FYI: O'Rreilly Auto has Sea Foam Buy 2 get one free
:headbang:
I used to run a can of SF through my 2 stroke carbed motor once a year to clean the carbon out. It will definitely keep the mosquitoes at bay!
Is it also recommended for fuel-injected motors? I'm not sure if I need it in my 4 stroke.
Works great as a bore cleaner for guns too.
I'll get with Scott (Lowerunit) and ask him about 4 stroke application. I wondered about running some through my Opti. I've heard that its an exceptional product......just never used it before
I recently tried Seafoam in my 3 cyl Geo. (4 stroke). There was an immediate improvement in low rpm performance. Better driveability and smoothness. I put 5 oz. in the gas tank and five oz. in the crankcase. Did not put any through the throttle body.
Sandman: How did you get it into the carb?
Thanks
For my old two stroke, I did a two step process. I would pull the plugs and spray it directly into the cylinders. Let it soak overnight. When I cranked it up, it looked like a house fire with all the smoke. I pulled the breather off the carbs and would spray it directly into each carb while it was running. Just enough to keep it running and not choke out and die. More smoke!
Only had to do it once a year. I used that motor from 1977 until 2008 and never had a problem with it. Probably only changed the plugs twice the entire time that I had it.
sandman, I'd like to do this sometime to my 2-stroke. Not sure I trust myself doing anything to that motor so may have you show me how to "pull the breather off the carb"
No problem. Mine had about 6 or 8 little bolts, only two of which you couldn't reach with any regular wrench :)
I've been putting 1oz per gallon of sea foam in my 2-stroke '84 motor for about a year now. I also have Sta-bill. They seem like similar products. Should or can I add both or really just add one?
Some people consider Sea Foam more of a "cleaner" whereas Sta-Bill is more of a fuel "conditioner". Certainly not saying one is a better product than the other - each just has their purpose. And that's an ongoing debate you'll find on other sites like bassboatentral & crappie.com
For me, marine Sta-Bill at every fill up.
Quote from: cousinlll on February 10, 2013, 05:24 PM
Some people consider Sea Foam more of a "cleaner" whereas Sta-Bill is more of a fuel "conditioner". Certainly not saying one is a better product than the other - each just has their purpose. And that's an ongoing debate you'll find on other sites like bassboatentral & crappie.com
For me, marine Sta-Bill at every fill up.
+1
Sta-Bill all the time and Sea Foam every now an than
from a message from Don in a thread on 4/24/12 Don is th3 mercury outboard guru from BBCif he sadi it merc recommends it . he also stated it is perfectly suitable for all merc 4 strokes check it out BBC.com
Fuel Additive Recommendations:
-Stabilize fuel ANYTIME fuel will not be consumed and replaced within 15 days!!!
-Optis (ALL, including XS & ProXS): Quickleen in EVERY TANK OF FUEL. You CAN combine Mercury QuickCare or QuickStor Fuel System Treatment & Stabilizer (or Sea-Foam if you prefer it) with Quickleen. Use the recommended "dose" of each product per the bottle instructions. For anyone questioning Quickleen recommendation- see Service Bulletin 2001-12 (yes, it's been recommended since 2001!!!).
-Quickleen may be used in ANY Mercury engine- it helps to prevent/remove carbon buildup (primary purpose).
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"Mercury Component Cocktail" (Chemically, this works much the same as the below mentioned cocktail, and requires less components.) This is Don's Preferred "Cocktail":
-1oz Mercury QuickCare per 5 gallons fuel
-1oz Mercury QuickLeen per 5 gallons fuel
(If leaving fuel in boat for more than 30 days, be sure to also add Mercury QuickStor).
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"Alternate Cocktail" (IMO, this combination results in clean injectors, direct injectors and spark plugs):
-1oz Marine Stabil or Mercury QuickCare per 6 gallons fuel
-1oz Quickleen per 6 gallons fuel
-1-2oz SeaFoam per 6 gallons fuel
I have the 4 stroke 60hp mercury which is under the 5 and drive warranty from mercury ( 5 year coverage) soooooooo I only use mercury products whether cleaner or sta-bil type products figuring if there is ever a problem under warranty I don't want an excuse for non coverage of warranty
sta-bil type products are for fuel conditioning especially with our high alcohol content fuel, as Brent at performance marine (mercury) shop told me with the alcohol fuel if your boat is going to sit any length of time you either want your fuel tank completely full or completely empty so you don't get water condensation in your fuel tank :dontknow:
I've never used any additives in my 4 stroke yami 150, take it in for routine maintance annually = no worries on the water for past 6 years. Oh and go to the lake regularly to keep the fuel fresh.
jeez i missed this memo. i only thought these products were necessay for a bad running engine or after six months plus storage. thx guys ill throw a little sea foam in next fill up. 1oz to 6 gallons? i still struggle to spend 32 bucks for evinrude oil when i can get tcw3 at walmart for 12? wtheck do i know.
Quote from: menrats on February 12, 2013, 06:45 AM
jeez i missed this memo. i only thought these products were necessay for a bad running engine or after six months plus storage. thx guys ill throw a little sea foam in next fill up. 1oz to 6 gallons?
Quotes above say 1oz per 5-6 gallons. But I also thought I've read 1oz per gallon. Perhaps the later is for cleaning and the former is for maintaining. I'll probably follow cousinlll and FishHawk combined approach -- use Stabill all the time on ratio the instructions give. Once a year or something I'll use 1oz per gallon of Seafoam to clean it out - most likely in the warm season when my motor starts and runs its best.
This was a good read, thank you all for sharing the info.