Sea Foam - Cocktail mixer or octane booster ?

[normzone]

I'm preparing to head to AZ tomorrow morning, and I decided to run some Sea Foam through the bike as a prelude.

I looked at the 16 oz can, estimated gallons, and dumped half the can into the four gallons in the tank.

She really likes it - engine sounds great, I found myself running in too tall a gear and the bike not caring.

Now I'm not going to change my riding style to support this expensive drinking habit, but given the range (about 125) of my Bassa I am going to be fueling at every excuse for a fuel pump. So I may find myself putting some sketchy substances in the tank.

I'm thinking about adding Sea Foam or some other recommended booze to the tank when I am compelled to run some cheap stuff.

Does the foam really function as the octane booster I and the engine perceive it to be?

Does anybody have a better mo-favorite mixer they recommend?

Do the purists among us believe I should run whatever fate brings my way and cherish the results as part of the experience?

[fotoguzzi]

now that it's running great just use regular pump gas.. unless your owners manual says premium you don't need that either. but I would not continue putting in anything extra.

Have a nice trip..

[BillinPA]

Interesting. I have used sea-foam as a stabilizer, never noticed any gains with it. I occasionaly will add some Lucas top end lubricant or Marvel Mystery in my fuel, just a few ounces. Leaded gas was slippery, what we have now is a solvent. I don't know if my additive is helping but it makes sense to me ;D

[Triple Jim]

Sea Foam's MSDS says it consists of pale oil, naphtha, and isopropyl alcohol.  Not only don't I see anything that would boost octane rating significantly, I don't even see a reason to buy the stuff.  Obviously this is just my opinion.

http://seafoamsales.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/MSDS_seafoam_EN.pdf

[normzone]

I'm going to count these responses as (Quantity 3) for " Run what you find - the goal is not the end of the journey, but the pinging and coughing along the way "

[oldbike54]

I'm going to count these responses as (Quantity 3) for " Run what you find - the goal is not the end of the journey, but the pinging and coughing along the way "

 Was the Bassa pinging and coughing before  ??? No , Seafoam does not boost octane , and a properly tuned 2 valve ditch pump should run fine on anything more potent than pool petrol , or ditch water  ;D

  Dusty

[fotoguzzi]

  pinging and coughing 

I thought you were going to seek help with that months ago?

if 8oz of seafoam fixes it go for it  :bike           but the dose sounds a little high.. maybe see what 1/4 of a bottle does ? :BEER:

[normzone]

The recommended range for Sea Foam use is so broad that it's almost homeopathic. " One bottle treats eight to twenty-five gallons " or something like that. I confess to liking my drinks strong, and I've always liked the way my machines run with additives.

And I'm sensitive - I have performance issues...with the way the bike runs being different between Shell premium  and Chevron premium being apparent, and while they're both good Chevron is better.

Any thing else pales and pings when pushed - it will do but it's just not as tasty as the gourmet stuff.

[oldbike54]

 Norm old buddy , get that thing tuned up ... please . High octane is masking a serious problem .


  Dusty

[Chuck in Indiana]

Chevron is better

Actually, I agree. <running and ducking>
 ;D

[Sasquatch Jim]

 Run Marvel misery oil in the gas at the start of the day, and run some Jamesons 12 year old through the nut behind the handlebars at the end of the day.

[normzone]

Now there's some sound advice. I just filled her back up again and the engine performance didn't change, and then I got to thinking...

I changed the transmission and final drive oils the same day. Is what I'm perceiving just happier running gear and a cleaner injection system ?

I'm one of those guys whose car always runs better after he washes it.

[atavar]

I have had much better luck with StarTron, it gives me 50-75 extra miles per tank and completely eliminates low RPM ping.  The Norge even tolerates ethanol with that stuff.  My favorite part is that it comes in shot sized bottles that are perfect for one tank of gas, no measuring.  This is the only additive that has ever given me measurable results.

SeaFoam does great, but it is basically a pre-lube like Marvel.  I wonder about deposits on the valves with either of those.

[Triple Jim]

Here's Star Tron's MSDS.  Less than 1/2 of one percent of "proprietary organic compounds", and the rest naptha.

http://rutherfordcountytn.gov/rm/documents/StarTronGasolineAdditive_000.pdf

[canuck750]

I have been using SeaFoam for years in my KLR650, the thumper sits for months at a time. The stuff seems to act as a stabilizer and a carb cleaner. Several years ago the bike was very sluggish and on a whim I ran a tankful, smartened right up. Been using it ever since, always store it with a few 1/2 cup in a full tank of gas.

Jim

[bratman2]

I started using Seafoam 15 years or more ago on my 87 Subaru. Had to run premium in it to prevent spark knock or retard timing which made a low power engine even less. I would pour about half the bottle down the carb until the last couple of ounces would chock it off. Let it sit for a few minutes and then flog the neighborhood out. Dump the rest into the tank with no more than 2 gals of gas left. It allowed me to set the timing back to stock and run 87. I do it once a year now. Good top end cleaner.  My son in-law left my chainsaw with half a tank of e10 fuel in it. Had one helluva a time getting it started and keeping it running. Added 2 ounces per tankful for the next three tanks. Runs perfect now. If I use it for an issue I high dose it. It doesn't fix broken parts but is a decent cleaner.

