Miles per gallon went up

[Boris Bush]

Over the weekend I did a mileage check. Took the family on a mid winter weekend vacation. Over exactly 100 one way miles of driving in 15-20F temps at 75 to occasional 70mph I got 38.4mpg. Auto trans four door 2008 loaded down with family and gear for three days. Never had it do that good.

only things I did different was 3.000 miles ago I put seafoam in the oil and (directions followed to the T) drove it 100 or so miles then changed to valvoline full synthetic high mileage. I also did a seafoam to the gas a couple tanks before the trip. The car has a total of 99,500 miles.

nothing else has changed. I know the seafoam made it run more smooth and it had to clean out the fuel system as well. The oil might make a small difference but that's 4.1 mpg better than every other trip it went on.

Just thought I would throw it out there that seafoam clean in the oil and in the gas works if you follow the directions. The oil may have made a difference but like I said. Oil won't makthat huge of a difference.

[Daox]

Thats cool. I try to do seafoam or an injector cleaner every year or so just to keep things cleaned up.

[Boris Bush]

Thats cool. I try to do seafoam or an injector cleaner every year or so just to keep things cleaned up.

I have used other injector cleaners with zero results. I tried seafoam an a what the heck can it hurt attitude in my Harley and was happy with it meeting claims. It far exceeds anything I thought it could do for the car though. That is not a fluke. I am somewhat satisfied with the cost to results ratio of seafoam. My intake is clean so I don't do the brake boost method but it cleaned up the engine from use in the oil and putting it in the gas.

Just thoight I'd put it out there for anyone with a getting up in miles aveo. The valvoline full syn high mileage don't burn a drop either. Great oil for this snowy cold winter we are having this year.

[Thymeclock]

I have used other injector cleaners with zero results. I tried seafoam an a what the heck can it hurt attitude in my Harley and was happy with it meeting claims. It far exceeds anything I thought it could do for the car though. That is not a fluke. I am somewhat satisfied with the cost to results ratio of seafoam. My intake is clean so I don't do the brake boost method but it cleaned up the engine from use in the oil and putting it in the gas.

Just thoight I'd put it out there for anyone with a getting up in miles aveo. The valvoline full syn high mileage don't burn a drop either. Great oil for this snowy cold winter we are having this year.

So here's what I want to know: what are the ingredients in SeaFoam? Other than its clever name, what is it that makes it alluring? Does it actually foam? Is it water-based? Why is this automotive additive called Sea Foam?

The "what the heck can it hurt" approach is what sells patent medicine (AKA snake oil) and automotive additives. If you believe in anything strongly enough, you will become convinced that it works, and you will try to convince others of its effectiveness.

I understand what fuel injector cleaner is. I understand what carburetor cleaner is. Some additives are straightforward and have proven to be effective. I even remember Marvel Mystery Oil, and it's probably still being marketed and sold today. That product was as much an alluring additive as Sea Foam now is, but Sea Foam isn't currently touted as being blatantly "mysterious". I haven't needed to use Sea Foam, and I'm not about to waste my $$$ on it. All my decades-old cars run as well as new without using it. That's not only a fact, but also my personal observation based upon 45 years of car ownership and driving experience.

I agree, using it or virtually any additive can't hurt. But that doesn't mean that it helps anything, either.

"Ya gotta believe..."

Okay, believe what you want to believe. But let's not confuse belief with fact.

[Boris Bush]

So here's what I want to know: what are the ingredients in SeaFoam? Other than its clever name, what is it that makes it alluring? Does it actually foam? Is it water-based? Why is this automotive additive called Sea Foam?

at first I laughed pretty hard at your post. This first paragraph pretty much says I have no clue what I'm talking about so don't waste the time to read the rest of the reply.

The CAS numbers to every chemical in it is right on the can. First problem you seem to have is, you don't know what a CAS number is. You must first learn what they are and what them chemicals do for water emulsion in gas and what they do to clean varnish and sludge. After that you will know the benefits of each chemical in it. You seem to think it is water based because seafoam is on water, well naturally occurring seafoam is not water. It is hydrogen peroxide, and it foams on the beach, hence the name.

My aveo, just like every other car, truck, motorcycle I have owned is maintained better than it should be. This is the first time I tried it. So after 5 full tanks and getting an actual logged 44 miles more per tank at today's low gas prices I have saved $$. Just did the math. The can costed me $6.89. Now in your world this may be wasting money, not in mine.

I am am not some bubba just spewing BS and regurgitating an advertisement. I am telling you my 99,500 mile aveo is getting 4+mpg better after a single use in the gas tank. This may be hard for you to understand, but as I sit here logged into reality it looks pretty good to me. Saving $7.58 so far May not be a big deal to you, but it is to me, especially that I plan to use it again when mileage looks like it is starting to drop again.

