oil seemed to counter act some of the, for lack of a better term, bleah in the fuel out there.

Title: Re: Yea or nea.....???
Post by Gyrobob on 12/07/12 at 04:25:52

This thread has a useless title.

Title: Re: Yea or nea.....???
Post by Dave on 12/07/12 at 06:14:49

68565D404D404D2F0 wrote:

This thread has a useless title.

Yep....your right. I fixed it.

Title: Re: Yea or nea to Seafoam.....???
Post by runwyrlph on 12/07/12 at 09:00:08

Here's my anecdotal report:

my chainsaw was running, but poorly, after sitting (tank empty) for approximately 8 months. I added a capful of sea-foam to a little gas-oil mix in the tank, after a couple of minutes it ran fine. I assume there was some crud (technical term) in the carbuerator that sea foam dissolved.

I (stupidly) put my chainsaw gas in the lawnmower by mistake. lawnmower began running poorly. I figured out what happened, drained the tank and refilled with regular gas + a little seafoam. it improved gradually over several mowings until it ran fine again. I assume the carb jets were clogged with oil and cleaned out by the solvent properties of sea foam.

Would the solvent properties of sea-foam negate the 2 cycle oil in a chainsaw or similar? ( that's why i just used a partial tank w/ sea foam)

Title: Re: Yea or nea to Seafoam.....???
Post by houstonbofh on 12/07/12 at 17:43:02

It shouldn't... SeaFoam is an oil based product. Here is a good third party look at what SeaFoam might be. http://hildstrom.com/projects/seafoam/index.html

Note: I do not recommend anything on that page. :D

Title: Re: Yea or nea to Seafoam.....???
Post by Serowbot on 12/07/12 at 18:39:55

Even if you believe the stuff works,.. you're paying a ridiculously high price for a few basic ingredients...
Sea foam, like most fuel additives is just a mix of Naphtha, pale oil, and IPA... (that's lighter fluid, mineral oil, and rubbing alcohol)...
Sound like magic?... nupe,.. it ain't..

The MSDS pdf is on their site...
http://www.seafoamsales.com/msds-downloads.html

Title: Re: Yea or nea to Seafoam.....???
Post by houstonbofh on 12/07/12 at 19:58:27

Yeah, but for the amount I use it is actually cheaper than mixing my own. :)

Title: Re: Yea or nea to Seafoam.....???
Post by Dj12midnit on 12/07/12 at 21:04:50

What is the record for an oem petcock? I am at 35000.

Title: Re: Yea or nea to Seafoam.....???
Post by Oldfeller on 12/07/12 at 21:28:42

Folks who keep their bikes totally stock sometimes NEVER have issues.

The more non-stock or performance modded you become, the chances of needing a Raptor rapidly approach 100%.

Depends on you, mostly.

Title: Re: Yea or nea to Seafoam.....???
Post by verslagen1 on 12/07/12 at 22:10:06

is that dog years? :o

Title: Re: Yea or nea to Seafoam.....???
Post by Serowbot on 12/07/12 at 22:46:52

373962613E3A373D3A27530 wrote:

What is the record for an oem petcock? I am at 35000.

I'd start saving my change...

Title: Re: Yea or nea.....???
Post by Routy on 12/07/12 at 23:09:28

Out of all these links/videos, not even 1 pic or video showing any damage.
One guy even has a carb apart poking his screwdriver around in it, showing where the damage take place, only trouble it, there wasn't any, it was spotlessly clean.
It mite have been the same guy that says that e10 seperates the oil from the gas in a 2 stroke so that the engine starves for oil and blows up 1/2 way thru its 2nd season. How stupidly rediculous is that ? But yet not even so much as one pic showing anything.
And then there is the subject of e10 damage to small engines. Really now,.....does e10 know how big my engine is ? And where does e10 draw the line ?? Is my Savage a small engine or just a part of a big engine ?

764D4057464A51574C444956250 wrote:

[quote author=2E213B203C3A292B232D3A480 link=1353983694/15#15 date=1354072056][quote author=57484E4954536252625A48440F3D0 link=1353983694/0#11 date=1354037615]I guess I didnt wait long enough,, the Gakk in the bottom of my carb bowl was green & Eaux My Gawd did it stank!