How to Seafoam your engine the right way. Complete DIY

[PoorManQ45]

Cool story, bro.

You may be right, but there's a few flaws: One, you're assuming causation. Perhaps the SF did its job over time, making the B12 that much more effective... Two, why wouldn't you just clean the jets while they were out? Third, you were using it solely as a fuel system cleaner, not as a decarbonisation agent - that's not SF's claim to fame. BG44K would have been the ideal product for what you did (actually, cleaning the carb jets the RIGHT way would have been ideal).

Yeah, I just saw the clogged jet and thought of this thread though

I don't think I saw the BG44k at the parts store. I'll check again though for future. Thanks for the heads up.

[AZhitman]

It's usually available at NAPA, and most Infiniti dealers... I buy mine online.

Actually, I think I saw it in AutoZone one day. Easier to find than it was in 97.

[SC3002JZGTE]

Does anyone have a picture of the vacuum hose to use on a 97 maxima?

[AZhitman]

I'd ask in the Maxima forum - You'll have an answer pronto.

[Rager]

this has never been done on my Z32 . im at 98k and about to do an oil change anyways.

Is this not a good idea on a higher mileage motor that has never been seafoamed?

[Razi]

I seafoamed my 240sx when I first bought it and I had about 160k miles on it and it was fine.
I think it you'll be okay.

[AZhitman]

Won't hurt a thing.

Just for s***s and giggles, I Seafoamed our '63 NL320 last week. HILARIOUS to watch all the smoke whooshing out of the 1.2" exhaust pipe...LOL

Believe it or not, she ran beautifully afterwards.

[novocaine]

I'll be attempting this within the next few days on a 91 240sx coupe (ka24de). I'll post pics of the brake booster line going into the manifold just for future reference. On a side note i used page 9 of the FSM in the BR section to locate the appropriate hose. I'll only be using 1 can.... 1/3 will go into the crank case; 1/3 will go in through the brake booster line (while by passing the check valve) and the other 1/3 will be in the fuel tank. Should be fun!! new fuel pump (walbro), plugs (ngk), and wires (aurora), are standing by to go in after 100-200 miles as well as an oil change. Eventually a new cat will go in since a i gotta pass smog next summer. cant wait for the results....car runs fine just had a hard time passing smog even after i changed the egr and O2 sensor. im sure the new cat and this treatment should make the biggest impact. my car smells like rotten eggs after long trips (70+)

[BusyBadger]

HILARIOUS to watch all the smoke whooshing out of the 1.2" exhaust pipe...LOL

You make Al Gore cry.

[AZhitman]

HILARIOUS to watch all the smoke whooshing out of the 1.2" exhaust pipe...LOL

You make Al Gore cry.

WIN

[240sxAli4Life]

Hi AZHitman, i had a few questions about sea foaming my 1993 Nissan 240sx! Its got 152,000 miles on it! (i doubt its ever been sea foamed) Anyway i used to have a SOHC 240sx and it was ALOT better on gas than this DOHC ka24de! Im guessing that if i sea foam it, it will get better gas milege, cause it will clean out a good ammount of carbon build up and sludge!!! Anyway my questions were, when i sea foam the enigne... to start pouring it into the brake booster hose... do i have to disconnect any other hoses, or do i just disconnect the brake booster hose, and start pouring in the sea foam???? I need to do a tune up anyway so after i sea foam it i will drive it 50 to 100 miles, then i will change the oil, plugs, wires, and distributer cap! Then ill add half the next can of sea foam in the valve cover oil hole (is that called the crankcase??), and half of it into the fuel tank, after i change my oil! RIGHT????

[AZhitman]

Pretty close.

You don't POUR it into the booster line. Re-read the first post carefully...

You got the rest correct.

[novocaine]

Aa said im posting up images from my seafoam experiences. this is the first time i've posted images to this board and hopefully the thread starter won't mind. If there are better ways to post images please let me know and i will re-edit my post.

brake booster and vac hose:


vac hose with check valve that you should by-pass as stated by the thread starter (its the white disc in the middle of the hose)


one end of vac hose (the end that is exposed after you by-pass the check valve) this is the end the fluid gets sucked into


other end of hose that goes into engine/manifold


it's pretty hard to keep the engine from stalling once you get going so a helper is always good. enjoy!!

