Is Seafoam any good for a 2015 Ford Explorer? Does it really help or is it just a waste of money?
Are you dealing with a specific issue with the car? Seafoam is a mix of light oil, naphtha, and isopropyl alcohol. Under normal driving, it’s usually not needed and could be a waste of money. However, if your car has had a tank of gas sitting for a while, especially with ethanol in it, causing gummed-up injectors, you might want to try it in your fuel. Or, if you’re burning oil or the engine is overheating or hasn’t had an oil change in a while, Seafoam can help clean things up when added to the oil, but you’d want to do this just before an oil change—not long after.
I put about 1/3 of a can in my oil 50-100 miles before an oil change, and the rest in the gas tank. I drive an 18 FPIU with the 3.7L NA V6.
I have a 2013 Ford Explorer Sport with 120,000 miles. I’ve been using Seafoam for the last 4 years and have had no problems. In fact, when my water pump was replaced at 113,000 miles, the mechanic was impressed by how clean the valves were. He usually doesn’t see clean engines with that many miles. There was even a newer Lincoln Navigator in the shop with a much dirtier engine. So I guess the mechanic appreciated how well I’ve cared for my car—and it was Seafoam doing its part.
If you have a Turbo, absolutely don’t use it.
Riley said:
If you have a Turbo, absolutely don’t use it.
Why is that?
Riley said:
If you have a Turbo, absolutely don’t use it.
Why is that?
Seafoam can damage turbo bearings. Only use it if it says it’s turbo-safe on the can.
I remember my friend turned me onto Seafoam. The black smoke coming out of the exhaust was impressive. Afterward, the engine was really clean. I wouldn’t use it now that I have turbo engines, but it worked well before.
I’ve never used Seafoam. There are better options like Lucas Oil, STP, or Sta-bil.
I’ve heard BG 44K is one of the best fuel system cleaners. It’s expensive, and not always available at auto parts stores or Walmart, so you’d need to order it. Some people argue that high-quality gas already has the detergents to maintain the system, but people who use fuel cleaners say they notice better performance.
I used Seafoam once a year just to be safe. It’s not great to use additives in fuel, but I did it anyway. I’ve changed 2 purge valves, and now the ‘check fuel fill inlet’ light is on. I’m not sure if it’s related, just saying.
@Asher
It’s probably not related. My purge valve has been broken for 5 years, and it fixed itself after a while, lol.
DO NOT USE IT ON A TURBO CAR! It can damage the turbo bearings. Make sure the can says it’s turbo-safe. You can use Seafoam in two ways. First, pour it into your new tank of gas at the gas station and fill the tank to mix it. Or, second, use the vacuum line method. You slowly pour it into the line—be careful not to pour too fast, or you could hydro lock the engine. You can find videos online to show you how to do this with a vacuum line (just make sure it’s not an electronic brake booster with no vacuum line).
@Keaton
I’ve used Seafoam about a dozen times in my EcoBoost Escape. I always use a whole can when the tank is under a quarter. It’s oil-based, so it burns cooler than gas. You won’t blow anything up; at worst, it might make some smoke.
@Keaton
For the vacuum line method, it’s easiest to get a small line, dip it into the can, and repeat. Makes the process a lot smoother.