SeaFoam Vs. Techron, anyone have any opinions?

[cfiiman]

I searched the forums and it seems to come down to these 2 products (mostly) and I have always been a big fan of Seafoam. I have not used it yet in my Viper b/c I read a post where someone said Seafoam is so powerful it can knock stuff loose in the gas tank (I guess if there is any) and clog the filter which I hear is a PIA to change without breaking lines etc. After changing the fluids when I first got it I planned on running Seafoam through it but have been a little spooked to do so after reading the post. In leiu of using Seafoam I've been just driving it a bunch and runing Shell 93 that has the V-power additive. After doing this for the last couple months you think it would be ok to go ahead and run the Seafoam? Just thought it is a good idea to periodically run some good stuff along with an oil change, plus Seafoam is a stabilizer as well which is nice to have this time a year, but I still drive it on a nice day no matter what the temperature so I haven't worried to much about it.

 

[Martin]

I personally like using the Red Line SI-1 cleaner. If you use a full bottle in a tank, it will clean your injectors completely. After that, you just use a few ounces of it in each tank to keep everything clean. Been using it for years, and I can definitely tell the difference after I've neglected the car for a while. Mileage improves, car idles better, and when I've pulled the injectors, they were squeeky clean.

 

[cfiiman]

Ok, cool, I'll look into that one too, other opinions would be great!

 

[JoelW]

Never had any trouble with Seafoam and been using it for years. In my experience, it is the best stabilizer/additive I have found for vehicles not driven much and especially at season's end for boats, mowers, etc. I also have used Techron complete engine cleaner but not for the same things - just as an additive for cleaning. If you have to use one additive for a variety of things, Seafoam is my recommendation.

 

[plumcrazy]

never saw the need to do anything like that.

after ~ 48K miles, i opened the tank and it was clean, same goes for the injectors

 

[Ricketts]

Never used Seafoam, always seemed like a smoke and mirrors kind've product. Especially with all the it fixed my, etc, etc. But I can tell you Techron is recommended by many Car manufactures, so that surely has to count something.

 

[Phun70]

We use Techron frequently in the shop, it seems to be the only thing that would clean the GM spider injectors properly. I've had great success with it.

 

[VIPER GTSR 91]

Tom F&L whats your opinion on useing cleaners? IMO useing quality fuel like Shell is all thats needed.

 

[pure zen]

Personally,I buy the one gallon size of Lucas Fuel Injector Cleaner, and put 5oz. in my cars once a month.

I use to call on a Adesa Auto Auction account,and they would put 'two cans' of Seafoam into the cars that were running rough to smooth them out,,so they would pass going through the auction ring. I'm not saying to do that,just telling you what they did.

Techron is good stuff also.

 

[Dom426h]

never saw the need to do anything like that.

after ~ 48K miles, i opened the tank and it was clean, same goes for the injectors

Yea, thats you and your car, but this 1994 could possibly have been sitting for the majority of its 16year life using non-top tier fuel. If that is the case i'd assume that the fuel injectors are not flowing at optimal levels and would recommend using a fuel injector cleaner product.

Chevron Techron would be my product of choice:
Chevron Products: Our Fuels: Products and Services: Gasoline Additives

Im sceptical of most types of "cure-all" products like seafoam. Look at the smoking videos on utube. Im thinking that if your were to mention to a Chevron Chemical Engineer that you were considering using seafoam that he would laugh in your face

OP, how many miles are on your Viper?

 

[JoelW]

I don't care what Chevron engineers say - Techron is a good product but it is made for cleaning fuel systems. It is also an "over the counter" product that is not as strong as some technicians can buy for shop use. I've worked on cars for 40 years and one product won't do everything. I have used Seafoam and KanoCreme to unstick rings and they both will do that. Yes, it smokes like hell when you start up - but you put an ounce of the product on top of the pistons and let it sit overnight. Most of you are too young to remember pouring transmission fluid in carburetors to aid sticking valves either but it worked too. Of course some young folks have never seen a carb at all!! I am not a big fan of "Genie in a Bottle" products but many of them work as intended. NONE will fix everything. Seafoam is a great fuel stabilizer but it won't put hair on your chest - though I haven't tried.

 

[plumcrazy]

id wait for tom to answer regardless

 

[cfiiman]

Thanks for the answers, to answer a question that was asked I bought the car with 9K miles so it has not driven much of its life, and with the 373 gears in it and the calibration not done it could have 20% less mileage depending on when they were done. That is why I worry about putting something or anything actually b/c what if there is some "gunk" in the tank and it breaks it loose? That is why I started running shell 93 which has the V-power additive which I hear is suppose to be good, I figure I can clean a little at a time with just "great" fuel.

 

[JoelW]

Believe me, I am not against Techron. I use it and recommend it. But asking someone who has a vested interest in their own product will produce a very predictable response. My point is that using products for things not intended will not produce good results.

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

Since I now have a "real" job and a longish commute, I don't visit here as often. When these questions come up feel free to send me a PM (Plumcrazy!); it bounces to send me an email and I'll reply soon after.

