Originally Posted By: JasonK94Z
and the tops of the pistons still look like my BBQ grill. I poured the whole can slowly down the intake while the car was idling at running temp. It took 6 miles for the car to quit smoking with me driving it like I stole it. It poured smoke so bad that on-coming traffic was hitting the brakes
.
I also ran a whole can of Seafoam through the tank too. Now I have some Lucas UCL in it. Plugs are still clean, etc.
What to do now? This is on a 248k mile Geo Prizm (toyota 4afe motor, etc). Something tells me there is nothing more to do at all, but I'd like to smooth up the idle that a full tune-up didn't take care of. Other than that, the car runs terrific!!
1 - this is a 248K vehicle. Unless you have used Seafoam as a maintenance dose every 10K or so to keep the carbon build up down don't expect it, or any product, to return the piston domes to like new condition. They are going to stay dark and carbon'd up to some degree. If nothing has ever been used prior to clean the combustion chamber I doubt you will be able to really clean it out unless you use something like GM's top end cleaner that sits overnight. You will need something stronger than a brief Seafoam treatment to clean the domes to what you seem to want.
2 - unless you just did not mention it you did not perform the procedure correctly. You bring the vehicle to operating temp, then pour 1/3-1/2 can MAX in, then shut the engine off and let it sit for 5-10 minutes( 10 minutes is better in your application ), then restart and run to clear out smoke. You can repeat it a few times over say a week to better clean. You should do this every 10K/once a year or so to keep up with it.
It is not a goood idea to use a whole can through the vacuum source. You risk hydrolocking the engine. Stick to 1/3-1/2 can MAX per the mfg's instructions. Also, it is extremely important to let the vehicle sit, shut off, immediately after you stop pouring it in. Shut it right off. The majority of the cleaning process takes place at that time. The Seafoam sort of steam cleans the combustion chamber.
It is also very important that you do not rev the engine a lot during the pouring process and do not rev it at all before shutting it off. That will burn off the Seafoam and it will do no good. Pour at a rate that keeps the engine from stalling. If you must give it gas to keep it running( have seen this happen )do just enough. I see guys do this who rev the snot out of the vehicle while they are pouring and all it does is burn the product off before it has a chance to do anything.
