Seafoam

[Flint]

Buddy of mine asked what he should use to stabilize his fuel for several months in Florida and I told him a lot of guys use seafoam. He called me the other day and said his bike, atv and lawn mower  carbs are screwed up and going to need to be cleaned and the fuel smells like its 10 years old.
  He just left NY and put seafoam in all his stuff here, so now he is wondering what the hell is going to happen to the equipment he has here. I have seafoam in all my bikes also for the first time.
  Has anyone else had this problem?

[hmt81]

Can't speak to SeaFoam as a stabilizer. I know when I got the Fat Girl it had sat up a few years & SeaFoam could not resurrect the carbs. I read up on this stuff Pri-G & have been using this in all my gas powered items for the last 3 years with no issues as far as keeping things fresh. Google it for more info as well.


http://www.priproducts.com/pdfs/Flyer%20-%20PRI-G%20-%20CONSUMER.pdf

[old2soon]

Marine Stabil. RIDE SAFE.

[Windrider]

I'm unclear what the issue is. Is your buddy saying he took your suggestion and Seafoam failed in the listed machines? I have never experienced gasoline aging problems that I have seen described by guys in hotter climates than where I am. However, gas does get stale and if I have not used a fuel stabilizer of some type I'll have difficulty starting my seasonally used machines after they have been sitting for months. I have used Stabil and Seafoam (not mixed together) with success. I like Seafoam for the Valk.

[KG]

Sea foam is a cleaner for storage you need to use a fuel stabilizer such as marine stabil or Lucas as long as it's fore ethanol fuel

[Edvalk]

Marine stabil for me with no problems .

[Hef]

This is a non-stop debate, but SeaFoam has worked great for me for many years now and I will continue to use it until it fails.

[98valk]

The religion of SF is very overpriced for that purpose or any other. there are much better products out there at a lower cost. plus SF has pale oil which is a low temp oil which carbons up pistons and the back of hot intake valves, as any oil would do in a gas engine. its like putting some motor oil in your gas.
pale oil also has a low ignite point means it doesn't burn, hence the smoke, could be cause of hydro lock, cause it doesn't burn.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,10605.0.html

I use regular stabil at double the dose, never a problem. B12 every other tank when riding all of the time.

[Bone]

I'm in Michigan the bike goes to sleep for 3-4 months every year. I use regular Stabil mixed
by the directions. I run a couple of treated tanks through and then fill her to the top with treated
gas. That includes the lawn mower.
This has never failed in a few decades using an unheated garage.

[R J]

SeaFoam, Marine Stabilizer and any other product, isn't worth a sheet if ya don't run it long enough to get it into the car before ya shut it down.

At one time we had about 40 cars on the lot at the old shop.

All of the has SeaFoam in them.     We could add a booster battery and most of them woudl fire up and run.

Yes gas does get stale and it stinks worse than a good old beer fart.

No gas protection is not worth a sheet if not used properly.

As Forrest Gump would say:
"That's all I have to say about that."

[Ricky-D]

Seafoam as a gas stabilizer is promoted right there on it's label.

I have little experience with it, using it as a stabilizer.

I think Seafoam as an additive to clear up carburetor problems is

a fail, since in my opinion, Seafoam is the least aggressive in

that department.

***

[Patrick]

I'm a Sea-Foam fan. Actually a huge fan. I've been using it for decades and buy the stuff by the gallon.

It is both a cleaner and stabilizer.  It takes its sweet time about cleaning, but, is the best stabilizer I've found.

Its pretty expensive, but, even though I buy it by the gallon, whenever its on sale by the bottle I buy them. The local parts stores have it on sale a few times a year for 2 or 3 bucks.

All this said, like with anything, it has to be used correctly. It has to be completely mixed with the fuel, not just dumped in. Then the engine needs to run long enough for it get into the carburetors.

I don't mean to seem condescending, but, many times I see things used incorrectly and then folks start complaining.

[Black Dog]

Patrick & RJ got it right...  Toss the proper ammount in the tank, fill 'er up, and run it for a while, to be sure it makes it to the carbs.  Just dumping it in does not get it where it needs to be to do any good.

Black Dog

[Flint]

Called him back today and asked him how he put the seafoam inn. Said on his bike he put it inn and then drove it for several miles. On his atv and mower he just let them run for awhile. Could be that it wasn't thoroughly mixed.
   The mechanic told him that seafoam will loosen the deposits in his carbs and then when he starts his equipment up the deposits plug up his carbs. Also told him to use marine stabil. 

[ValkISDan]

I've used Seafoam for years in storing the valk with no issues.

[97BLKVALK]

I remember back in 1988 when I was selling automotive parts and body shop supplies and Seafoam was still a relatively unknown product.  When on a sales call Phil Fandrei who was the son of the inventor of Seafoam climbed onto a mechanics open engine compartment and said with a wink and a smile "What kind of mechanic are you with an engine that shakes like that"  He worked with the mechanic as he slowly poured 16oz of Seafoam down the Carb on the Chey pick-up until he choked out the engine.  The mechanic was miffed.  Phil climbed down off the truck and shut the hood, told the guy lets go have a cup of coffee.  We came back to the truck in 10 minutes and Phil and Mechanic started the truck, Boy oh boy did it smoke and smoke. they drove away south of town and I could see that truck smoke for 2.5 miles.  When they came back the hood was opened and the engine was as calm Honda Valkyrie engine. and not shaking one bitl.  The mechanic bought 10 cases of the product at the time cost 1.89/ can and as part of his customers engine tune ups he would have a $10 add on for a Seafoam tune up.

By the way,  What's the best oil to use in our bikes?   

Michael
97 Fast Black Phat Lady

[Tailgate Tommy]

I've used Seafoam and Marine Stabil in my 2003 Valkyrie since it was new. Use Techron in the months when I'm riding it. Never had an issue. But that's just my experience, yours may vary.

[Windrider]

The container labeling on BOTH SeaFoam and Sta-Bil promote the products as have cleaning AND fuel stabilizing properties.

I agree with everything Black Dog said. Measure it, mix, and draw it to the carbs. Nuff Said!

[doubletee]

I'm in Michigan the bike goes to sleep for 3-4 months every year. I use regular Stabil mixed
by the directions. I run a couple of treated tanks through and then fill her to the top with treated
gas. That includes the lawn mower.
This has never failed in a few decades using an unheated garage.

+1   I do the same in northern Indiana.

[radwhopper]

I use the Lucas Oil ethanol treatment on all my bikes because of the ethanol tendency to dry out seals. None of my bikes sit up long enough to worry much about storage. I'm not so sure about Lucas ability to keep the carbs clean though and am looking for something proven to be better.

[O-B-1]

I use a dose of FYAO every other weekend.

You have to go out, start the bike, gun the throttle a few times, leather up, then you aplly liberal quantities of FYAO.

If you're wondering, it's a new product called "Freeze Yer Ass Off".... 

[Pappy!]

Marine Stabil