SeaFoam

Just interested, how often does everyone add a fuel additive? So far I’ve been doing it with almost every tank, but I dont know if that is necessary…

Once a year…

…in my lawn mower.

In my experience you dont need it all the time if you are using the engine and frequently adding fresh gas. That being said I use it more and more in everything. Especially the toys that sit a lot. I rarely use in my autos.

I add it or Sta-Bil whenever I believe the gas may not be used for a while.

Can’t beat it for winter storage… I only burn NO ETHANOL , so there is not a need udring the season as I run almost every week.

I toss in a can a couple times a summer. No regular schedule, maybe late July and just before I shut down in the fall. I always store with Seafoam tho. Yamaha Ring Free is a must, 1 oz/10 gal regularly. Knock on wood- – jerr

I always put a can in the tank when I filled up the boat. Had 1999 200hp Optimax which Merc had several problems with and mine ran like a charm. My uncle who has had several boats told me to always use and I have not been disappointed.

every tank guy here, but then i make my own…

and the recipe is?

I use it every single tank. Even “ethanol free” gas can have up to 7% ethanol in it by law (may be 10% now, not sure if that passed or not). The only way to get true ethanol free is to buy from a station that buys it from a separate gas distribute that has true ethanol free, and there are only a few in the midwest. Nearly every single gas station that has a sticker that says “ethanol free” has 7% ethanol in that gas.

Gotta get the recipe out anyway, it’s that time of year. I make it once a year…

WAITING

WAITING

WAITING

i got my recipe from this web site:

http://hildstrom.com/projects/seafoam/index.html

use it in a burb, a rice burner (subaru), and thirteen 2 bangers OBs and 3-4 bangers OBs and numerous lawn mowers, trimmers, etc.

the photo/graphic recipe screwed up. i use:

4 parts diesel (from FF)

2 parts naptha (from FF)

1 part IPA (from FF) isopropyl Alcohol

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I use it every single tank. Even “ethanol free” gas can have up to 7% ethanol in it by law (may be 10% now, not sure if that passed or not). The only way to get true ethanol free is to buy from a station that buys it from a separate gas distribute that has true ethanol free, and there are only a few in the midwest. Nearly every single gas station that has a sticker that says “ethanol free” has 7% ethanol in that gas.

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Thats some BS false advertising…
A lot of stations around here have been advertising ethanol free lately. I bet its the same gas, they just put a sticker on it and call it good.

http://hildstrom.com/projects/seafoam/index.html
I know nothing, I hear nothing, I see nothing!

first and last tank of the year in all my equipment. never have had a fuel system issue with that program

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I use it every single tank. Even “ethanol free” gas can have up to 7% ethanol in it by law (may be 10% now, not sure if that passed or not). The only way to get true ethanol free is to buy from a station that buys it from a separate gas distribute that has true ethanol free, and there are only a few in the midwest. Nearly every single gas station that has a sticker that says “ethanol free” has 7% ethanol in that gas.

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Thats some BS false advertising…
A lot of stations around here have been advertising ethanol free lately. I bet its the same gas, they just put a sticker on it and call it good.

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Yes sir, it is total BS. I urge everyone to buy an ethanol test kit and check your favorite station, you will be very surprised. I tested all the ones here and can assure you there is no station in town that has real ethanol free gas. But they all sell “ethanol free”. I guess that sticker means you get some free ethanol with every tank.

From my experiences, the ones that simply do not have the sticker that says “contains ethanol”, usually 87, has 7-10% ethanol.

Have a new Yamaha F115…will be running the 10% ethanol and Ring Free. Let the beat up barrage begin…

There is only one place in Rochester that I know of that you can get true Ethanol Free gas.

http://www.throndsonoil.com/products.php

i agree with BBK. i urge everyone to get a tester and run your favorite stations. IA is the worst, MN second, SoDak/NoDak and WI about the best BUT NONE SELL WHAT THEY ADVERTISE…

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Have a new Yamaha F115…will be running the 10% ethanol and Ring Free. Let the beat up barrage begin…

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I am with ya you won`t here squat from me. I have a 2000 Optimax and have run 10% since I purchased it. I use Seafoam on a regular basis narry a problem.

Steve. Fleet Farm has a pump of 91% they claim is ETOH free. Not sure now after reading all this.

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Just interested, how often does everyone add a fuel additive? So far I’ve been doing it with almost every tank, but I dont know if that is necessary…

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Why are you running SeaFoam every tank? What ever’s wrong with your engine, get it fixed and then stop.

Sorry to burst your bubble out there, but SeaFoam is a fuel system cleaner. Nothing more, nothing less. It does NOT “treat” ethanol, it does not remove water from fuel, nor does it prevent phase seperation. If you thing ethanonl harms a modern engine and that SeaFoam somehow “prevents” this, you’re living a lie, man. Ethanol is actually a detergent like SeaFoam.

The only thing SeaFoam can help is problems that are caused by fuel or combustion deposits. If that could be your problem, then one tank of SeaFoam will either solve it or not. If you’re running SeaFoam every tank, stop and take your engine to a mechanic and get it fixed and running properly.

