Seafoam'd the 4Runner

[rtuck1]

So this weekend I decided to change the oil, clean the air filter and Seafoam the truck. I havent seen any videos of anyone doing it so I shot one and put it up. MPG went from about 18.5 on the interstate to about 20.5. Definitely cleaned out the motor.

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Dk-DE3DLMFc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Snesley Wipes]

Pretty cool! I prefer to drive on the streets after I Seafoam because it kinda makes me feel James Bondish!
Snes

 

[renep74]

rtuck1,

Can you kindly take a pictures and procedure on how you perform the seafoam your t4r. I'm also, interested in seafoaming mine to increase my MPG to help my wallet :hungry:.

Thanks in advance,

 

[KG04SR5]

I have always heard this is a good thing but as with renrep74, not really sure which vacumn hose the stuff needs to go in. I have the V6.. any clarification would be great. Cant wait to see the looks I get from my neighboors.

 

[Trevloc]

okay i googled this stuff. seems pretty neat, but i would have no idea how nor trust it fully.

 

[klennop]

I have done it to every vehicle I have owned, multiple times with only good results. I have had it throw a check engine light on other vehicles but then you can just remove the negative cable on the battery for a bit so the computer will reset itself.

If you have a lot of miles, 60K plus, I think you will notice smoother idle, better throttle response, and a small gain in MPG. You can't beat a well tuned and maintained engine.

Here is a quick how to. Get the truck up to operating temp. On the V8 you use the larger foam covered hose that is right after the throttle body. This hose goes down to the drivers side of the motor. Pull it off from the lower part, you will feel suction from the hose. I pour the seafoam into a small tupperware dish. Then I let the vacuum from the hose suck in the seafoam. Some people let the motor kill near the end by submerging the hose in the seafoam. I never liked doing that method. I just let it suck the bottle down making sure not to lug the engine. Then once it is all sucked in, shut the truck off. Re attach the hose, let the truck sit for about 30 minutes. Now start it back up and take it for a spirited drive. There should be A LOT of smoke so watch out if you pull out in front of people or if you are in a highly populated area. You don't want to cause an accident.

I am not familiar with the V6 but any vacuum line going into the intake of the motor should work.

 

[newbiemw]

seafoam

This product is fantastic, i DEF recommend it for higher mileage cars that might have any hint of buildup in the manifold.

As a note, for those who may have just been skimming, MAKE CERTAIN this is done right before you change the oil and preferably the spark plugs.

Its going to burn some gunk off, and loosen some stuff, changing the oil is the best way to get everything out.

Also, by spirited ride, he means, make sure your runner goes through all gears and get some high RPMs going. I also run my seafoam treatments different, putting half through the vaccum hose and the other half in the gas tank. its worth it, for 9 bucks and the smoke out the neighborhood...

which brings me to a last important part, be sure you do it near a road that you can get up to highway speed on. this isnt for some driveway work then a casual spin around the gated community. you need to be getting on the gas not the brakes.

have fun! its awesome!

 

[bigwebb83]

I can vouch for seafoam as well. Used it on my 4.7l with 50k on the clock and it worked pretty good. Used it on my wifes accord with 150k on the clock and it made a huge difference.

 

[klennop]

You should be fine not changing your oil UNLESS you add some of it too your oil which the directions say you can do. This is directly from Seafoam:

"The most frequently asked question about using Sea Foam® is as follows: “After using Sea Foam® in my oil, fuel, or through the vacuum line (to clean carbon from the combustion chamber) do I need to change my oil?” The short answer is: No you don’t have to change your oil after using Sea Foam® in any application.

When using Sea Foam® in your fuel or through the vacuum line for carbon cleaning your oil does not need to be changed. Using Sea Foam® in your oil, at 1 ½ ounces per quart, is a safe way to clean a crankcase, free up rings or free up sticky lifters as you drive. Sea Foam® is not a chemical engine flush and therefore, it will not damage internal engine components or plug the oil pick up screen. Sea Foam® is a pure petroleum blend with no chemical additives and is safe for long term cleaning or short term pre-service cleaning.

