Yesterday I let the PCV suck in about 1/2 a can of Sea Foam. I followed the instructions on the can and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes before starting the truck back up. Although I smelled it running through my engine there was NO WHITE SMOKE. So what does this mean…? No carbon to burn out? Something is clogged? I’m baffled. This morning on my way to work my 97 F ran like a dog (no pick-up). Any thoughts are always appreciated.

ML

 

I've been planning on trying SeaFoam myself...did some browsing on this product and found this "how-to" instruction. My question is did you let the engine warm up to full operating temperature before applying the SeaFoam? It sounds like it's puddled in the intake manifold somehow and never got down into the cylinders which could be the reason for no white smoke.

http://members.nuvox.net/~on.roz/cars/z28/seafoam.html

 

if your engine was fully warm when you did the proceedure and then started it the cats might have taken care of the white smoke.

 

Thanks for the replies. Yes, I used it in a warm engine. I just pulled in my driveway from my 55 mile commute in rush hour when I poured it in...maybe the cats did get it?!

 

m_lacien

Did you keep the engine rpms up when you sucked the seafoam in? If not I could see where it might possibly have puddled in the intake as was suggested.

Did you let the engine bog down with seafoam right before you shut it off so it didn't all burn away? It needs to soak into the carbon on top of the pistons.

Did you "blow it out" real good after you waited the 5-10 minutes? If you just let it idle you may not see much white smoke. I've done mine twice in the past 9 months and running wide open after the wait would create a lot of smoke. You might have better success using the brake booster hose instead of the pcv valve hose. My truck (5.4L) idled normal when I disconnected the pcv hose but would stumble at idle when using the brake booster hose (2nd time) requiring me to hold the throttle partially open while drawing in the seafoam. I let mine sit for 15 minutes and have read somewhere to wait up to 30 minutes, which might be more effective at dissolving the carbon.

HiO

 

I put it in my 4.6 with the engine cold and BURIED my neighbors house. There is an easy way to do it on the 4.6. The PEP BOYS purolator PCV valve has an extra stem and knockout. Duct tape the valve closed where it normally enters the valve cover. Remove the knockout on the small stem and put a piece of aquarium hose on it. Then you can have the bottle on the ground and away from all the AC lines and battery and stuff. Get in the wind it up till it dies. Wait 15-20 minutes and make it look like the space shuttle's taking off in your yard. I recomend doing this at EVERY family function and BBQ. A real crowd pleaser!

 

Thanks to all for the recommendations/advice. Can you please tell me where the brake booster hose is located on the 97' 4.6?

ML

 

Right in front of the driver on the firewall, near top there is a hose that goes into a little green ........thing. Works just as good as the brake booster, but easier to get at. The hose is nasty black, and what i mean by that is it will turn your hands black as soon as you touch it. Try gloves because it was'nt easy getting off.

I sucked up a whole can and let it sit 20 or so and the white smoke was unreal. I drove it out in the woods and cleared it out.