I am just clueing in some members into something that might also help them. I fully expect it to fail miserably if people expect it to fix mechanical issues due to abuse. Nothing in a can will fix a car. But a well maintained high mileage one might see the same gain I did. This is what my concept of any forum is. We share those things that can help, and share things that will hurt. If I seen a drop I would have made the same post, just letting people know it hurt instead of help.

[Thymeclock]

at first I laughed pretty hard at your post. This first paragraph pretty much says I have no clue what I'm talking about so don't waste the time to read the rest of the reply.

Your response sounds unnecessarily defensive. Questioning and lack of agreement might bring discomfort, but those who are confident and secure in their stated positions will not act as though they are being threatened by skepticism or doubt that is raised. I'm not attacking you. I'm questioning the validity and effectiveness of a product and your belief in it.

I accept that the SeaFoam worked for you. I never said that it couldn't possibly work. I questioned its ingredients and the manner in which it is being marketed.

What I am saying is that it's just one of many automotive additives of dubious value. Additives are usually bought by people hoping for a quick fix and a cheap solution for a problem that is often expensive and irremediable. The auto parts stores have shelves full of such additives. Some do work. Some will never work. And some work some of the time, depending upon the circumstances.

[06T200]

Thanks for the tip Boris! One of the rare seafoam stories that actually has a positive conclusion - for a change. Any effort to clean the injectors (on the bench, or additives) can help restore a clean spray pattern and this can add on an MPG or so. But you can do this with any cleaner product, even straight kerosene, which is the main ingredient in most of these 'products'.

Here is one comparison showing what chemical cocktails are in these 'snake oils'. Comparision of some injector cleaner ingredients | Fuels and Fuel Additives: Gasoline and Diesel | Bob Is The Oil Guy

and the main ingredient in seafoam?? Naphtha - good ol lighter fluid! I would guess the additive packages in most pump gasoline (at least here in CA) contain many of the same ingredients.

[Thymeclock]

Thanks for the tip Boris! One of the rare seafoam stories that actually has a positive conclusion - for a change. Any effort to clean the injectors (on the bench, or additives) can help restore a clean spray pattern and this can add on an MPG or so. But you can do this with any cleaner product, even straight kerosene, which is the main ingredient in most of these 'products'.

Here is one comparison showing what chemical cocktails are in these 'snake oils'. Comparision of some injector cleaner ingredients | Fuels and Fuel Additives: Gasoline and Diesel | Bob Is The Oil Guy

and the main ingredient in seafoam?? Naphtha - good ol lighter fluid! I would guess the additive packages in most pump gasoline (at least here in CA) contain many of the same ingredients.

Here is a continued discussion of the subject that is relevant:

http://http://www.bobistheoilguy.com...opics/269397/1

There is no point in arguing with Boris in his defense of SeaFoam. People tend to become angry when their beliefs are questioned.

[Boris Bush]

Here is a continued discussion of the subject that is relevant:

http://http://www.bobistheoilguy.com...opics/269397/1

There is no point in arguing with Boris in his defense of SeaFoam. People tend to become angry when their beliefs are questioned.

I do not defend anything. My best guess is you tried to fix a failing mechanical issue with it and you think it failed because a liquid in a bottle did nothing for you, or something along them lines.

You try to twist my post into whatever agenda it is you have, I won't have any part in that so thank god you are running along.

If you are so fancied by disputing what I observed then don't use feeble attempts at my intelligence and imply I don't know what's in it and then try to bring me down to your level and tell me it's nothing more than water that foams up the gas. On top of making yourself look ignorant to what is in the bottle and how it works you then pretend it did nothing. Well then prove it. Don't just come here and tell everyone you don't know what's in the bottle then tell me it's water and it actually did nothing. Cool story, really it is (your story). Now stop with trying to project your inexperience and lack of knowledge onto me. I know what's in the bottle, I know how what's in there interacts with moisture, sludge and varnishes. So come at this with hard evidence on why seafoam did not cause the mileage increase and explain to everyone what the actual cause was. Only then will you be seen as somewhat intelligent. You have failed miserably up to this point. Pretty sure my 11 year old boy knows more about maintaining a car than you do. From what you've said so far that's not an insult. Just an observed fact where I sit. Seriously dude, water that foams the gas.

[Thymeclock]

You try to twist my post into whatever agenda it is you have, I won't have any part in that so thank god you are running along.

I've been on this forum much longer than you have, and I'm not "running" anywhere.

In post #7 I wrote:

I'm not attacking you. I'm questioning the validity and effectiveness of a product and your belief in it.

I accept that the SeaFoam worked for you. I never said that it couldn't possibly work. I questioned its ingredients and the manner in which it is being marketed.

You conveniently ignore that and continue to squawk like a wet hen. You feel you are under attack because you have tied your ego to a bottle of automotive additive. With such a fierce defense of the product it suggests that you might be a sales agent for it.

You haven't added anything substantial to this discussion except relentless expression of how upset you are. It's time to calm down and untwist the knot in your panties.