I'm hoping to have Avi update us on his test of Seafoam on his customers Gen2 cars that are burning oil. Any news or updates?
I can't comment on using it in the Prius....but we use Seafoam in all our small engines (chain saws, generators, clearing saws, brushcutters) and it works wonders when an engine is having issues. So many times it has smoothed them out....Right now, NAPA has it on sale for $7.
JC, Read this thread and put it on your "Watch" list: 2008 Prius - burning oil at 135,000 miles | PriusChat There really isn't anything new on the seafoam front. It works for some people and not for others. Much like Restore, MMO, etc... etc... Chris
That's the thread Avi had left us hanging. He put seafoam in 5 of his customer's Gen2 cars and never updated. He also was going to do some Marvel Mystery Oil tests, so I'm interested in the outcome.
I am not familiar with the original thread but the company that MAKES Seafoam doesn't even recommend it to help with oil burning.....or leaking. Seafoam contains mainly 3 very light, somewhat powerful solvents. It will thin out the oil. I would NEVER put it in the crankcase of any vehicle I owned. As a gas additive, it is a fair stabilizer and cleaner........but not for the oil.
When I asked Avi what he would charge to replace an engine he told me about Sea Foam down the spark plug holes. (Probably works customer did not come back.) Sea Foam does recommend putting a few ounces in the oil 100 to 200 miles before an oil change. I put a whole can down the spark plug holes (4oz into each cylinder. It has to soak past the two compression rings to get to the oil ring and the oil passages to the bottom of the piston). A lot of it especially the lighter parts evaporates off as I soak at least for 18 hours (overnight might work). Then I drive for 25 miles or less with no heavy acceleration straight to the oil change place. I have now done this on two 2007 Prius and 1 2011. No problems. The first one I did it on was burning almost 2 quarts of oil every tank of gas and fouling spark plugs so I had nothing to lose.It is now burning 1 quart every 3,000 miles A HUGE IMPROVEMENT! Details at: Burning oil problems due to dirty piston rings (oil & compression) and prevent catalytic converter problems and keep the oil cleaner for a longer engine life