[240sxAli4Life]

Aa said im posting up images from my seafoam experiences. this is the first time i've posted images to this board and hopefully the thread starter won't mind. If there are better ways to post images please let me know and i will re-edit my post.

brake booster and vac hose:


vac hose with check valve that you should by-pass as stated by the thread starter (its the white disc in the middle of the hose)


one end of vac hose (the end that is exposed after you by-pass the check valve) this is the end the fluid gets sucked into


other end of hose that goes into engine/manifold


it's pretty hard to keep the engine from stalling once you get going so a helper is always good. enjoy!!

How come you have in your pic a part of the hose that is on the intake manifold side?? Dont you just unplug the brake booster hose, and then isnt there a little piece inside that you take out?? Its bypassing the check valve? Isnt the check valve the piece thats inside a little bit of your brake hose, at the end of the hose?????

[240sxAli4Life]

Pretty close.

You don't POUR it into the booster line. Re-read the first post carefully...

You got the rest correct.

Oh ya lol i know your suppose to give it little sips! My bad for poor choice of words! I read your instrutions very carefully, and will follow it step by step when i do it this weekend! But we are suppose to bypass the check valve! Isnt the check valve the piece thats stuck inside the brake booster hose a little bit?? But its like at the end of the hose??? And your suppose to pull it out???? And then start sea foaming???? And when i start my engine to start the sea foam, do i unplug the hose first or start the engine first???

[novocaine]

you'll be ok once you pop your hood and actually see how things come together. I highly recommend downloading an FSM just to kind of see everything before you begin work (on any project). If you read the thread starters instructions it will say to put the seafoam in through the side of the hose that leads into the manifold. this is what im showing you in the picture. the check valve that i bypassed is simply STILL IN the hose that leads to the brake booster.... in which case there is no picture of. I did however post a picture of the hoses connected with the check valve in the middle.
also as a side note...not sure if it matters....but i unplugged everything then started the engine and began the seafoam process. this was after i warmed up the engine to normal operating temp. you'll be able to hear the loud suck coming from the hose when you start her up!! good luck dude...when you finish you'll see how easy it is.

[AZhitman]

...and post pics of the massive smoke cloud.

[240sxAli4Life]

I dont know how to post pics on nico club, and i want to know! Also i want to make a pic of my car with words in it, as a signature!! If you or someone else knows how to do this... please let me know!! But what and where is the Check Valve located?????????????????????????????????????????????????????? And i will post a video on youtube when i sea foam it! In the mean time if you want to check out my car on youtube, check out my channel... my name on youtube is 240sxGuy3

[novocaine]

the check valve is what the arrow is pointing to.


dont forget to grab an FSM. they are free and i gave the page number and section to look in concerning the matter in one of my posts in this thread. enjoy!

[240sxAli4Life]

What is an FSM??? And where do i get them?? And so i have to take out the check valve when i sea foam it?? How do i take out the check valve??? And if i bypass it do i just disconnect that hose from there and then start pouring it to the left side of the hose?? Why do i have to bypass the check valve??? BTW just so i dont sound like a retard for not knowing what all this is lol... i just gotta tell you im 16 haha!!

[PEZi]

What is an FSM??? And where do i get them?? And so i have to take out the check valve when i sea foam it?? How do i take out the check valve??? And if i bypass it do i just disconnect that hose from there and then start pouring it to the left side of the hose?? Why do i have to bypass the check valve??? BTW just so i dont sound like a retard for not knowing what all this is lol... i just gotta tell you im 16 haha!!

let me clarify once again.... you are not POURING... the brake booster hose coming off the INTAKE will SUCK the fluid in... bypassing the check valve means you unhook it at the check valve... and the check valve will not be part of this seafoaming process at all!

you're only 16... you CAN do this on your own... but like most kids who are 16 you need to READ... read the first post in the thread like its your bible... get the whole process down in your head... ask any questions you need... although they should all be answered now... and once you feel ready... THEN do it

[240sxAli4Life]

What is an FSM??? And where do i get them?? And so i have to take out the check valve when i sea foam it?? How do i take out the check valve??? And if i bypass it do i just disconnect that hose from there and then start pouring it to the left side of the hose?? Why do i have to bypass the check valve??? BTW just so i dont sound like a retard for not knowing what all this is lol... i just gotta tell you im 16 haha!!

