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Been reading a lot about fuel additives, and one in particular, Sea Foam, and was wondering if it was safe to try on my outboard with VRO. One older post on this site had an engine issue remedied with the regular Sea Foam added to the fuel, and the Deep Creep both sprayed in through the carbs when the engine was running and also into the cylinders with the plugs out, to sit for a while. Does anyone have an opinion on whether this is safe to try? Thanks,

Dave

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Hi Derwd24,

I use Sea foam all the time. It is designed for use in marine engines. Can be purchased from auto supply. I have also used ring free a yamaha product. Heard of deep creep but never used it. I used that stuff on my V6 merc and my 90 Yamie today. Good stuff, keeps the carbs and engine clean. I do it twice a year.

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Sea Form and OMC engine tune should be sprayed through the carbs and not run through a fuel tank.

Remove the intake silencer box

Start the motor on a set of water muffs or in the water. Run it a a higher idle say 1000+ rpm.

Begin to spray the cleaner into each one of the carbs. Give each a healthy dose but do not let it flood out. Once you have gotten each carb repeat then finish by flooding out the motor with the cleaner thought the carbs.

Once the motor is flooded out remove your plugs and spray the cleaner into the cylinders one at a time. With every cylinder spray turnt he motor over by hand a couple times.

Once you have couple all cylinders hand tighten the plugs back into there seats and tilt the motor all the way up and let it sit for 6 - 12 hours or more.

After sitting, cycle the motor over by hand a couple times. Once again remove the plugs and if you have an air compressor blow each cylinder out and turn the motor over by hand after each cylinder.

Reinstall the plugs and wires and lower the motor back down. Either launch the boat or hook up the hose. Fire the motor up and be ready because once it fire up it will most likely want to over rev. If it want to run out of control shut it down and restart to it burns of the access fluid. Once it idles fine run it for a couple minutes. Rev it once and let it idle and repeat every 15 secs or so.

That is it. Your exhaust in your prop should be filled with NASTY black brown goo.

You should get a couple cans as you will surely go though at least a can.

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Excellent, thanks for the info Jon and Jeff, much appreciated. Especially the tip about tilting the engine up, helps to distribute around all the piston and ring surface, and blowing out with air, keeps the loosened debris out of the rings.

So if Sea Foam shouldn't be run through the fuel tank, any rec's on a good fuel additive, or is one even necessary?

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Seafoam is an additive for fuel. I have never seen it as a spray. Seafoam can also be used in a high concentration. I start the season using an entire can from 5 or 6 gallons of fuel. I have read people using this with 2 gallons of fuel, but I would not suggest that. Directions on the can allow for a range in the concentration.

Jeff have you heard of issues with OMC's? This stuff may come in a spray, just never seen it....

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My friend had an extra clunky old outboard, that was running like a bag of "clams", and an outboard mechanic suggested using the fuel additive called "Carbon Guard" in a similar proceedure as described by "Jeff", I was like "Yea right, this is gonna work", to my amazement, chunks of carbon, black smoke, and other various types of disgusting carbonized debris got spit out of the exhaust, and the engine started to run smoothly and "Purr", I stood there wide eyed, amazed, and "WRONG" again !
mw

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Here is what it looks like.

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Thanks for all the replies. So it seems like Carbon Guard in the gas tank and Deep Creep used like a fogger, is the best combination to clean things up a bit... I'll let you know how it goes!

Dave