Chevron Techron is a polyether amine fuel detergent and in the concentration used, will clean up carburetors, intake ports, valves, injectors, and combustion chambers. It is recommended by OEMs because Chevron is hugely conservative and either conducts tests with or has the OEMs review data from tests before they make any claims. They underpromise and overdeliver. I was at Texaco when Chevron "acquired" us and I can attest that they do not risk their brand reputation.

Chevron uses the same additive in their gasoline; regular use of Chevron, Shell, or BP will eliminate the need for any aftermarket additive. I wish I had a magic wand that would tell you which gasoline was using high treat rates and which were low treat rates, but don't have it yet. There is a test for polymer level in gasolines (ASTM D381) and if I find a source that shows these results, it will be obvious who has a high additive treat rate and who does not.

Seafoam is interesting in that they have one product that can be used in the fuel or the oil or astwo-stroke mix or in E85. They point out that when used in the oil, you are to watch for color and clarity because the oil will get darker sooner. While that is true (better oils have more detergents and dispersants and will get darker sooner) it is technically unsound to rely on the consumer to know when the color and clarity is "bad." Another red flag is that the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) only lists three ingredients - pale oil (mildly hydrotreated paraffinic oil), naptha (hexane) and IPA (isopropyl alcohol). It consists only of solvents - not chemicals with active components like the Techron product.

See Section 2 of the MSDS:
MSDS - MSDS

That's the 5 minute review. I'm sure frequent Seafoam users will have comments and I'll be happy to reply.

 

[bluesrt]

how about bg 44k?

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

This page shows BG 44K is part number 208.
BG Company

This is a list of MSDS sheets for BG products.
Index page

BG shouldn't be able to hide chemically active materials in the "petroleum distillate mixture" row. The other component is a solvent. Many of their other products are only solvents, not active chemicals. Hint, hint.

For more clarity, you could ask BG how much of each product is nitrogen-containing molecules and how much is not. Cleaning agents (which, like household cleaners, are based on ammonia) contain nitrogen and all the various forms of solvents only contain Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen.

The term "CAS" means Chemical Abstract Number. You can search for these unique numbers to find out what the components are. If it is a commodity, you will find it. If it is a proprietary chemical, it will say not available. That should help you figure out if any product has something "powerful" inside.

 

[eucharistos]

thanks tom

glad to read your postings again, very helpful

congrats on the "real" job

 

[plumcrazy]

tom is da man

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

thanks tom

glad to read your postings again, very helpful

congrats on the "real" job

Thanks. It's not another oil company, but a global chemical company that happens to also sell fuel and lubricant additives. It'll keep me up to speed, and more.

 

[JoelW]

You have confirmed in a technical and erudite way what I said about the difference in products. I don't use Techron as a solvent or fuel stabilizer, Seafoam works well for that. The only problem I see with advocating certain gasoline product use is that you must depend on fuel distributors to keep the addition of additives consistent. My father, a long time engineer for Mobil, reminded me that gasoline coming out of the pipeline is only changed by the companies that get it and then add their own elixirs - and that includes Chevron and Shell. It would be great to believe that everyone creates a uniform product but we have all seen the disparity in the quality of gasoline.

 

[Madduc]

Chevron it is, period.

 

[GTS Bruce]

In WNY our two choices are various no name including non taxed indian reservation gas which I use in my truck and either Sunocco or Mobil for the Viper both 93 Octane. Any comparison between the two Tom? GTS Bruce

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

In WNY our two choices are various no name including non taxed indian reservation gas which I use in my truck and either Sunocco or Mobil for the Viper both 93 Octane. Any comparison between the two Tom? GTS Bruce

good... better... best...

One measure is whether the marketer claims Top Tier or not. It shows that there is much more than the "good" EPA minimum; it is a "better' level. Sunoco is not on the list, Mobil is.

If Mobil used even more additive, there isn't a way to know this other than examining the performance claims they make. Since Top Tier is only a "keep clean" performance, if the advertising indicates it "cleans up" dirty parts, then they have something in the "best" category.

 

[lagalaxy13]

I had a Lincoln that the fuel sender would stick at 3/4 of a tank when it was full. This screwed up everything computer wise. I was talking with a shop owner and he said he uses Techron in many cars when they are having fuel problems, gumming up etc. He said it might take two bottles. So figure hell $12 is better then pulling tank and all that mess. After first bottom it moved some but not much. After second bottle, everything would work like the day the car was new. It sold me.

 

[cfiiman]

Ok, so in laymens terms, the Chevron techron is the best additive to add that won't do damage to anything and will more then likely clean carbon off injectors/valves etc. right?

 

[Dom426h]

After all that you still need verification?
Do you want me to fly over to Louisville and pour it in your tank for you

 

[cfiiman]

LOL know, just doubly making sure! Really what I was referring more to was the fact that in the OP I was worried more about clogging a fuel filter which I don't remember reading an answer one way or another on techron or seafoam.

 

[George Murray]

Have had excellent results with BG 44K. Have used it over 20 years in lots of rides. Love it. Have never tried Techron. I use 44K once per year in the ACR. And lots of other cars/trucks. I buy it by the case.

Seafoam? No luck with it at all. Ditto for Lucas fuel injector cleaner. Never noticed even a slight difference. Ancient guys swear by it - there was no competition back in the day I guess...

I do use Lucas oil and tranny additives in my trucks. Also their differential fluid.