seafoam and other additives By jct842 (Read 3,241 times)

[jct842]

I found a chart that lists gas additives and shows those that contain alcohol. SEAFOAM is one with alcohol in it and I am going to rethink buying it. May be rich could dig the chart out of this url and post it. I am not enough of a computer wiz to easily extract the chart for posting. when I tried to copy paste it strung it out and made meaning less jabber out of it.

fuel-testers.com/is_gas_additive_safe_with_e10_list.html

after reading some of the horror stories about gasahol jelling and forming other destructive compounds I am going to do all I can to get the crap out of my gas. If I have to pay a whole lot more for my small engine fuel I am going to do it. the car isn't that big of worry as I go thru so much fuel it doesnt sit idle in the tank but all of my small engines gas sits. that includes 3 motorscooters, 2 weed wackers, 2 chain saws, one outboard, and I just scored a like new john deere lawnmower made by john deere instead of mtd. john

[Alleyoop]

Well got to tell you I have been using Seafoam for 3 years now, I add 1 oz per gallon for my trike and I have yet had to take the carb off to clean it. I see they want you to buy THEIR PRODUCT notice they mention that the info is taken from writings NOT their testing at all.
Alleyoop

[jct842]

it does say alcohol on the can of seafoam though. I have had good luck with it too, but i do not like the idea of any alcohol in my gas john


I just sent this to the seafoam company:

I have been using seafoam gas treatment with good luck for several years. I am very concerned about all the alcohol in gas today. I have just noticed your product has alcohol in it. One of the main reasons I have bought seafoam is to combat alcohol in gasoline and now have come to realize seafoam also has it.

Do you have any plans to eliminate alcohol from seafoam? I have noticed not all gas treatments contain alcohol and am tempted to switch brands.

[mike6736]

Seafoam has been great in my Honda and my Magnum. I use it almost every tank, look at the pump 10 / or less added,,,,

Mike

[cookees]

I'm thinking of switching to Jack Daniels....

now if they only made pudding!

[tjupille]

I'm a chemist, so here comes the lecture:

All alcohols are not created equal. SeaFoam is mainly isopropanol (aka "rubbing alcohol"). Compared to ethanol (aka "grain alcohol") or methanol (aka "wood alcohol), isopropanol mixes more easily with gasoline and less easily with water. It acts as a "co-solvent" to drag moisture into the gas while still allowing the gas to burn, so that it won't separate out into its own (incombustible) layer. Being somewhat "water-like" it also tends to keep additives in solution so they won't precipitate out as gum and/or varnish.

As far as not wanting to add any alcohol to the gas, when you add 1 ounce of SeaFoam to a gallon of gas, the concentration is 0.7%, so it's nowhere near the 5 to 15% ethanol you see in pump gas.

I put an ounce or so in every few tankfuls on my wife's Kymco Super 8 150, and I put in a couple of ounces per 2-gal tankful every time on my Royal Enfield Bullet 500. No major problems with either one at 5,000 miles and 12,000 miles respectively.

-- Tom Jupille

[jct842]

this is what I got back from the seafoam company and very promptly too I might add:

"John

Alcohol(ethanol) absorbs moisture and that’s what makes it bad for engines. Sea Foam uses propanol, which is a petroleum distillate, and emulsifies moisture and breaks it down on a molecular level . Sea Foam is by volume 6% IPA. There are different types of alcohol and this type is for moisture control. We have no reason or intention on removing propanol from our blend as this is the most effective way to control moisture in fuel.



Jim Davis

Sea Foam Sales Co.

Technical Service Director

ASE Certified Automotive Technician"

not being a chemist I just had to know why and now I know. putting more of the same thing that was causing the problem didn't make sense, but they cleared that up. john

[scooter12]

AlleyOoop,
I did not realize ethanol was being placed in gasoline. That it could damage engines until this year. Rode my 250 scooter 3.5 years not knowing. I use Seafoam today. I started it alot during winter and that maybe why it is still running.. But only noticed a few hoses ruined in this time. Not to bad, for never adding nothing to ethanol gas..

[richardthescooter2]

I use sea foam and it is a great product, when I took my carb off to adjust float I could not believe how clean that carb was. (Awesome:)

[Alleyoop]

Yes, the other very important part of the equation is to use a good Fuel Filter that will trap any tiny bits of rubber or whatnot from the hoses and or tank. I use the VISU type fuel filter and when you see it is getting black time to change it.
Alleyoop

[mike6736]

Good idea Al, when I relocate mine on the Honda I will use on of them.

Mike

[Alleyoop]

I like the VISU they are strong as heck and you do not have to worry about the inlet or outlet breaking off. Learned that back iin 2009 when I first got the Trike, it had a cheapo Fuel Filter . Riding around with my brother-in law and all of a sudden I am spilling fuel all over the place. Been using the VISU eversince, actually in Sept I finally put on a new one since I bought them back in 2009.
Alleyoop

[redroush00]

I use non ethenol gas. Is Seafoam still useful ?

[jct842]

What they sent me says it breaks down moisture and unless you live where there is none, seafoam is useful.

[Alleyoop]

You guys make to much of this stuff IMO and I really have to laugh my butt off. The reason I use Seafoam is becaue it does not allow any Varnish buildup and that is why I use it so I do not have trouble with clogged tiny passages in the carb. Most problems with carbs is that the tiny fuel outlets by the BUTTERFLY get clogged not so much the Jets and that is why I always say you have CLOGGED PILOT JET AND OR PASSAGES and to clean and CLEAR BOTH. Most just clean the jets but the real CULPRIT are the "TINY" fuel outlets by the butterfly.
Alleyoop