Should you use Seafoam with a 4 stroke

[JMW]

Would it be benefical to use Seafoam with a four stroke? Can you cause any damage by using it to often? How often should you use it? Would you use it on an almost new motor. I have a 2004 Johnson 140 four stroke. Seafoam has done wonders for my 17 year old four stroke Briggs & Stratton lawm mower engine. Started using it on the lawn mower a couple of years ago, but I only run one treated gallon threw it a season.

[fishhuntsd]

JMW
I have a 2004 60hp 4 stroke Merc. it has had seafoam in it from the very first tank full. My dealer said it was ok to use will not hurt a thing. I never miss a tank of gas without putting in seafoam. Good Stuff!!!!!!!!!!No need to put Stabil in for winter storage fill tank put in recomended sea foam and your fuel system is ready for winter. Had a 40hp 2 stroke for 4 years previous the 4 stroke and thats the way I did it with that motor and never 1 problem relating to fuel system!!!!

[SEAFOAM]

I have seen seafoam wreck plastic fuel filters, it turned the plastic filter element to a mush and the motor would not run.

[Eighties Pike]

Would using too much do this??

[BS]

"I have seen seafoam wreck plastic fuel filters, it turned the plastic filter element to a mush and the motor would not run."

That's a bunch of BS......

[Dan Devine]

How about in DI engines? I've heard not to use this, but not certain about the source... Cheaper than running Ring Free all the time.

[Pitts]

That is BS
I have ran seafoam in my V Max 150 for 5 years and I never winterize the fuel or head of the motor and have had no fuel related problems.

Sea Foam is recommended for fuel injected cars and your boat motor is no different than them.

Pitts

[mrbreeze]

I run 1 can of Seafoam per 20 gallons of gas in my 200 Opti. Everytime gas goes in, Seafoam goes in. I have a 2001 Opti that has never missed a beat. I'm a believer.

[SEAFOAM]

I see, since you have not had any problems yet, then it means it is good. It seems many people think seafoam is "magic in a can", it is not a replacement for maintainig your motor. And yes I have seen Seafoam melt plastic fuel filter elements, was it used at the correct mixture, I do not know, owner claims it was.

[Fins]

Seafoam is 100% petrolium. It will NOT melt plastic. The seal on the can is plastic, the cap on the can is plastic, the float in your fuel tank is plastic, some of the fuel lines are plastic. There is no chemical in Seafoam, it is entirely petrolium and will NOT melt plastic. Many of the fuel filters on small engines are plastic and when these small engines are stored for the winter and seafoam is present in the plastic filter for the entire winter nothing happens to the filter. It was either excessive heat or another chemical that the owner dumped it. But it was not the seafoam.

[Hoosier Hillbilly]

Take a plastic measuring cup;
Add seafoam and a plastic fuel filter and line.
If it melts any of the plastic parts;
You got $100.00 from me pal!

Try it you'll like it!

Jeffrey Nihart
South Bend, Ind

[Hoosier Hillbilly]

Take a plastic measuring cup;
Add seafoam and a plastic fuel filter and line.
If it melts any of the plastic parts;
You got $100.00 from me pal!

Try it you'll like it!

Jeffrey Nihart
South Bend, Ind

[Walleye Dundee]

I was told by an old time marine mechanic to run straight seafoam and kill the engine when it comes to winterizing...I have done it the past 5 years in my yammy 50...Engine runs great in the spring!! No problem with the plastic fuel filter.

[Pitts]

And what maintenance on the motor would you see as good. Instead of bashing a product you have never used please tell us what additives you see as a much better plan than Seafoam.
I live in MN and my boat at the most may sit for 2 months of the coldest weather when we have ice for hardwater fishing. About Chistmas if it is below freezing all the time to about Feb 28th. Is normal but if it is a warm winter and I see a 45F day I try to get out then.
Just before Nov I change the lower unit oil and check the prop shaft for line wrap and I also try to always fill with non ethanol premium with 2Xs the recommended Seafoam at 2 oz per gal.
I don't even care how much gas is in the Tk because I left it full one year and the siphon gods wanted it worse than I did:)


Pitts

[mrbreeze]

I'm just saying that I haven't had any problems with my Opti. Is it the Seafoam? Okay - I don't know for sure. However, I do notice a heck of a lot less carbon in my prop that thoose who don't run it - comparing them side by side. And a lot less carbon on my spark plugs. A lot less carbon tells me it is burning cleaner, and the carbon isn't accumulating in my engine the way it is in the others. That's enough for me since a high rate of engine failures are carbon related. If you don't think it works, then don't use it. I'll add your motor to my "control group" for this experiment. Thanks.

[SEAFOAM]

Ok,ok I stand corrected. I listened to your posts and did some research. I found the following test which is kind of interesting.
http://www.automotiveforums.com/t54232.html
I hope the link shows up correct. It must have been something else that wrecked the fuel filter. Still kind of sceptical, do not see how can have the properties of a stabilizer, engine cleaner and storage protectant, and do them all well. As far as what I use and recommend, what ever the manufacture recommends.

[Fins]

I'm not a chemist so I can't tell you why it works but I can tell you it does. I have been selling seafoam for around 13 years. I sell more of the seafoam motor tune up than any other item in my store except motor oil. I have sold over 5,000 cans and most people are very satisfied with it. Most, I say, because it is not a cure all. It is a better preventative maintainence item than it is a "mechanic in a can."

[mrbreeze]

Hey SEAFOAM - very interesting link - thanks for posting.