seafoam

[sleeperhemi]

Hi guys. Random question about using seafoam and it may have a simple answer.....I just dont have it. I did the seafoam treatment in my 99 GS N/A. Put 1 third of the can in the gas tank...1 third in the oil and the last down a vacume line. Seemed to work great and put on a pretty good smoke show. Prior to using seafoam, if im in the car and its running, I might be able to get the RPM's up to 2500-2700 and thats almost the gas pedal to the floor. After putting the seafoam in and after waiting the 15 minutes for it to do its cleaning thing, I started it back up and the response during the smoke show was GREAT! I could get the RPMs up to almost 4k easily. Quick step on the gas pedal and rpms shoot up and engine sounds awesome. So, now that the seafoam is out of the system....Im back to barely getting 2500-2700. Im sure it definetely cleaned out some gunk but where did that power go? I know I just poured that straight into the intake but why dont I have that power all of the time? Not getting enough fuel to the motor? Pressure regulator bad? What do you think?

 

[undefined0000]

Inadequate throttle response goes from fuel to ignition to timing to sensors to a lot. You have to go through everything. Clogged fuel filter could cause a choking of the fuel rail, therefore the fuel injectors won't be able to flow correctly. A bad TPS will give bad reading to the computer to allow it to work fuel and ignition properly. It goes on and on. Not sure why seafoam gave you the ability to rev higher. I didn't think it was THAT combustible. Is it missing at all?

 

[sleeperhemi]

Not at all. Ive put on a new fuel filter, plug, wires, ignition coil so there are no misses. Starts up just fine...just seems to have no get up and go! I unplugged the TPS while it was running a few minutes ago and I got a CEL and the rpms dropped and idled rough.....plugged it back in and back to normal. I have noticed though that on the initial start up, if left to idle, the RPMs creep up to around 2K on its own and then back down. Only does it once though. If that means anything to you.

 

[undefined0000]

Creeping idle is usually a vacuum leak. Power steering pressure sensor also creeps the idle up at startup, but that shouldn't happen separately.

Check for vacuum leaks.

What is your idle at?

 

[sleeperhemi]

Just started it up. Started out going between a hair over 1K and a hair under 1K up and down and then settled at 700ish. Think the IAC is failing?

 

[undefined0000]

Just started it up. Started out going between a hair over 1K and a hair under 1K up and down and then settled at 700ish. Think the IAC is failing?

Sounds normal. It was probably a tad bit cold?

Failing IAC would yield for an extremely erratic idle or no idle. Don't think it would cause a throttle issue. Have you tried giving it throttle at the throttle body VS the pedal?

Do you know how to check for vacuum leaks?

 

[sleeperhemi]

seems to do the same when given throttle at the throttle body. Ive heard some ideas on how to test for vacume leaks yourself but none sounded very bright! What would you suggest?

 

[undefined0000]

What I'm about to tell you will probably sound just as bad.

Are you old enough to purchase tobacco products?

Get a cigar, puff the smoke in, and blow it into a vacuum hose. You're probably better off using the one that's on top of the throttle body or one that goes into the intake manifold. The objective is to fill the intake manifold with smoke and watch the hoses and see if anything comes out and that will tell you where the leak is.

 

[sleeperhemi]

Wells thats not what I had in mind but yes I have heard that one. Wont do any damage?

 

[T is for TURBO]

Ether/starting fluid... Spray it around possible vacuum leaks. A vacuum leak will suck it it and increase the idle a bit.

 

[Smash_NDash]

If you havent I would go ahead and change that oil btw...

 

[undefined0000]

Wells thats not what I had in mind but yes I have heard that one. Wont do any damage?

No damage will be done. Chemically, the smoke would leave a TEEEEEENY bit of residue on the linings of the hoses and intake manifold, but it will do no harm whatsoever. Professional "Smoke machines" do exist. Please be careful with the starting fluid trick. Its hard to mess it up, but it is very flammable.

 

[DSMBanditFZ6]

Yes change your oil if you are still running seafoam in your oil.

Smoke machines are great if you have one, I would find tooth comb all of your rubber hoses and vacuum lines for cracks. Anything after the MAF will result in speratic behavior..

 

[GSTurbo1]

Is that 420a stock? Did the car ever run normal when you had it.... if not you need to compression check. Sounds like you might be having some misfires.

 

[undefined0000]

Yes change your oil if you are still running seafoam in your oil.

Smoke machines are great if you have one, I would find tooth comb all of your rubber hoses and vacuum lines for cracks. Anything after the MAF will result in speratic behavior..

With this being a 420a, I do believe that there is no MAF, but a MAP inside of the intake manifold. Theoretically anything past the throttle plate leaking might cause issues because of calculations made using the TPS. Stop me if I'm wrong.

Is that 420a stock? Did the car ever run normal when you had it.... if not you need to compression check. Sounds like you might be having some misfires.

Good point on compression. I was hoping for mis fires, but if it climbs to the given RPM and stays smooth then its a bit more complicated. Right?

 

[Smash_NDash]

correct about the MAP sensor

 

[nickk90]

Pull the plugs. You may have fouled them out. Anytime I use Sea-foam I change the plugs afterwards. Some one else saying fuel filter might be on to something to. The in tank filter may be clogged or a injector clogged from the gunk freed up but the Sea-foam. Check fuel pressure at the rail while trying to rev the engine and see if fuel pressure drops out.

 

[DSMBanditFZ6]

correct about the MAP sensor

Woops, now I feel dumb. Anyways are you not supposed to put seafoam in your oil, run it, and then change it as per directions on the can?

 

[jayson427]

Yes you need to check your compression and maybe clogged cat? Your map sensor will make your idle rise like that but so can the iac or vac leak. I would check your throttle cable or rev it under the Hood.

 

[blakkat]

You need to describe this rpm limit better. Does it misfire at that rpm and keep you from revving it higher?

 

[nickk90]

I didnt even think about a clogged cat. Thats a very good possibility as well. Disconnect it and see it it revs higher.

 

[sleeperhemi]

Thanks for all the input guys. I dont think the cat is the issue. The car has a completely new exhaust from the manifold back. Everything is brand new and factory parts. No cheap stuff. It also has a new fuel filter. Compared to how the car ran when I got it, it is 100% better. There is no miss in the motor and the RPMs climb smoothly when you hit the gas. It just seems to stop around 2700 but sounds great while its there. Sounded even better when the seafoam was in there and RPMS climbed quicker- I dont know. I had a few folks tell me to try a bottle or turbo 108 in the gas and see what it does. Dont know about that.

 

[jayson427]

Better fuel isn't going to make your rpms go up like they should. It should rev to 6500 easy out of gear. Unplug the map sensor and rev it and see what happens or look at your throttle cable.

 

[blakkat]

If the vehicle will not rev over 2500 you should start looking into what would cause a rev limiting effect as cylinder pressures increase. Is the electronically controlled timing change operating properly. Ie is ignition advancing properly with rpm increase? I would also look at the injectors and fuel pressure regulator. If the fuel pressure regulator is not stepping up pressure as throttle input changes, it may be driving the fuel system lean and limiting the rpm.

 

[VelocitàPaola]

Let's stay on topic guys...