Grouse

Once in the spring and then again in the last tank in the fall. I have not had any fuel system issues and dont plan on having any so why change. Seafoam does act as a stabilizing treament for gasoline. I would rather use something that will clean as well as stabilize the fuel. A lot has been said about fuel with or without ethanol. As a mechanic I can say if you are running an EFI outboard your filter is going to remove anything the ethanol cleans from your fuel system. If your motor is has carbs I would avoid the ethanol.

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Just interested, how often does everyone add a fuel additive? So far I’ve been doing it with almost every tank, but I dont know if that is necessary…

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Why are you running SeaFoam every tank? What ever’s wrong with your engine, get it fixed and then stop.

Sorry to burst your bubble out there, but SeaFoam is a fuel system cleaner. Nothing more, nothing less. It does NOT “treat” ethanol, it does not remove water from fuel, nor does it prevent phase seperation. If you thing ethanonl harms a modern engine and that SeaFoam somehow “prevents” this, you’re living a lie, man. Ethanol is actually a detergent like SeaFoam.

The only thing SeaFoam can help is problems that are caused by fuel or combustion deposits. If that could be your problem, then one tank of SeaFoam will either solve it or not. If you’re running SeaFoam every tank, stop and take your engine to a mechanic and get it fixed and running properly.

Grouse

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So just wait until your system gets clogged and then get it fixed? Dont use something that keeps it running clean, just wait until its gummed up then fix it? A $5 can of seafoam per tank is not going to break the bank. Even if it does not treat ethanol, it still keeps your system running clean. Well worth $5 a tank when you figure you are already spending well over $50 to fill it, whats another $5 to insure it stays clean?

Sorry to burst any bubble you had by bursting a bubble.

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So just wait until your system gets clogged and then get it fixed? Dont use something that keeps it running clean, just wait until its gummed up then fix it? A $5 can of seafoam per tank is not going to break the bank. Even if it does not treat ethanol, it still keeps your system running clean. Well worth $5 a tank when you figure you are already spending well over $50 to fill it, whats another $5 to insure it stays clean?

Sorry to burst any bubble you had by bursting a bubble.

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Why would my engine get “clogged”? Whatever that is. Never had this “clogging” problem.

If you’re constantly having this clogging problem, we need to figure out what you’re doing wrong or get your outboard in to a mechanic and get it fixed. A properly tuned and maintained engine does not “clog” therefore there is no need for SeaFoam to prevent it.

Grouse

one of my staff ran an old jug of varnished out gas that had been set aside for starting trash fires.

screwed up 5-6 engines.

subbed in some super seafoam. ran it into the carbs and waited overnite. had all 6 running by noon the next day.

just me, but i don’t think any of it would have happened if he’d run our seafoam stock. he learned his lesson. our staff mechanics are too busy with breakdowns to be messing around with varnish…

First off, I get eth free gas when I can. I have to plan ahead my trips, and bring a gas can. otherwise 93 octane. put some seafoam in every fill up. regardless. Starting in mid sept, I start running the merc #3 storage stuff. to get ready for winter.
FYI, I add the seafoam to my truck and car, lawnmower when I can. Fingers crossed, everything running great…
2008 150 opti…

My bro and i just had to bring our 1991 40HP Mariner for electrical repair – the Stator and Switch Board – to Supreme Marine in Minneapolis. Because it was sputtering, we thought it was fuel delivery issues and we replaced the fuel line, connectors (tank to motor), and sparkplugs. We also told them we use a couple ounces of seafoam per gallon on every other tank.

Perhaps it was the age of our motor but Supreme Marine experts recommended we avoid using Seafoam. As they explained, part of the reason was because Seafoam has such a high alcohol content that it does burn and break away build up, however it also dries out the gaskets and other fittings it touches. The result can be cracked seals of the sorts (I cant speak to which ones per-se however i see where they are coming from.)

Instead, Supreme Marine highly recommended to:
1) Stay away from Blue Planet gas as that is notoriously high in other detergents harmful to boat motors (along with the ethanol content) — it’s manufactured for car engines. “Lucky” (insert sarcasm) for us in Minnesota, Holiday gas stations are all over the place. I like everything else about Holidays though…

2) Purchase ethanol treatment additives that essentially breakdown the ethanol/water component in the fuel. Depending on motor use, one $20 bottle could get you through your season. Examples are Star brite Star Tron Gasoline Additive (Star Tron Site with Ethanol Background), Marine Formula STA-BIL (Sta-Bil Site),there may be others but these are more well known/available.

3) For gas stations – ethanol-free gas is best as some have already indicated. I found this site that lists ethanol-free stations by state (Pure-Gas.org). If we can’t find the ethanol-free fuel, Supreme Marine recommended to gas up at BP’s, Mobils, Citgos, KwikTrips as there’s have less of these detergents. SA’s determined to be “ok” but not as desired as the stations just listed.

I suggest you contact your local marine motor specialists to confirm/corroborate what I learned from these guys. With respect to the comments already made, perhaps a motorhead can weigh-in on this thread.