Seafoam seems to have cured my idling problem

[Fritz The Cat]

When I bought my Valk about 2 months ago, it would not idle at all. I had to hold a little throttle to keep it running when i stopped. Well, after about 4 cans of Seafoam and 1500 miles or so, something broke free this morning and she started idling at about 2k rpm. Backed down the idle screw to about 900 rpm and all seems well. Glad i didn't tear down the carbs like I started to, 

  Coming back from the North Georgia mountains about 2 weeks ago I accidentally put 2 cans into one tank full of gas. She ran like crap until the next fillup but maybe that helped the process along a little faster. Anyway, Seafoam and a little patience can work miracles. 

[Ricky-D]

You are right in how you approached the problem.

Too many riders want to tear into the carburetors and even remover the carburetor bank prematurely.

I can think of a Pandora's Box when I read that kind of suggestion.

Simple measures are best and the complex left for the last resort.  I guess when some start to have a little idling problem they are already willing to jump to the worst possible response.

***

[Patrick]

Glad to hear it worked.. Sea-Foam + patience = a good thing.. I like the stuff..

[Toledo Mark]

The price sure has gone up on Seafoam.  I was in a Dollar General store today and saw it for $9.  That is a company to buy stock in.

[Dougs2000IS]

Check out B12 Chemtool at wallyword. If you read the ingredients its got stronger stuff in it than Seafoam. And it seams to do a better job. And CHEAPER.

[The Anvil]

Check out B12 Chemtool at wallyword. If you read the ingredients its got stronger stuff in it than Seafoam.

That's not necessarily a good thing though.

[Farther]

My intake O rings started to weep after using a good dose of B12 Chemtool.

[Ricky-D]

My intake O rings started to weep after using a good dose of B12 Chemtool.

Maybe the Chemtool dissolved all the buildup that was keeping them from weeping!

Jus sayin

***

[thunderbass53]

SALE on Seafoam at Advance Auto Parts!
16 oz. can for $6.99....

[98valk]

there are much better products out there at a lower cost then the religion of seafoam. Such as modern formulations by regain, redline, amsoil, chevon and the new lucas. R, C, and L avail at walmart.
SF is an old formulation and not recommended by car manufactures as a few of the new ones are. The intenet faithful have caused the rise in price.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=269397
seafoam  
1. Pale oil 40-60%  just a lubricate, doesn't burn, some internet postings possible cause of hydro-lock
2. Naptha 25-35%   cleaning fluid
3. IPA 10-20%        alcohol,  doesn't your gasoline have 10% alcohol in it already?

Chevron/oronite says:
PALE OIL - straight naphthenic mineral oil, MVI to HVI, straw or pale yellow in color, used as a once-through lubricant and in the formulation of process oils

Naphtha is a cleaning fluid, lighter fluid, etc.

IPA  Isopropyl Alcohol

[The Anvil]

I don't give a s**t. We know Seafoam works without harsher solvents than necessary so one can a year at 8.50 or so is not a big deal. By all means try others if you want but I'm of the opinion that if it ain't broke, don't try to fix it.

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

I don't give a s**t. We know Seafoam works without harsher solvents than necessary so one can a year at 8.50 or so is not a big deal. By all means try others if you want but I'm of the opinion that if it ain't broke, don't try to fix it.

Yep. It's gotten me out of carb trouble more than once without the need for carb disassembly. Once when I was a long way from home. I won't mess with success.

[highcountry]

I have been using Techron and B-12 in the bikes and cages and both have worked well.

[thunderbass53]

Ditto. The Techron has been great for me too, I use it in Ruby (Valk), our Nissan Maxima, our son's F150 and his DR 350 dirt bike. It's worked VERY well on all...
Watch Advance Auto Parts...it's BOGO quite often.

[Hoser]

I read the newer cans of seafoam and it says it is good for off season storage.  Although I don't store mine, that is a plus.  I must agree with Anvil,  It works well for me.  Hoser 

[The Anvil]

I don't doubt that it's popularity and brand recognition has increased the asking price though.

[98valk]

http://www.fuel-testers.com/is_gas_additive_safe_with_e10_list.html

http://www.automotiveforums.com/t940930-the_truth_about_seafoam.html

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/fox-news-doctor-explains-toxic-dangers-of-same-sea-foam-that-reporter-was-slathered-in/attachment/seafoam/

[vicrider]

I've had good luck with Seafoam in a couple of applications before but been leery about using in a bike. Not because it could hurt the engine but rather the tank. I don't think the Valk tank is lined like so many newer tanks are from the factory. My Victory tank is lined and some of the people who have used products other than the Victory logo cleaner have had trouble with flaking of the tank lining. My new to me Valk has not been run enough and I need to run some cleaner thru it for sure. Is it safe to dump a FULL can in the tank with fillup versus the 1 oz. per gallon I've used in cars and outboards and other small engines?

[Farther]

I never use less than a full can of the stuff at a time.

[YoungPUP]

I've never trusted all the vooodo oils etc, but after using seafoam to clean a spark arrestor screen from a chainsaw that was a SOLID sheet of carbon, I will never use anything alse. You may need to soak the part if its BAD, but I run it through the fuel system of everything I own, from the weedwhacker to the cages. If you have a Menards hardware store aroung its usually there for 6.99 a can. Tractor supply has it for 60.00 a gallon, and last i checked could get a 55 gallon drum if you needed it......

[98valk]

FYI

http://www.jhodson.net/miata99/inj-cleaners.txt

http://www.f150forum.com/f7/411-additives-63987/     reasons not to use seafoam all of the time

[Ricky-D]

That's why I stick to non-ethanol blended gasoline.

No problems when you can run on the non-ethanol stuff.

Here's the map for you to locate a gas station near you.

http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp

***

[Richythebluesman]

I posted this on the  "Updated on my ideling problem" and it is just as applicable here;

My stealers parts man suggested I try Starbight's Startron.
The package says it cures "ethanol problems"  Since he never steared me wrong, I bought a bottle.
Three remarkabkle things happened to my Valk; 1st the terrible exhaust smell was eliminated;
2nd the throttle response improved;
3rd the gas milage went up by 10 to 15 %.  
Usually when I pull the trailer I was getting 33 MPG, last time (with Startron) I got 38 MPG.
I tried the product in my car, the gas milage went up also to 10 to 15 % improvement from 22 highway to 27 highway MPG.
The product will do other positive things. I checked with the parts man @ Auto Zone, he rates it the best for what it does.
If it does nothing more than increase my MPG, the product pays for itself.  

[barbarianthemadserb]

Thanks for the tip on Startron. I am gonna pick up some for my bikes.