Ironhead How do you Seafoam your Ironhead?

[CaptCaveman]

Seafoam can do a lot to help to keep a carb functioning right but there are some things that nothing short a full rebuild can fix. I've used Seafoam at 4 oz per gallon to clear a crapped up carb and 2 oz per gallon for an over-winter fuel stabilizer.

[mak_sport]

Seafoam is made up from a Mix using naptha/camping fuel (5 parts), 99% pure isopropyl alcohol (1 part), and mineral oil (3 parts). Adding a very small amount of automatic transmission fluid helps absorb into carbon and break it free. this costs around $3.50 to make what I consider a lifetime of seafoam...

Yes these are the correct ingredients, MSDS books will never lie on whats in a product. its just figuring out the right % mixture. and this is as close as anyone will get it.

[hcrashster]

Add some Rum and a punchbowl and the party will never stop.

Still not sold on the stuff, must have an additivephobia or something.

[shooterj2003]

it cleaned up the injectors in my dodge real nice so I use it in my bike too-I just like the name.

[JBGoode]

Originally Posted by hcrashster

Add some Rum and a punchbowl and the party will never stop.

Still not sold on the stuff, must have an additivephobia or something.

That gas we use isn't additive free, it's cut like cheap cocaine. I'm certain the place that advertises "pure premium" is bs to charge 30 cents more than other premiums for that "peace of mind" thing.

[hcrashster]

Originally Posted by JBGoode

That gas we use isn't additive free, it's cut like cheap cocaine. I'm certain the place that advertises "pure premium" is bs to charge 30 cents more than other premiums for that "peace of mind" thing.

Too true. So unless you have a doctorate in chemical engineering, you may be better off leaving well enough alone.

Oil in the oil tank. Change it at a reasonable time or mileage interval and sludge will not be a problem.

Gas in the gas tank. Gasoline is engineered under 2 considerations.
The EPA.
Engine technology.

The gasoline you buy today isn't even close to the gas you bought 30 years ago. Hell, it's not even close to what you bought 5 years ago. There is a coordination between auto manufacturers, the oil companies and the EPA to fall at or under certain guide lines.
Some of these interests conflict of course, like horse power vs. fuel economy, [What the customer wants and what the EPA wants]. but the auto manufacturers keep building a better mousetrap, keep improving the technology.
And you can't do that without also improving the fuel.

So as you pointed out, there are plenty of additives in today's gasoline. Due to fuel injection and closer machined tolerances one of the additives that has been increased is detergent. I see no reason for adding more to the mix, as we are probably just under the threshold of washing the oil off the walls of the cylinders. If you want to add something to your gas I would suggest adding about an ounce of Marvel Mystery oil every time you fill up the bike. It will do the motor nothing but good. Especially with modern fuels.


NOTE: Information gathered thru several sites, American Society of Petroleum Engineers.

[JBGoode]

Yeah I was thinking about adding marvel to every other tank to lube up everything as I liked riding 2 strokes and I don't see any problems except a lil smoke. I'd never add seafoam to my oil, that's like adding seafoam into my blood flow.

[83XLX]

Mixing oil with your gas will increase carbon deposits. I've never used the "mystery oil", so I don't know if it's really oil, or what's in it, though.

The problem with the better mousetrap/different fuels progression is that we ride Ironheads, which are old mousetraps...

[hcrashster]

Marvel oil is kind of a misnomer. It's viscosity is more in line with gasoline than any oil.
I know and ride with people that do the mix and they tend to swear by it.
BUT, I've never seen one of their motors torn down so I can't attest to carbon build up, though I was told by one of my buddies that his cylinders still had crosshatch after years and years of riding.
Not exactly what you would call direct evidence.
Still, one ounce of a solvent mixed with 2 or 5 gallons of gas shouldn't build up to much carbon.
Hell,, after what I read last night, I might even start using the stuff.

[JBGoode]

since I bought my bike, I've used seafoam, owned it for over a year riding hard, and it's still got the cross hatches in my cylinders.