Ok so I have used seafoam engine additive quite extensively over the years to solve various carb and fuel problems. A common practice that I do each winter is to pour about two tablespoons  of this "miracle liquid" into the carburetors of my snow machines. 95% of the time this will instantly clear up any problems with excelling, idling, or any other combustion related problems. I have torn down my carbs and all the machines that went through this little ritual are either completely clean or only need a quick blowout, while the ones that i didnt do this with are usually very dirty. 

 

So my question is, Does anyone think it would hurt my carb on my subie to do this? I ask because i know that there are obvious differences (size, 2-cycle snowmobile vs 4-cycle subaru), as well as many technical differences, between carbs on snowmobiles and carbs on subarus. Does anyone think it would hurt it? and if so, why?

Works just fine. Use just enough to make the motor hesitate but not stall. Too much at once can foul the plugs. Works great on old subies though. Done it plenty of times.

I figured you were a sled-head.

I figured you were a sled-head.

haha yep rdweninger, sure am! Im no expert but I know my way around them. currently I have a good ol 1996 Arctic Cat 480 JAG Z equipped with polymer racing skis. By no means the most impressive sled out there but it'll get you where you need to go. Reliable too. Thanks for the reassurance on the seafoam guys! 

Seafoam will work, but water works just as well or better for removing carbon deposits from the combustion chamber.

        I think you two are talking about two different uses for seafoam. Your pour seafoam into the carb slowly at first until the last bit "does" choke the engine off. Then you let it set for a few minutes and crank it up, smokes like crazy. Cleans the carbon out of the combustion chamber. Heavy dosages in fuel will help keep carbs clean. I usually wait until I have an 1/8th of a tank of gas or less and then add enough to make 3-4 oz. per gallon of gas. Usually I drive it 20 miles or so then top the fuel off.  That is the way I have always used it for many years and it does have its benefits. For instance with my 87 Brat I used to run premium gas because of spark knock. With two dosages straight down the carb I have been able to run 87 octane every since. I use about 10 ozs. in the gas tank and dump the remaining down the carb choking it off once a year. The next day I service the engine, oil/filter change.  I have been doing so for the last 15 years of the 17 years I have owned this 87 brat. I use pure gas which I think helps also.

 

       Like Spazomatic stated water will work just as well for cleaning the top end of a motor of combustion deposits. I think Seafoam is safer to use. Plus Seafoam can clean the carb if dosed high enough in the fuel. Water will not of course.

 

      My oldest daughter use to live in Castle Rock.

Edited September 19, 201411 yr by bratman2

That's actually exactly what I did bratman, I expected it to smoke since I have done it with snowmobiles before but thanks anyways.

I am not sure how many miles you have on your car, I used to do Seafoam down the carb, but when I pulled the heads for a head gasket job I realized I was just cleaning the top surface of the carbon deposits and making a huge nasty smoke cloud.  It probably did some good around the valve seats but not much else.  I do use Seafoam in the fuel every now and then and once every 30,000 miles in the oil.

 

One thing that helps when putting Seafoam down the carb is to put it in a spray bottle and spray it down the carb.  It helps control the amount you put down and you can give the sides of the barrels a good spritz.

Edited September 19, 201411 yr by ferox

Seafoam will work, but water works just as well or better for removing carbon deposits from the combustion chamber.

How much water do you use?

For sea foam in the carbs i would let it trickle into the vent tube so that it goes in the bowl and thru the idle and main jets

Come think of it I have filled the fuel filters with it when replacing them.

How much water do you use?

About 1 quart total, (about 2 pints for you metric fellows) over several minutes. I dont know if thats "correct", but thats how an old gearhead showed me. I always thought it sounded odd, pouring water through a carb, but it works!

I still will use seafoam, added to the fuel as maintenance, to help mitigate the negative effects on the E-85 (ethanol mix) we have to use around here.

For sea foam in the carbs i would let it trickle into the vent tube so that it goes in the bowl and thru the idle and main jets

yeah thats what I did fox. Hard to tell but I think its purring just a little better now  

yeah thats what I did fox. Hard to tell but I think its purring just a little better now  

Is this okay to do on a Weber carb?

 

I'm guessing so.