So which of those engine cleaning products actually works?

[SMEGMA STENCH]

i was always told run the lowest octane possible..

Why?

[32vfromhell]

because honestly, you SHOULD be running the lowest octane you can get away with (theoretically) because higher octane burns slower. The only real reason to run high octane is it allows more timing. If all things were equal and you could run the same timing on 87 as on 93, you bet your ass im going to run 87.

now practice isn't quite the same as theory...

[UserX]

Seafoam works great! I have used it more times then I can remember, with nothing but success!!! Don't ever put it in your oil though. They make a specific additive that cleans out the engine.

I've used Seafoam on several vehicles too, including pouring 1/2 a can in the oil. I've never had a problem. This is the process I follow.

[BP]

why no 87? i was always told run the lowest octane possible..

You were told correctly. Some people put synthetic oil in their lawn mowers, they just like spending more money than they should for a false sense of security. In most cases it won't hurt anything but in some situations running too much octane can lead to heavy carbon buildup.

[dumpycapri85]

You were told correctly. Some people put synthetic oil in their lawn mowers, they just like spending more money than they should for a false sense of security. In most cases it won't hurt anything but in some situations running too much octane can lead to heavy carbon buildup.

The carbon build up is what I am worried about . I hate taking a set of heads apart and the backs of the valves are covered with build up . This can be caused by not staying on top of your tune up but when I take my 302 that has 100k plus miles and has always had premium and the valves , chambers and pistons are clean enough to eat off I'm sold . My newest car is 11 years old and there are reasons I don't have motor problems , this is just one of them . If you don't keep them or don't care save the money .

[BP]

The carbon build up is what I am worried about . I hate taking a set of heads apart and the backs of the valves are covered with build up . This can be caused by not staying on top of your tune up but when I take my 302 that has 100k plus miles and has always had premium and the valves , chambers and pistons are clean enough to eat off I'm sold . My newest car is 11 years old and there are reasons I don't have motor problems , this is just one of them . If you don't keep them or don't care save the money .

Yeah but you probably beat the piss out of the car every once in a while. The problems are when it's an 80 year old granny that never lets an engine get above idle speed. Eventually it'll get so many deposits that'll ping or stop up IAC ports, EGR passages, etc...

If your engine isn't pinging then you can and should be running lower octane fuel. Octane rating = anti-knock property, that's the only thing the octane number means. As far as additives maybe some companies put some more crap in the more expensive fuel but I'd bet most don't. You won't gain anything by running 120 octane if your engine won't ping with 85 octane.

[dumpycapri85]

Yeah but you probably beat the piss out of the car every once in a while. The problems are when it's an 80 year old granny that never lets an engine get above idle speed. Eventually it'll get so many deposits that'll ping or stop up IAC ports, EGR passages, etc...

If your engine isn't pinging then you can and should be running lower octane fuel. Octane rating = anti-knock property, that's the only thing the octane number means. As far as additives maybe some companies put some more crap in the more expensive fuel but I'd bet most don't. You won't gain anything by running 120 octane if your engine won't ping with 85 octane.

Your right and I also bump the timing as much as possible . Chevron and Shell are the only gas I use .

[SMEGMA STENCH]

I've used Seafoam on several vehicles too, including pouring 1/2 a can in the oil. I've never had a problem. This is the process I follow.

That's a nice video. Wish I could figure out exactly what vacuum hose he's talking about though. Someone said you can just pour it into the PCV opening in the lower intake manifold? I know where that's at.

[91CoupeMike]

Your right and I also bump the timing as much as possible . Chevron and Shell are the only gas I use .

Fuck shell. That nitrogen acts like water. Because it's inert. Maybe that's how it cleans?

Idk I heard it was a bunch of bullshit.

Exon, QT, and Chevron for me.

[turbos66coupe]

As long as its top tier gasoline it shouldn't be a problem. Like others have said and some should consider a chance to become educated, octane rating does not describe the quality of the fuel period it merly tells you how volitile it is. 87 is more volitile than 93 meaning it goes bang sooner and faster and in some instances can cause ping when it ignites to early in the power stroke. Unles you have exstensive engine modifications, boost, or a chip/tune most of the cars manufactured today where designed with use of 87 octane fuels and will gain nothing by using a higher octane fuel. Hell if you want some high octane fuel run some diesel in it . That stuff will clean some shit.

[FoxBodyNick]

True on the diesel fuel!

[FoxBodyNick]

That's a nice video. Wish I could figure out exactly what vacuum hose he's talking about though. Someone said you can just pour it into the PCV opening in the lower intake manifold? I know where that's at.

Vacuum hose to booster?

[SMEGMA STENCH]

As long as its top tier gasoline it shouldn't be a problem. Like others have said and some should consider a chance to become educated, octane rating does not describe the quality of the fuel period it merly tells you how volitile it is. 87 is more volitile than 93 meaning it goes bang sooner and faster and in some instances can cause ping when it ignites to early in the power stroke. Unles you have exstensive engine modifications, boost, or a chip/tune most of the cars manufactured today where designed with use of 87 octane fuels and will gain nothing by using a higher octane fuel. Hell if you want some high octane fuel run some diesel in it . That stuff will clean some shit.

Is that why my 87 chevy has valve clatter with everything except 93 octane? I've been trying to figure that one out. They clatter pretty bad unless I run 93.

[CJ]

I had an oil feild truck come in misfiring all over the place. We checked every thing and all parts checked out good. An old tech told me to pull a plug and check for carbon and sure enough it was nasty down in the cylinders. We sprayed ice cold water in a vacume line just a little at a time and the misfires went away. Well we sold they guy cylinder heads due to oil consumption and when we removed the cylinder heads and every cyclinder was spotless clean . It acts like steam cleaner. Hits the hot carbon deposits they break up and blow out simply put.

I can also attest to this, you just have to let the vacuum line suck it up a little at a time, too much and you bend a rod, so don't try this if you're a dipshit. Seafoam does work, just make sure sure you don't use the main vacuum line on the booster, I did that one time and somehow some of the seafoam got into my booster and ate away the diaphragm. And replacing a booster on a taurus is a BITCH.

[CJ]

Look at them as a tool that can be used to correct a problem. If your engine has carbon and it's the only problem then yes Seafoam, cold water, ATF or even just beating the piss out of the car will likely improve it's performance. If it's really low compression from worn out rings or cylinders, has a burnt valve or worn out guides then nothing is going to magically repair it.

Certain engines have very common problems, many can be related to poor quality or otherwise contaminated oil. Say for instance you have a Mitsubishi 2.0 or 3.5 and the lifters are noisy, usually they aren't worn out though, they are just full of varnish. In these instances products like Lucas or STP will work wonders, for as long as they are used. On a 3.5 Montero you'd be looking at $3000+ to correct noisy lifters but a $10 bottle of Lucas would probably do the same thing. Now if the lash adjusters are worn down then obviously the additives wouldn't work.

Or like any mitsubishi on the planet it's smoking like a son of a bitch because the valve seals are made out of saltine crackers.