I know that a lot of you are afraid to try seafoam on your higher mileage cars because it may knock carbon loose and decrease compression. I couldn't find anyone on here who had tried it and measured compression before and after, so I did it on my civic today.

Compression test method:
1. Bring engine to operating temperature
2. Unplug under hood ecu fuse
3. Tie open throttle body using string
4. Crank engine 5-8 times, until pressure stops increasing

Engine:
d16z6
100,000 miles
no block work done
"oil system cleaner" from Mobil Lube Express used twice in history - at 88k and 95k
"gas treatment" from Mobil Lube Express used once in history - at 95k
*no noticeable difference from either product*

Compression Test 1
*All numbers were double checked*
Cylinder 1: 173
Cylinder 2: 195
Cylinder 3: 190
Cylinder 4: 200

Seafoam notes
1/3 can in through brake booster line
1/3 can into crankcase (oil hole)
full can into gas

I shut off the car after funneling the seafoam into the line. I waited 5 mins, and then drove it hard for 15. The car only really smoked for the first 2 minutes. It looked like my car was burning out, going down the road, hehe . After the 15 mins of driving, I noticed the car was a little QUIETER - not really any smoother. It was already smooth to begin with though. I'm not sure if it was quieter because the seafoam in the oil changed the friction qualities of the oil, or if it actually did something good to my engine.

Compression Test 2
*All numbers were double checked*
Cylinder 1: 180
Cylinder 2: 175
Cylinder 3: 185
Cylinder 4: 195

Summary:
The Seafoam did lower the compression on all but one cylinder, and I'm not sure why it raised the compression on cylinder 1. My compression was great to begin with, but C1 was quite a bit off from the rest - I'm guessing due to carbon buildup. The seafoam leveled all the cylinders out - now there is only a 15 PSI difference between highest and lowest compression, where there was a 27 PSI difference before.

Recommendations:
On a high mileage engine, test your compression before you Seafoam. If your compression is lower than 140, then you probably shouldn't use Seafoam, as the carbon might be holding your engine together. If your compression is above 140, then go for it!

 

after seafoaming a motor, i would recommend a valve adjusment job. Carbon does build up on the valves and helps them seal. After seafoaming, the valves stay in the same spot, but there is no more carbon there to make the seal. Do a valve adjustment and then check your compression again. Post the results.

 

**** yeah on the writeup! Nicely done .

 

great post. i vouch for seafoam all the time and to read this gives me alittle more insite on it. thanks for the write up.

 

nice work. i am going to have to try this someday, im just worried something will happen to my 174k mile stock dx motor .

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by adictionbass &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">after seafoaming a motor, i would recommend a valve adjusment job. Carbon does build up on the valves and helps them seal. After seafoaming, the valves stay in the same spot, but there is no more carbon there to make the seal. Do a valve adjustment and then check your compression again. Post the results. </TD></TR></TABLE>
will do.

Thanks for the compliments

 

good stuff, thanks for giving proof to theory

 

Pretty informative post I have used Seafoam on lets see my Turbo SE-R, my friends high mileage Toyota pickup, my dads high mileage Ford Escort, all with decent results no problems or loss in power.

 

i'm suscribing to this thread. keep us posted when you do the valve adjustment

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civiccpedx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">nice work. i am going to have to try this someday, im just worried something will happen to my 174k mile stock dx motor .</TD></TR></TABLE>

dang i was gonna do seafoam, but my motor has 264k...so im guessing i shouldnt seafoam??

 

NIce write up, when I was working at Napa I always recommended seafoam over any other products. I also found out that alot of mechanics swear by sea foam and when they get a car in that idles rough that's the first thing they recommend.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Burns &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

dang i was gonna do seafoam, but my motor has 264k...so im guessing i shouldnt seafoam??</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civiccpedx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">nice work. i am going to have to try this someday, im just worried something will happen to my 174k mile stock dx motor .</TD></TR></TABLE>

do compression test on them before and see if u are above 140, and if so do it!
least thats what this thread was alot about...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Burns &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

dang i was gonna do seafoam, but my motor has 264k...so im guessing i shouldnt seafoam??</TD></TR></TABLE>

This post is saying that it is ok to seafoam high mileage engines Just check your compression before hand

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by walker111 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

This post is saying that it is ok to seafoam high mileage engines Just check your compression before hand </TD></TR></TABLE>

oh i see, how much are those compression testors at advance or autozone or something??

 

I am still lost on how he did the compression test, I have never done a compression test, but I will vouch for Seafoam all the way, I have done it twice on my stock d15b7(160,xxx miles) nothing but good stuff

 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obi...84132

 

Ive never done the compression test that way does it make a difference for the results or anything but good write up though

 

I seafoamed my 97 Ex w/ 90k and all went great.. not much smoking.. a lil.. but not "clouds"..

I plan on doing comp checks, pull valve cover, and head on my 85 Toyota truck w/ 285k original miles and then seafoam the hell out of it..

then i'll redo comp check, valve cover and head just to see how good of a job it did.. *this will be done in March on spring break*

No.. this truck doesn't see much duty.. it doesn't have insurance and never leaves the property.. i'll have to jump it off and air the tires first though... :lol:

i'll post pics when i get it all done..

 

thanks for the nice write up.