let me clarify once again.... you are not POURING... the brake booster hose coming off the INTAKE will SUCK the fluid in... bypassing the check valve means you unhook it at the check valve... and the check valve will not be part of this seafoaming process at all!

you're only 16... you CAN do this on your own... but like most kids who are 16 you need to READ... read the first post in the thread like its your bible... get the whole process down in your head... ask any questions you need... although they should all be answered now... and once you feel ready... THEN do it

Dude you need to read too!! I Always make the mistake of saying "POUR" it into the vac hose! I know your suppose to give it little sips!! Look at what i sent back to AZHitman after he corrected me! I did read it very carefully and i now understand! Thanks to everyone who helped me out on this!!! I will post videos of me seafoaming my engine tommorrow when i do it!! Only have one more simple question... when i go to unhook the brake booster vac hose from the middle of the firewall area... do i have to have any tools or anything to get it apart and start seafoaming???? And when my engine is running is when i take the brake booster hose apart correct??????

[PEZi]

you can take it off before you start... doesn't really matter

the brake booster is like a vacuum hose... no real tools necessary(except maybe a screwdriver? there's usually a clamp holding in on so you may need to take that of with said screwdriver) but for the most part... just work it off

[AZhitman]

FSM = Factory Service Manual.

This thread could use a lot less exclamation points. It's only Seafoam, nothing to get excited about.

Let us know how it goes, Ali.

[MagPac]

What is an FSM??? And where do i get them??

Field Service Manual — http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/

Quick question, I just found the link for the FSMs and I'm psyched. But, is there any kind of index? Or do you just have to 'leaf' through until you find what you need?

Thanks

[240sxAli4Life]

What is an FSM??? And where do i get them??

Field Service Manual — http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/

BTW just so i dont sound like a retard for not knowing what all this is lol... i just gotta tell you im 16 haha!!

This is likely not the best project for you to undertake alone. Make sure you have a knowledgable friend or parent to help you along during the process. Good luck!

Um no this was a very easy project that i did on my 240sx!! I dont need a knologeable friend or anything!! This was very easy! Installing my speakers were harder lol! The hatch glass got in the way so much!

[PEZi]

some cute pics for reference!

seafoamed my dad's '00 Frontier... 200k... not as dramatic as i was hoping

i guess i just keep our cars too clean inside... my '85 720 was even less dramatic than this was... but alas!

unhook before check valve


insert vac line into brake booster (i used duct tape as extra assurance)


let it drink


stop engine... wait 30 mins... restart... have someone video tape it

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V3Ny0QLnWE[/youtube]

[AZhitman]

The startup isn't where you get the mad smoke.

You're supposed to give it some good sips, then a REAL deep sip, shut it down, and let it sit for 30 minutes....

THEN go drive it - needs to be under load IMMEDIATELY. Not revved in neutral.

Massive smokescreen, no matter how clean you think you've kept it.

[float_6969]

I've been a believer of Seafoam for years, but this is my most successful story;

My father in law had a Camry that they put a new motor in and the lady was complaining of it smoking. Sure enough, when she brought it in, it was burning oil. So I told my father in law to get some Seafoam. He hadn't heard of it and looked at me like I was crazy, but I told him to trust me. So it comes in, and I Seafoam the motor just like the bottle tells you, and put some in the oil and fuel tank as well. After the 30Min wait is over, we crank it up and after the smoke clears, no more burning oil! My guess was the rings were sticky and weren't sealing properly until the Seafoam cleaned them up and got them un-stock. My father in law is now a believer too.

[PEZi]

The startup isn't where you get the mad smoke.

I'm aware... but i was still expecting more...

You're supposed to give it some good sips, then a REAL deep sip, shut it down, and let it sit for 30 minutes....

did that...

THEN go drive it - needs to be under load IMMEDIATELY. Not revved in neutral.

Massive smokescreen, no matter how clean you think you've kept it.

well as soon as the video shut off i went down the street... the smoke got blacker... but still nothing of note even when doing some 0-60 pulls.... black, yes... epic smokescreen, no... it was pretty windy out tho... so the cloud inevitably got blown askew rather than floating for any period of time

i think i scared some people when i got on the main road and floored it