Seafoam is an engine detergent sold in auto parts stores around here
(Minnesota). I thought it was a fairly universal product, but nobody else
seems to have heard of it, so maybe not. I'm not trying to sell the
engine short. Its simplicity of design, and resilience are a couple of the
reasons I like the brand to begin with. What concerns me is that the car
was stored (if you can call letting it sit outside in the rain with the top
down for multiple years storage) with very dirty oil in it. Which gives me
an idea of how much it was loved and cared for before it was "stored" When
I drained the oil, it had all the consistency of cold molasses, and was
blacker than tar. What I'm thinking is that years of sitting may have
caused the heavier dirt particles to have settled onto the bottom of the
pan, and elsewhere. A single oil change, or more, won't loosen it up. Or
worse, it will dislodge it enmass and who knows what trying to push that
much sludge through the system will cause. I've heard of people using
diesel fuel because of the detergent content, but it doesn't have decent
enough viscosity, and I think it would do more harm than good. I know the
"right" answer would be to pull the engine apart and make sure its clean.
Thats a time consuming and expensive endeavor, and I don't want to undertake
it at the beginning of the nice driving weather. If there is a silver
bullet for this problem, I'm hoping someone on the list might know if it.
Or maybe I just need someone to tell me to stop worrying so my and just
drive the damn thing. ;-)
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Banbury, Terrence [SMTP:Terrence.Banbury@dnr.state.oh.us]
> Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2000 2:36 PM
> To: 'Dummer, Dan'
> Subject: RE: Seafoam
>
> Dan, never heard of Seafoam. Don't take advice from anyone who hasn't
> worked on a Spitfire. And don't sell these engines short. My brothers
> sat
> for years neglected, and after points, plugs, oil change, fresh fuel (and
> a
> little starting fluid) it started. From there you just fine tune it. In
> short, use no magic stuff. Maybe the no. 1 piston has a problem, but
> magic
> goo won't help it.
>
> > ----------
> > From: Dummer, Dan[SMTP:Dan.Dummer@BestBuy.Com]
> > Reply To: Dummer, Dan
> > Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2000 1:58 PM
> > To: 'Spitfire List'
> > Subject: Seafoam
> >
> >
> > List,
> >
> > Could I get opinions/caveats on using "Seafoam" to clean engine
> internals.
> > Does it work ? Is it bad for the engine ? Is there something better ?
> > The reason I ask is that I have a Spit that has sat un-running and
> > un-cared
> > for, for a long time. (it didn't run for the PO, and I have no idea how
> > its
> > been idle). As part of a "get it running" project, I'd like to get
> the
> > engine internals as clean as I can without a teardown. The parts
> > jockey's
> > at my local parts store recommended putting Seafoam" in both the crank
> > case,
> > and dumping a can of it in the gas as well. But..... since they were
> > surprised to hear the Triumph made cars instead of motorcycles, I'm
> taking
> > all of their recommendations with a grain of salt.
> >
> > On a related topic, as part of my "get it running" project, I did a
> > compression check, and came up with 122 PSI in cylinders 2 thru 4, but
> > only
> > 98 in cylinder 1. Still within tolerable range, but doesn't fill me
> with
> > warm fuzzies. I was going to try to find a chemical product of some
> > sort
> > to see if I can dislodge any carbon that may have built up and see if
> that
> > fixes it. Can anybody recommend one ? If it can't be fixed
> chemically,
> > how far can I push it before I have to start thinking about new
> > valves/rings
> > and other more expensive fixes ?
> >
> > Cheers,
> > dan.dummer@bestbuy.com
> >
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