Sea Foam® is a blend of highly refined additive oils and is compatible with all motor oils including synthetics. It is safe for all internal engine components and will not affect any seals, gaskets or o-rings. Sea Foam® cleans oil deposits and varnish in your crankcase by safely/slowly re liquefying the old oil residue so contaminants may flow and be filtered. The longer Sea Foam® is in your oil the cleaner your crankcase will become. When adding Sea Foam® to clean oil, for long term maintenance cleaning, you must check your oil periodically for color and clarity, when your oil looks dirty change it. Because you added cleaning oil (Sea Foam®) to your oil you may have to change oil before the expected service interval.

When adding Sea Foam® to dirty oil before an oil change, for best results use 1 ½ ounces per quart of oil at least 100 miles before oil is changed."

 

[Trevloc]

so you just pour that in your oil and gas tank at the same time and fire it up?

 

[CAD_GA1390]

look towards the circled part, by the vsv valve



side view



you want to pull the hose on the front side of the vsv valve as shown



and if your confused, refer to this vacuum diagram



Hope this helps!!

 

[rtuck1]

look towards the circled part, by the vsv valve

View attachment 43400

side view

View attachment 43401

you want to pull the hose on the front side of the vsv valve as shown

View attachment 43402

and if your confused, refer to this vacuum diagram

View attachment 43403

Hope this helps!!

Nice job on the pics thats the same hose that i used, i did pull the plastic cover off which made getting to the hose a whole lot easier. Sorry for the delayed response. Been under the weather the last couple days.

 

[rtuck1]

so you just pour that in your oil and gas tank at the same time and fire it up?

Pour a third in the gas tank, a third in the oil, and a third in the vacum line. I bought two cans and poured half the in gas, half in the vacum line and another half a bottle in the oil. Worked great for me. Went from reading a solid 18.5mpg to 20mpg on the display, it also idles better as well and I only have 41k miles.

 

[rtuck1]

This product is fantastic, i DEF recommend it for higher mileage cars that might have any hint of buildup in the manifold.

As a note, for those who may have just been skimming, MAKE CERTAIN this is done right before you change the oil and preferably the spark plugs.

Its going to burn some gunk off, and loosen some stuff, changing the oil is the best way to get everything out.

Also, by spirited ride, he means, make sure your runner goes through all gears and get some high RPMs going. I also run my seafoam treatments different, putting half through the vaccum hose and the other half in the gas tank. its worth it, for 9 bucks and the smoke out the neighborhood...

which brings me to a last important part, be sure you do it near a road that you can get up to highway speed on. this isnt for some driveway work then a casual spin around the gated community. you need to be getting on the gas not the brakes.

have fun! its awesome!

Agreed, you need to get the motor nice and hot after you do it. Took mine for three 0-80mph runs just to clean it out and run it through the gears. It smoked through all three runs.

 

[CAD_GA1390]

Nice job on the pics thats the same hose that i used, i did pull the plastic cover off which made getting to the hose a whole lot easier. Sorry for the delayed response. Been under the weather the last couple days.

Thanks, and i pulled the cover off as well, but that was just for visual imformative purpose.

 

[klennop]

so you just pour that in your oil and gas tank at the same time and fire it up?

I have put it in my oil once. I don't like putting stuff in my oil...but to each their own. I do the intake vacuum line and the gas tank method. I skip the adding to the oil part.

 

[Trevloc]

I have put it in my oil once. I don't like putting stuff in my oil...but to each their own. I do the intake vacuum line and the gas tank method. I skip the adding to the oil part.

yeah i was planning on skipping the oil, but i need an oil change anyway so might as well right?

 

[klennop]

yeah i was planning on skipping the oil, but i need an oil change anyway so might as well right?

Yup then I would!

 

[rtuck1]

yeah i was planning on skipping the oil, but i need an oil change anyway so might as well right?

How many miles are on your T4R? Only thing it helps with is breaking down sludge at the bottom of the oil pan. If you do regular oil changes on time and do not run it very hard then you shouldn't have too much buildup.

 

[newbiemw]

foam

I think this is one of the most underutilized and underhyped product made. Like, this crap is literally sold everywhere (I saw a can at a TN gas station once) and it still baffles me when I get on forums and it remains a relative secret.

You wont regret doing it, and like an earlier post stated its 100% petroleum based product, so its stuff thats already in those tanks.

I'm doing mine this weekend. Ill prob try to get it done early saturday morning, as I don't imagine Atlanta PD or my neighbors would love the residuals on 400 or the neighborhood