I have a 1976 F-150 and I put some B-12 in the brake booster, oil, and the gas tank. I let it sit for a good 30 minutes and started it up. It fired right up(which is a first) and it also hardly smoked?! Did I do something wrong or do I have a clean motor?

 

Did the motor smoke before?

Have had good results with B12 - but I've limited my usage to the gas tank.

Suggest nothing wrong was done - but with a 34 year old motor - doubt it's clean after one application. Have always been careful with flushes and cleanings - figuring that gunk stuck in place may be better than gunk broke loose to wreak havoc.

 

maybe try seafoam. I've never heard anything good about B12, though nothing bad either, just not as good as seafoam.

 

with seafoam, you have to have the vehicle running while you suck 1/3 of the can of seafoam in the brake booster line...after it sucks into the line, you have to plug the line with your finger....

 

Thanks for the input! I wanted seafoam because Ive heard good things about it but at the time of night I was working on the truck the only thing open was walmart and they don't carry seafoam. I prob should have waited but I was on a mission that night! The engine does smoke pretty good right when you start it up but then after it gets warmed up it is less. The forum I read on here said to pour it into the brake booster until your truck dies....mine never died but it did struggle. After that I shut it off and let it sit for awhile! Maybe I'll try seafoam also....do you think it will hurt to do both?

 

Got to thinking - hell, a '76! Don't really need to fool with the brake booster line - can do it the old-fashioned way and trickle it on down the carb throat until the motor gags. Be careful for any backfires or belches - heheheh, although it would provide for some entertainment to your friends and family about the lack of eyebrows.

Suggest you're going to get limited returns on any additional applications in the near future - and at $4-$6 a can, this gets expensive quick.

The smoking on start-up might be attributed to worn valve stem guides or valve stem seals. Fixing worn stem guides gets a bit involved, but replacing the seals are easy enough if one doesn't drop a valve down into the cylinder in the process.

I figure I can put up with a little smoke, given the cost and effort of adding oil, versus the cost and effort of messing with the heads. Did replace the seals - noticed an improvement, but still puffs a bit on start-up after sitting a few days.

 

this used to mean valve guides were worn but haven't had the problem for years