Write-Up: Seafoam to restore lost horsepower

Well I definitly need to do this to my riv seeing that I got 150000 miles and Its about time to really clean the bitch out. How much is this seafoam crap anyways?

captshiner wrote:

Thought so. I wish one of you guys lived near me, I'm new to this whole 'amateur mechanic' thing and trying new things makes me nervous. I need someone to watch over me.

LOL it's not that bad!

You should see peoples faces when they see me or I tell them about how I flush my engines out with kerosene! One of the best tricks for cleaning out engine gunk, but most are scared to do it. They don't realize or believe that kerosene is a lubricating substance!

captshiner wrote:

Thought so. I wish one of you guys lived near me, I'm new to this whole 'amateur mechanic' thing and trying new things makes me nervous. I need someone to watch over me.

...actually....I'm right behind you... O_o

SuperRiv07 wrote:

Well I definitly need to do this to my riv seeing that I got 150000 miles and Its about time to really clean the bitch out. How much is this seafoam crap anyways?

I think its like $8.00 or so.

Bert

ibmoses wrote:

SuperRiv07 wrote:

Well I definitly need to do this to my riv seeing that I got 150000 miles and Its about time to really clean the bitch out. How much is this seafoam crap anyways?

I think its like $8.00 or so.

Bert

Thats right. I paid $7.99 earlier. It was only $5 2 years ago. Inflation blows!

Kool that aint babd at all

ive seen the videos online but has anyone here done it on the riviera...im thinking it needs cleaned out either way, yesterday i was taking my buddy home and heard a what he didnt wanna say might be a lifter/rocker or something like that

you could only hear it inside the car and when in neutral you couldnt hear it.

i think you put some in the gas tank, brake booster, and oil

does it sound like its sticking?

I just put seafoam in my gas tank over the weekend seems to run better now I'm also thinking about changing out the fuel filter 76k miles and I don't k ow of it's ever been done.

Chicken wrote:

does it sound like its sticking?

are you really happy my car might be having problems


if so thats not cool


if not it sounded like it was sticking or it could be the rocker, you only heard it in the car

i know i need video but im sure you couldnt hear it anyways

sure it's not the blower coupler rattling?

please use the search for "seafoam". there is tons of info on it here. most of us have used it at least once with success. i would not recommend using any in the oil unless you really know what you are doing.
if you are looking to do some fall cleaning try these items: air filter, 1 can SF in with 5gal of 93, drive it then replace the fuel filter, run 1/2 can SF through vac line, replace all spark plugs with AL605's (if unmodded), change your oil and use pf52 filter.
of course it would be best to clean the TB by hand after using the SF to get all the carbon behind the butterfly that the SF cant reach.

I've ran seafoam through all parts of my vehicles. If someone has a loud lifter, I would recommend removing them (not very daunting) and soaking them in brake cleaner for 12 hours or so. They can become clogged causing ticking. They are generally cheap to replace as well.

I did seafoam about a half year after I bought my riv. Half in the oil(change and filter after no more than 100miles), and suck the other half in through a vaccum line such as the brake booster, at end of can let it suck up the rest, choke and die. wait 10 min, then go for a very spirited drive. I found it made a big difference on the "older" car. brought back much of the lost power.

im, worried about trying the Seafoam

What are you worried about? Its not really hard.

I'm with Nick on this one - heard stories of people using it and their cars run worse after having used it than before. Kinda like the transmission fluid thing - if you've never changed it after 100k miles, DON'T!

Exactly I used to work at an oil change place and we did a trans flush on a car and a week later his trans went out, Like I want to restore power and clean out my motor but im dont want to fuck up my car, what about Engine restore is that any good?

Here's my take on seafoam and trans flushes etc. If you do them regularly or semi regularly then it's all good.

If you don't ever do them until a problem crops up, you may be asking for trouble. In this case we have a possibly clogged lifter. If the thoughts are a lifter got clogged the questions can start along the lines of Did you perform regular oil changes? If something clogged the lifter, then couldn't something loosen up and clog some other important item? Same with a trans, if service/flushes aren't done until there's an issue then all the clutch material in the fluid will get flushed and the trans will seem to die relatively soon after. When in fact the material in the fluid was giving it enough grip to work and once that was replaced with clean, detergent filled fluid there is nothing to grip and whatever remains of the clutches heads south fast.

I'm a big fan of MotorVac (formerly CarbonClean).

Just make sure the tech hooks up both the pressure and return side of the fuel system of the car... If he tries to use the Shraeder valve in the manifold, he is NOT going to clean your car correctly.
It cleans the fuel system and removes all contaminants while cleaning the regulator and injectors. It has it's own self contained fuel system. Your car runs on the machine , but your pump is disconnected during the process. It also removes the carbon from the back of the valves, ports and injector housings, as well as from the combustion chamber and pistons.
On high mileage cars there should be a noticeable increase in gas mileage.

It solves a lot of mysterious drivability problems.

The OP was from Ohio, so here is a list of known places in Ohio that have the "real" MotorVac. If people from other provinces/states want a list, it could be done.

OH Chillicothe Halls Automotive (740) 775-2143 http://www.hallsautomotive.com/services.html
OH** Colombus Wilson’s Auto 614-228-3535 $120
OH** St Marys Rable's Auto Service (419) 394-1624 www.rablesautoservice.com
OH** Medina Costello's Auto Service 330-725-4238

** means it has been recommended by a forum member (no recommendations from this forum yet though)

ND or MN please? (ND preferred)

and MT?

I posted it in the "info" subsection. https://rivperformance.editboard.com/info-reference-f50/motorvac-locations-t4129.htm

I am Interested in doing this seafoam But it just makes me nervous as hell

SuperRiv07 wrote:

I am Interested in doing this seafoam But it just makes me nervous as hell

Which part? Puting it the fuel or in the vacuum line? Putting it in the fuel is easy. You have to be careful using it in the vacuum lines, but if you follow the instructions posted here on the forum you should be fine.

Yeah I aint worried about putting it in the gas tank, But yeah the vac line I will try when I clean out the garage