[Doppelgaenger]

I actually used Seafoam to clean the swingarm and carc on my Breva the first time I detailed it. I was using a regular degreaser and it wouldn't cut the built up grime. I switched to seafoam and it made a huge difference.

I have used in both fuel and engine oil before in somewhat large amounts. I did get a smoother running engine from running it in the oil and then changing the oil right after. I have also done the engine de-carbon thing to my RX-8 but got nowhere near the smoke I've seen others get even tho I sucked half the bottle into the front rotor instead of the recommended 2 ounces. The engine did run smoother after that, but it's a rotary so smooth is relative. Less rpm stumbles.

I've heard that it can reduce pinging from many sources, and to that effect I will carry a flask of it with me when going on longer road trips since the Breva has pinged on me before with less than excellent quality gas, and I might be forced to put it in at some point.

[atavar]

Here's Star Tron's MSDS.  Less than 1/2 of one percent of "proprietary organic compounds", and the rest naptha.

http://rutherfordcountytn.gov/rm/documents/StarTronGasolineAdditive_000.pdf

I agree it looks pretty innocuous, but if it gives me 15% more range on a tank I don't care if it has actual snake oil in it - lol.  I suspect it may just eat the ethanol, which is fine by me.  I will admit I didn't see real results until the third tank. 

[Spuddy]

Anybody ever hear of Lubisil marked by Classic Products (the car wax people?) I think it was liquid silicone.  In the gas and in the oil and it would actually blow top end carbon through the exhaust pipe. I'm sure it worked - I don't think I was on drugs at the time.  Any flashbacks to the early '70s and Lubiscil (?)       

[oldbike54]

Anybody ever hear of Lubisil marked by Classic Products (the car wax people?) I think it was liquid silicone.  In the gas and in the oil and it would actually blow top end carbon through the exhaust pipe. I'm sure it worked - I don't think I was on drugs at the time.  Any flashbacks to the early '70s and Lubiscil (?)       

 The occasional flashback , well of course , but not about Lubiscil  ;D Dang , I don't miss carbon build up one bit  :BEER:

  Dusty

[Demar]

Run Marvel misery oil in the gas at the start of the day, and run some Jamesons 12 year old through the nut behind the handlebars at the end of the day.

This is the best advice I've read on this forum.  ;-T

I used Sea Foam for the first time last weekend. My 2010 Bonneville sat without being started for 16 months (sorry Bonnie  :(). I was concerned about it sitting for so long. I removed the spark plug boots and the air injection removal caps and poured an ounce of Sea Foam into each cylinder. Then I tried to start it about 6 or 7 times for a second or two each time. Then I screwed the air injection caps tight, reattached the spark plug boots and hit the starter and.... it started with one loud backfire and then idled normally.  I poured a few ounces into the tank.

[Triple Jim]

Anybody ever hear of Lubisil marked by Classic Products (the car wax people?) I think it was liquid silicone.  In the gas and in the oil and it would actually blow top end carbon through the exhaust pipe. I'm sure it worked - I don't think I was on drugs at the time.  Any flashbacks to the early '70s and Lubiscil (?)      

There's one called "Lubrisil" and it has some silicone, between 1 and 10 percent according to the MSDS.  It looks like it's currently claimed to be a mold release agent.

http://webfiles.acuitysp.com/MSDS/0058_1_EN1_USA.PDF

[LowRyter]

Well Seafoam could possibly raise octane, it has alcohol in it, which resists preignition.

[atavar]

So do water and maple syrup..  lol

[Cal3Me]

I sold a perfectly good running bike to a guy I know and he too claimed marvel ,seafoam snake oil makes things work better. NOT,,,,,, ::)

The bike now sits in the back of his garage because he can't get it to run without pinging and smoking.......I have tried soaking dirty clogged carbs in seafoam to no avail . So I can't see how diluting it would make things any better. 

[redrider]

I prefer Techron. One tankfull before every oil change.

[Rough Edge racing]

Here's Star Tron's MSDS.  Less than 1/2 of one percent of "proprietary organic compounds", and the rest naptha.

http://rutherfordcountytn.gov/rm/documents/StarTronGasolineAdditive_000.pdf

 According to the Internet info..Naphtha is about 80 octane...  However, it also says Naphtha is  agent that helps "blend" other hydrocarbons. Maybe that has an effect? . At least that how my non chemist mind reads it.
 Like Triple Jim I believe it's all just patent medicine...

 And this,  make your own higher octane fuel...Prices are way off for the toluene etc, but you get the idea...

   http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/misc/octanebooster.html

[mtiberio]

steady diet of seafoam? too expensive. anytime I get a new bike that has been sitting, and may be gummed up, it gets a bottle. beyond that i run what a bike calls for in terms of octane unless motor noises tell me otherwise.

[Joliet Jim]

 :+1

steady diet of seafoam? too expensive. anytime I get a new bike that has been sitting, and may be gummed up, it gets a bottle. beyond that i run what a bike calls for in terms of octane unless motor noises tell me otherwise.

[Spuddy]

There's one called "Lubrisil" and it has some silicone, between 1 and 10 percent according to the MSDS.  It looks like it's currently claimed to be a mold release agent.

JIM:

Stupid questions: What is MSDS?  What is a release agent?