Joey Clams

Gentlemen,
I have read on here several times that before I attempt to change the plugs on my 2004 5.4 3valve engine, members recommend running several cans of Sea Foam through the gas to break up carbon deposits. My question to our resident experts is this: Other than the price, what's the difference between these four products, and do they all provide the same result?
Thanks for your replies in advance.

redfishtd

I broke several on my 05 . Had the lisle tool, thats what you should make sure you have it to start with . Read ford tsb . Sea foam didn't do anything for me but make a cloud of smoke . Carb cleaner soaking around plug while wiggling an 1/8 th of a turn if it can get past threads is your best bet . That carbon is way up there on that plug and its hard for heat to touch it . Carbon is very heat resistant .Use the new sp546 plugs . Clean that carbon out of there before trying to install new plugs .
Blow out all around hole before you ever start, keep that dirt and sand out of cylinder ..

techrep

iTrader: (1)

Joey Clams

Original Plugs were changed at around 90,000 miles, I'm now at 212,000 miles. I believe that the one piece plugs were put in, but I'm not certain.
I'd like for this to go as easy as possible, so I'm up for anything that will help.
Regarding my original question, Does anyone use these fuel additives? Do they work? Is there a difference in the products?
Thanks again.

Tommy J

Some say they help a little others say its a scam. best bet is to soak them with carb cleaner

cwalter

I had the original 2 piece plugs in and they started skipping at 147000 under light loads in overdrive at 45 to 55 mph. put in sea foam with one third tank of gas.ran almost out added more sea foam and one third tank of gas. 2005 5.4 stopped skipping . slowly removed plugs with aries tool by hand .none broke.used carb cleaner after loosened. worked back and forth. very little carbon build up. all plugs were worn between 72 to 75 thousands but were cleaned up enough to fire. cleaned up coils and boots and lubed. used 515 plugs ran good

Blckadder

I recently did this on my new-to-me 06 F150, got lucky that they were already replaced with SP 515 at some point so no breaks. I did run a couple cans of Seafoam in there, but I don't think it penetrates up the wall enough to really matter. I do recommend you check the local auto parts store to see if they have a Leisle tool for rent in the event you need one, they just need a deposit that you'll get back when you return the tool. Good luck!

BareBonesXL

Those treatments generally do very little carbon removal, if any. They might clean some dirty oil off of intake surfaces. But they are certainly not going to penetrate the spark plug threads from inside the cylinder.

There's a ton of videos out there that show how they don't really do much.

PerryB

I ran two tankfuls of Techron treated gas (40 gal. batch in 36 gal. tank) through my '05 and got all 8 out clean at 95,000 mi. I do a lot of highway driving so maybe my carbon build-up wasn't so heavy. I was very happy when that last one came out!

650NutKase

If you've already done the plugs once, hopefully the new style are in there that don't break. If this is the case, there should be no need for any special procedures, as the plugs should just come out normally. As far as those particular products go, I would opt for the Gumout, as it is the only one with polyetheramine (PEA) in it. PEA is the best type of cleaner to actually do some work to remove deposits.