Humantorch

I'm sure this thread is gonna ruffle some jimmies to the point of thread being deleted but here's my experience and why I'm never using another additive in my engine again.

Had a rock solid 2004 4.6L f150 non heritage with 131k miles. Purred like a kitten, idled so smooth you couldn't tell it was running and a friend recommended I use some seafoam to maybe clean the throttlebody and intake up a bit.

I did some googling and saw nothing but rave reviews and how amazed everyone was and how clean it gets everything and there are stacks and stacks of it anywhere auto parts are sold I figured what the heck.

I followed the instructions, letting it slowly spray into the throttlebody with the engine running at 1500 or whatever rpms.

Almost immediately after the seafoam my throttle body actuator died and I developed a leak in the throttlebody gasket.

Oh well, must have been a coincidence, replace actuator, clean throttlebody, new gasket, good to go!

Not so fast.

I begin to develop a rough idle (which persists to this day) but I figured it was just building up carbon from not having been on the highway for a while. Since I only used the truck for construction jobs in town it didn't bother me. No less than a day or two later I notice my coolant level is a bit low. Not much, a few ounces, oil looked good so I topped it off and go on about my business.

3-4 days after seafoam at this point and the oil is a milkshake, misfiring like crazy, losing a quart a day hitting 240 degrees. And also leaking coolant in to the spark plug wells.

This junk basically destroyed every gasket it touched, destroyed the motor mounts from rocking back and forth so hard, destroyed both cats and I'm pretty sure my exhaust valves are toast.

Several hundred dollars and a bottle of bars leak later and at least it can idle without waking the neighbors up 3 blocks away.

The moral of the story is. If it ain't broke, DON'T FIX IT.

moparado

I use Seafoam all the time in my vehicles, tractors and ATVs fuel tanks with no problems.
But i don't pour it down the throttle body.

How in the hell did it destroy the motor mounts?

This whole thing don't pass the 'smell test'!

Humantorch

Motor mounts were likely original. Violently rocking back and forth from running on 2 cylinders would be the straw that broke the camels back.

Summers22

iTrader: (2)

First, no it didn't. Second, it should have been introduced through the brake booster line and only at idle. Third, the only correct way to clean a throttle body on an 11th gen is removal, then clean.

Humantorch

The can came with a bendy tube and the video from seafoams yourtube said spray it in the throttlebody at high idle. And the throttlebody doesn't get dirty, just the underside of the flap. which can be cleaned with a rag. Pulling it off to clean the flap is a waste of time.

Summers22

iTrader: (2)

Well I pulled my throttle body off numerous times on my 07 5.4 and cleaned more than just the "flap". Never an issue doing that way for me, 168K trouble free miles. Like you said, the truck ran great, idled great and yet you still believed the hype of Seafoam.

BareBonesXL

with auto parts store miracle cures.

Humantorch

The $45 can is the real deal. Couldn't believe it sealed the leak up that quick and complete.

idrive

iTrader: (3)

Not even close to the 1st horror story I've read about Seafoam on this Forum.

Humantorch

Can't argue with results. went from blowing so much smoke my neighbor came out because he thought my house was on fire to no smoke, no misses and coolant system tight as a drum.

I've heard it can clog heater cores and such but i'd rather have no heat than spend $1000 to fix a head gasket on a motor worth $500.