Well, I figured I would post this here even though it could be applicable to all cars, and I didn't see any type of a general maintenance forum.

My question is, can seafoam clog up your catalytic converters and end up hurting performance? Aside from sparkplugs it sounds all find and dandy on the engine, except all the **** and muck you are forcing out your exhaust has got to be bad on the cats. From what I hear they are made up of many small surfaces inside coated with the catalyst that needs to get very hot to work, and if you are burning oil or something like that, these surfaces get coated and from here on out your catalytic converter starts to get more and more and more clogged.

Even though it is just over the course of like 5 or 10 minutes, what are your guys' thoughts on seafoam and the Catalytic converter?

 

I don't use seafoam, never have, doubt I ever will.

 

I've used seafoam on every car I've owned (around 8 total) never had a problem with seafoam, just actually did it to my maxima yesterday much more smoother idle, as far as messing up the cat I highly doubt that it would cause a problem at all. my maxima has 230,000 miles and still on orginal cats seafoamed twice, 0 problems.

 

You should also be worried about the 02 sensor, usually if it do not say 02 sensor safe it is not.

 

Hmm, yea, it does say O2 sensor safe, I don't worry too much about the chemical properties of it tearing up O2 sensors and the cats, but just the sheer amount of gunk that blows through the exhaust.

I've done it on my Taurus twice, the cats were already clogging so I don't know if it made it worse or didn't effect it. I am kinda weary if I should try it on my maxima.

One thing that was wierd about my maxima is that the intake manifold looks brand new, considering I just bought the car at 170K miles there is just no way, so I assume it was probably hot tanked or something, or maybe it is a brand new manifold. Either way, I don't really think I have to seafoam it so I will probably hold off. Just wondering for down the road though.

 

I wouldn't worry about gumming up your cat. I've never used seafoam, but I don't think that using it will cause large chunks of engine gunk to go through the exhaust.

 

its kinda of hard to mess something up that can handle a constant 700 degrees ive seafoamed many cars learned to do it when i worked for nissan beleive it or not

 

Useless.

 

But all the cool kids are doing it!

 

I don't know about Seafoam. I did that top end treatment through the brake booster line and I personally didn't really feel any difference. I've wondered why on the bottle it says not for use on high mileage automobiles.

I don't know if you should put it in the gas tank though...I have a PDF from Nissan that explains that any fuel treatments should be avoided....at least for my generation Maxima.

I've even put it in the oil crank case once. My oil turned pitch black on the next drain. This is likely the seafoam working, removing the deopsits and mixing it with the oil?

 

Yea, they don't recommend it on high mileage cars because so much gunk has built up inside the intake and also inside the engine if you use it in your crankcase. They don't want large chunks of **** all coming off at once.

 

I use it on my max and have not had any problems. By the way, what is the true meaning of HIGH MILEAGE?

 

another reason why you don't want to use it, is because some of that gunk in the engine actually can help seal some things. Hence why my teacher said never ever flush an engine with that Kerosene flushing cleaner because it opens seals and takes out gunk that COULD very well stop any leaks you could have.

It also depends on the high miles. I'd say its ok on anything 230k and under... anything 300K and up(if ur car last that long) lol... I would be careful, unless it is lightly and if you never had leaking issues.

 

If you worried about performance you should just remove the cats.

 

Ive used seafoam 5 times in the past 4 years and havent had any ill effects yet.

 

I've used that stuff numerous times on all of my vehicles. Generally, the only good I've gotten from it was smoother idle a maybe a little smoother acceleration. It's not completely necessary, but personally I would change the plugs after a seafoam treatment.

 

Here's my seafoam story for what it's worth...
My SES light was on throwing P0420 andP0325. While the mechanic was waiting for Cats to install they did a seafoam treatment and drove the **** out of it. Looking here it seems they didn't know or check the directions because only about 2 weeks ago they just put new plugs on and right before I dropped it off I did an oil change. I'm starting to hate this car.

 

I've seafoamed my maxima once and it just feels like a small maintenance job, i feel like it could clog your fuel filter, cat converter, and injectors; but i have seen no proof.

 

I used it once and regretted it. There is just no need for it. Just another product they can sell you that doesnt "hurt" your car necessarily but at the same time there is no way to prove it has done anything substantial either. Kind of like Royal purple and E3 plugs, maybe they are awesome but maybe they are worthless. I will never know though thats for sure

 

I've used it and never had issues

 

Never personally used it. I know a guy that did and his car never seemed right after that.

 

There's a lot of people doing it wrong and that's why people have issues. I saw a guy revving the hell out of his engine after loading the intake up with seafoam. My opinion is that seafoam isn't the problem.

 

Agreed...it is more of a procedure problem than a product problem. I've never had issues after using Seafoam treatments in the vehicles I've used it in.

 

Is it odd that I when I read the title of this I wondered what the relevance of spilled seafoam was on household cats..... and why so many people seemed to have something to say about it? I was very confused....

 

That is a loose nut behind the wheel issue, Ive done seafoam treatments to all of my cars, 2000 Maxima SE 5sp, 2007 Ford Taurus 3.0 OHV, and wifes, 2001 Nissan Altima 2.4L Auto.

 

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

 

Public service announcement:

Do not give your pet cats seafoam, they will die.

That is all.

Thank you for your attention.

 

Are pre-cats kittens?

 

Public Serice Announcement Edit:

Please don't give your pre-cats seafoam either.

It will kill them.

That is all.

 

I've used seafoam through the brake booster and its fine. I have this new one i'd like to try... It has a cool bendy applicator so you can squirt it in the tbwhile the engines running (intake connected). I'd like to do this and see if it cleans any egr crud from the intake manifold.

 

You mean this one?

I used it in my wife's Explorer and my Maxima. I really like it because it turns it into a true one person job since you can control the spray. The engine doesn't stall while spraying at full blast. The other reason I like it is because of the setup where you can spray behind the MAF and close up the intake around the nozzle. System is sealed so it prevent stalling and you don't potentially damage the MAF with the Seafoam.

A really neat application.

 

Ya that's the one

 

On the fuel tank side, id be reluctant as all that gunk build up over the years would clog your fuel filter which is PITA job, but when it comes to adding seafoam to oil; its a good thing to do. Right before an oil change, id put a new filter and add seafoam and drive for 50-100 miles. Usually oil would turn pitch black from all the buildup it dissolved. As for adding some through the brake booster, its only worth while doing in high mileage vehicles, not so much for cars under 150K miles.

Then again, you can hydro lock your engine if you go full retard.