Karanx7

iTrader: (2)

I seafoamed my 170k 02 TL-P recently.

I started by driving around to warm up the car. I then sucked half a can through the correct vac line, and I poured the rest in a quarter tank of gas. After turning the car off, I decided to clean the throttle while I was waiting. This ended up taking me a good 20 minutes (Deep Creep + toothbrush). I then started the car, waited for it to stabilize, and then took it out for a spin. I stomped on the gas from a complete stop, and both the CEL and TCS light instantly came on. After a short while of driving, I started hearing this scraping noise. The next day, I got the codes read. I had multiple misfire codes. I started panicking.

Turns out the scraping noise was caused by the splash guard and the left front fender falling off. Gonna have to replace both, as they have been thoroughly chewed out. I reset the ECU (13 on the fuse) today, and the CEL hasn't come back.

Yay for things turning out better than I thought they would! Has anyone else gotten a misfire code from Seafoam? I'll be replacing my spark plugs and wires anyway, as it's about time.

01tl4tl

you managed to do the after drive wrong
No instructions here call for full throttle romps while heavily laden with seafoam

Supposed to start and let idle a minute till it will rev to 2000 without stumble
drive in low gears 2000 rpm till sounds cleaner and ready to rev to 4000
drive lower gears 4000 rpm with some throttle romps to 5000 for 5-10 minutes.
done

Of course it freaked out the sensors and gave the lights with the heavy amount of seafoam and extra crud it liquified with the extra cook time trying to get thru and out,,while you asked for more power and its still too close to a 50-50 mix in the plenums
As more fuel comes in and seafoam moves thru--combustion returns to normal

No need to reset the ecu from this--it should self clear false codes by driving a day or 2
so O2 sensors get clean again

repeat procedure in a month, add 1 can to half tank of gas,,then good for a year

half can to master vac port at TB, or thru TB throat if cleaning air plate too

half can in oil- drive 30 minutes and change oil and filter--do that when ready for next oil change

01tl4tl

If someone offers to sell you spark plug wires,,we dont have any!!!!

DO USE NGK Iridium spark plugs

Karanx7

iTrader: (2)

God, I learn so much from you, 01tl4tl.

It seems you've copy pasted those seafoam instructions over and over for us countless noobs. Some day, I'll just compile them and make a final Seafoam DIY with no errors.

I do have a question though. I am running with 170k miles, and I have never touched my O2 sensors. Does replacing them affect mileage/performance, or should I replace them when they fail?

01tl4tl

they would be due on mileage by now
I dont know if there is a scheduled replacement miles on the TL, other cars do have a limit around 100
New will get better signal response = improved fuel mileage and overall performance
A sudden drop in mileage is typical sign its really time~

01tl4tl

there are many ways to do seafoam right,,and only a few ways to go wrong big time
As some have already found~

ParaSurfer1979

Just watch on youtube. very good diy vids that explain how to do this. Why didn't you pour a 3rd in crank case then change oil within 100 miles?

01tl4tl

there are some pretty bad vids out there showing exactly how to do it wrong!!!

follow the diy info on azine- written for acura by acura owners, based on experience and lots of chats with seafoam tech support

vids will show full throttle romp from stopped--good way to hurt the engine!!
seafoam does not combust the same way fuel does,
it needs to work thru as more fuel perentage takes back over and burns right

not everyone is ready to change oil today, so the oil method can be done whenever car is ready, it doesnt affect the other methods at all

fuel tank gets more areas clean than vac port, but vac port does 80-90% of the job instantly--so a bit of both is required

ParaSurfer1979

This is the one i was mentioning. Youre right the motor should be steady at 4-5k rpm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVoUR8xRVSg

01tl4tl

I couldnt watch all of it--once he pulled a vac line with no vac pressure
and it wouldnt make tornado's in the cup
Dont follow his advice

the TL master vac port has a hose clamp on it!!!! its that much vac!!!
Must remove top plastic engine cover for access

a plastic sports/water drink bottle is better than that cup shown, allows you to control height of hose above liquid
Use a seperate piece of hose for the job.

DO NOT get the hose into the seafoam!! or it get a giant gulp all at once, stalls engine, can backfire in manifold,,,not cool at all~

01tl4tl

many prefer seafoam in its aerosol can version- Deep Creep- for getting the TB air plate and manifold vac port with sure fire control over amount

you can use a plastic spray bottle and make your own spray dispenser for cleaning just the TB plate with the regular liquid seafoam
Same exact product in each

rjheiss

I don't bother with Seafoam. Techron is a great product, just add it to gas, and it's frequently sold as buy one get one free.

01tl4tl

techron works too, but read the directions to get its most effective dosage
A cleaning does is different than maitenance

note for chevron station users: the amount of techroline in pumped gas is very little,
it even says: used over several tankfuls it will gradually clean...

I want results now!
doing the manifold vac or TB throat with strong cleaner will do just that

thelastaspec

01tl4tl

bk44 and redline SI-1 are also very good performing products..

I do use things besides seafoam,
it happens to work in several places on my cars and motorcycle, and machines around the house --that would otherwise require multiple products
Spray version even lubes all the door hinges!!

As always- read directions twice-- and use at max allowed doseage, usually a can/bottle to half tank

two times of that should do a good job for a year

oil cleaning: 1.5 oz per qt oil = almost half can seafoam and drive 30 minutes

For hardcore cleaning: change oil filter, add seafoam to oil and drive up to 200 miles- with at least 30 minutes solid when possible
Change oil and filter with fluid warm

I personally #DISCLAIMER!! Do at own risk# use some vtec rpm to get cleaner to all the places oil flows.
Sludge buildup can occur on cars driven few miles per trip
gen3 has an issue with the vtec sliders and sludging so I am guessing we do too

today I read about sludging clogging the tiny oil passages in rod bearings and sending a rod thru the block!!!
(low miles gradma owner 3kmiles a year! toyota)

Yayo_89

Hello everyone thinking about using seafoam, I've got a 99 tl with a huge gas bill it uses about 70$ to a tank and only give me close to 300km yes I'm in canada and 300 km to a tank isnt very impressive i use 91 octane and tried 94 and 89 no major differences. The tranny is also starting to slip in low gears but i doubt that has that big of an effect so im curious to know what might be wrong or if any of you guys have the same or similar problem. Thanks

01tl4tl

run 91 or higher gas only-no 89!!

seafoam the gas and manifold vac port for instant results
How old are the spark plugs?--using the correct ngk if replaced?

a slipping trans will ruin gas mileage as it struggles for gear engagement, and a constant battle with the engine to stay engaged in lower gears where the most torque is-and move the car

Its also a symptom of failing trans- lost fuel mileage

how does the trans fluid look and smell?
tried a 3 qt change to prolong its life a bit?

Yayo_89

yes the spark plugs were changed very recent but to the ngk platinum, i've flushed the trans fluid twice and added lucas stop slip but my tranny is finished so i must replace that