Tried to Seafoam my car...barely runs now...HELP

[LaserRed01GT]

People in the know never put Seafoam in their engine. It's OK to recommend it to someone else however.

I completely disagree with this statement. We have been succesfully using GM top end cleaner and Seafoam (same products different label) for years with no problems. The absolute only problem we ever have is the occasional hosed plug or two. I do prefer the BG products just beacause they work a little better, but there is nothing wrong with Seafoam, and I guarantee you there are many more satisfied Seafoam users than disappointed ones.

But, to each their own.

 

[LaserRed01GT]

OK, I was revving the car with the hood up and it sounded like a leak. The problem was, I can't do it by myself because the car will stall. The question I have though is why would I develop a vacuum leak? The only thing I disconnected was the PCV tube and the PCV. Should it pop out of the grommet with ease? Because that's what it's doing.

There is a good chance those "Sytem to Lean" codes were just stored when you previously started the motor with the PCV hose disconnected. Try to reset the PCM and try again.

 

[GToddyT5]

I will try, but I never started the car with anything disconnected.

 

[LaserRed01GT]

I will try, but I never started the car with anything disconnected.

In your first post you said you had the car running with the PCV hose off. Whether you started it with it off or pulled it off after it had already been started, it is not uncommon to get some system lean codes. That is essentially a major vacuum leak.

 

[speedfreak98r]

Change your PCV too...When I seafoamed, I got some gunk in there, and it was doing the same thing. They're only like $2.

 

[GToddyT5]

I took the neg cable off, let it set for 5 mins and put it back on. The light was off, I turned the car on, it stalled. I started it up again, the light came back on. No luck. I changed the PCV yesterday.

Should the PCV easily come out of the grommet? It does.

 

[TripleBlk]

People in the know never put Seafoam in their engine. It's OK to recommend it to someone else however.

Well said , mrvax ! When I alluded to the "snake oil aspect" of Seafoam , I got lynched. Thanks for the lesson in how to be subtle.

 

[LaserRed01GT]

I took the neg cable off, let it set for 5 mins and put it back on. The light was off, I turned the car on, it stalled. I started it up again, the light came back on. No luck. I changed the PCV yesterday.

Should the PCV easily come out of the grommet? It does.

If you just have the push in type, they sometimes don't stay very well. But the motor should still start and run even with the PCV valve disconnected. Have you tried holding your foot slightly on the gas while you are starting?

Did your lean codes come back? I didn't see, but did you ever check your plugs?

 

[GToddyT5]

It starts and then dies. I've tried it while holding the gas. It doesn't run with the PCV out. The codes did come back right away and I have not yet checked my plugs. I ordered a new grommet, so I'm going to pick that up in an hour and see if that makes a difference. I will check the plugs tomorrow, I bought a set two days ago.

 

[DTNODYA]

Have you tried resetting your ECU? Just disconnect the battery for like 10 mins and see if that does the trick. It can't hurt.

nevermind. just read where you said you did reset it.


Did you put seafoam in your gas tank too? Also, when you put it into the motor, did you keep the motor running the entire time while giving it some extra throttle? Or did the motor just die? Also, does it run for more than like 2 seconds?

 

[GToddyT5]

Have you tried resetting your ECU? Just disconnect the battery for like 10 mins and see if that does the trick. It can't hurt.

nevermind. just read where you said you did reset it.


Did you put seafoam in your gas tank too? Also, when you put it into the motor, did you keep the motor running the entire time while giving it some extra throttle? Or did the motor just die? Also, does it run for more than like 2 seconds?

The motor died when I put it in. I didn't put in that much, maybe an 1/8th of the can. I checked the plugs 5-8 and all were fine, so I assumed the other ones are too. No it really does not run for more than 2 seconds. It starts up, idles at 2k for a little and then works its way down and then dies.

 

[COramprat]

If it were a plug it would run but misfire. Will it stay running if you give it gas?

 

[GToddyT5]

OK, got it figured out. A hose popped off on the TB.

 

[007]

OK, got it figured out. A hose popped off on the TB.

Holy crap. After all that. Thats too funny. I think that could earn you a CT.