Adding SEAFOAM on Crankcase oil..to clean up the residue !!!

Has anyone tried Seafoam on Crankcase oil to clean up the engine..adding it, run it for few mins (nice n hot)and do a oil change. Could it sometimes spoil the seals inside. ?

 

the company recommends doing it... just a small amount and dont put it under load

 

Personally, I wouldn't (and don't) do it. I'm too concerned about the clutch and starter clutch.
To flush out an old motor, I fill it with decent-quality (name brand) SAE20 "straight weight" oil, and run until it just starts to warm up (NO LOAD.) Then shut it down and let it sit for a few hours. Then warm it up again (still no load) and drain it; let it "drip" for 3-4 hours.
Depending on how bad what came out looked, repeat.
Then I change the oil after the first 200-500 miles, and depending how nasty THAT comes out, again after only like 500-700.

 

I've been debating doing this, if you decide to go ahead with it, let us know how it works out.

Fitz, I normally use the same method you posted, but what about the clutch/starter clutch would the seafoam hurt? It's not a lubricant so I can't imagine it would make them slip, but I guess it might deteriorate them?

 

I don't know how thoroughly the SeaFoam combines with the oil, and I'm concerned primarily with it soaking into the friction plate material, or causing the oil to soak in more than it would naturally. As for the starter clutch I would be worried about galling or scuffing the rollers up. Plus, how can you be sure it's all OUT when you're finished?

I don't put anything but oil in crankcases.

 

When I seafoam'd the oil in my camaro, you could tell when it was all out. It made the oil a weird color and definitely pulled a TON more gunk out than normal oil cycling would.

Chunks of crud came out of my camaro. I'm personally not in too much of a hurry to try it on the bike as it was surprisingly clean when i had it open, just my two cents.

 

I used it in the fuel but I'm not sure about the crankcase. The manufacturer says it is a petroleum product and wan't harm seals or other components but do you want to find out the hard way that they hadn't tested on a wet clutch.

I used it in the fuel tank to help clean out some varnish in the carbs. Worked well.I had cleaned them thouroughly and inspected every part before reassembling them. After a a couple hundred kilometers had flooding from numer 3. A gentle tap stopped that, but then I had idle issues. Must have had some crap from the tank that got through. The SeaFoam treatment cleared it and now it runs like a dream.

 

The active ingredient in Sea-Foam is Naptha, which is an ultra-pure form of Gasoline. The bulk of Sea-Foam is "pale oil", an inert ingredient. I don't see how Naptha can stabilize gasoline, and I don't see how a highly diluted Naptha mix can clean sludge and gum.

Allow me to quote the can. . .
* Tested to 60 below, that means the claimed effects work at 60 below.
* removes moisture from oil crankcase and gas tank (how?)
* WORKS AND PERFORMS INSTANTLY - I think yelling helps.

The can art looks like it's from the '40's
You are buying Naptha at $200 / GALLON !!
My idea- - - just buy Coleman Camp Stove Fuel.

Clean your crankcase with fresh oil rinses.

 

Has anyone tried Marvel Mystery Oil instead? I used it in my Blazer after I changed the lower intake gaskets and I got some anti-freeze in the oil. The anti-freeze started causing the valves, or tappets, or some other such part to stick and it was making a horrible clicking/fluttering noise until it warmed up. I ran some MMO through it, and the noise stopped and I could tell much more junk came out when I changed the oil than it usually does. It was pitch black, grainy, and very gunky.

You also don't have to worry about putting the engine under load once you put the stuff in. Add some in place of a quart of oil, run the vehicle for a couple of hundred miles, then change the oil as normal.

Keep in mind, I have never used it on a bike, and I don't know anyone that has. That is why I am asking if anyone has done it on a bike. I know it works well on automobiles, not sure on bikes.

 

I don't mean this as an insult to anyone, but a solvent in the oil could break down the glue in a Fram filter, spewing all the collected contaminants straight to your bearings.

Just something to think about. . .

 

Wow that a good mix of opinions..n really makes me think. While i was at the carbclinic another XJer mentioned he always used kerosene (about 100ml or so)adding to oil run it without load and flush. My other concern is may be this experiment may result in MORE VALVE CLEARANCE..Is it not? Soon may need a valve adjustment.

 

hmmmmmmmm, a varied mix of opinions but the 'experts' are sayin not to do it.........and i bought a can just for this purpose,good thing someone posted it as it has caused me to ponder........but i do have a lot of dirty sludge in the crankcase and im sure with 38000 on her it has never been cleaned out by the looks of it. ANY OTHER options for degunking the crancase? clean oil is but a start but it does almost nothing to move the sludge build up. IDEAS?

 

I don't think using it in the oil is a particularly good idea since it delutes the oil. But I can tell you from experience that Seafoam really does a good job cleaning the gunk out of a fuel system. I have used in on several of my bikes with great results.

 

yes but it is used under NO LOAD,so obviously placing it under load woiuld be a bad idea. EVERYONE knows about the fuel part of it as this product has been around for many years and boaters use it a LOT.

 

Lake Worth, FL.? Used to live in Jupiter............

 

SeaFoam will NOT harm the seals and, if you pour it in, run it and drain, you shouldn't have any problems with the clutch disks absorbing any of the solvent (they have been soaked in oil for how long by now???). THe problem that arises is that as it cleans crud out, leaks that were previously sealed by crud will become evident. So for the higher mileage machines, this might be an issue.
Additionally, the starter clutch rollers shouldn't have a problem with it either, the resultant mix will suffice as a lubricant for the lube needs of the rollers at idle.
Just be sure not to run the bike under load as mentioned in the instructions. A 10 minute or so idle ought to be just fine for cleaning up the engine. FOLLOW the instructions and you should be fine. I haven't looked at a can recently but I somehow recall that they make recommendations of ratio to oil on the back of the can. Anybody with more recent information is encouraged to step up and post please!

Marvel Mystery Oil is not the same thing as SeaFoam. I use Marvel in my vehicles (bikes and cars) without problems, I just make sure to do an oil change in very short order as you can run the engine with a bit of Marvel without detriment.

I will endorse either product for use on the XJ's, they serve their respective purposes well.

 

1 1/2 oz per quart as directed on application to crankcase instructions. thanks robert i wanted SOMEONE to confirm this before i attempted it.

 

Good call robert, I haven't bought any of the stuff in a while or I'd have just checked my can. Thanks for the info. If I hadn't just had my case halves apart and cleaned it all by hand, I'd probably be using some.