Seafoam/CEL

[TX Tundra 07]

Howdy All,

I FINALLY got my truck back from the body shop after being there for almost 2 months. I have run 2 tanks of gas through it and the mileage has seemed to drop some, I suspect from it sitting for so long. So I decided to run some seafoam through it and see if it cleaned it up...

...well, seafoam went in good, 1/2 can through the break boost line, shut the engine off and let it sit for 15 minutes. I started it back up and it wouldnt idle, had to keep my foot on the gas to keep it running. I decided to take off down the road and drive the sh!t out of it to get all that crap burned off - if any of you have done this before, you know the smoke that comes out.

Anyways, it died on me when I got to the end of the road...started it back up, and drove it like I stole it, lots of smoke coming out. However, the truck seemed like it went into a "limp" mode, had reduced power, the CEL light was on and the VSC OFF was flashing, and it was even shuddering some in top gear going down the highway. It never got any better, so I parked it in the driveway and let it sit a few more hours.

After sitting, I started it back up and it ran fine. However, the CEL and VSC OFF lights are still on. My question is, how long before these lights go off? Does it have to do with the number of times the key is turned on with no codes thrown before the lights go off? Can I take the battery cable loose and reset the computer?

ALSO - be forewarned about using seafoam in the Tundy's - the electronics seem to not like it very much. I never had a problem using it in any other vehicle...

[SybErkRimInAL]

Holy smokes dude, good luck! That sounds like something that would happen to me.

[djb383]

Sounds like you added way too fast and fouled a plug(s), which triggered a cylinder(s) misfire, which triggered the CEL. I don't see how an '07 anything could need a treatment of anything........and I like Seafoam.

[TX Tundra 07]

Originally Posted by djb383

Sounds like you added way too fast and fouled a plug(s), which triggered a cylinder(s) misfire, which triggered the CEL. I don't see how an '07 anything could need a treatment of anything........and I like Seafoam.

Can plugs be fouled if it runs fine now, maybe even a little bit better than before the treatment?

[blackdemon]

I was gonna do the whole sea foam thing to the tundy but i thought it was too new for it still, besides i've only filled with base gas a few times. For the CEL, its normal for it to turn on, when I add sea foam to my celica it usually comes on, since ur adding liquid where normally air goes in. For the other things turning on, I would suggest unplugging your battery to reset them.. if you want to improve your gas mileage i would recommend Zmax, I've added it on my celica, and it actually improved the gas mileage on it. Hope this helps you out a lil.

[TX Tundra 07]

Thanks for the help, but I have answered my own question. I got in the tundy to go to lunch, started up, and no warning lights of any kind. I even beat on it a little bit to make sure it wasnt going to come back on later. If its based on the number of starts with no codes thrown, then the magic number is 4-5 starts.

EVERYTHINGS GOOD!

And as far as using seafoam on a new vehicle, I have nearly 20k miles on mine. It smoked just as much as other vehicles did when I used it and they had 150k+ miles. That means to me that there is already some carbon buildup within the engine... If you have used seafoam before, you know the smoke that I am talking about...thick clouds of smoke.

[TX Tundra 07]

Originally Posted by blackdemon

if you want to improve your gas mileage i would recommend Zmax, I've added it on my celica, and it actually improved the gas mileage on it. Hope this helps you out a lil.

I have used Zmax on previous vehicles and never noticed the slightest difference after adding it to everything. I kinda gave up on it.

Seafoam you can tell an immediate difference.

BTW, my mileage had dropped to low 16's. I am averaging about 17.5 so far on this tank even after driving it like I stole it a few times. Same driving, same route, mixed city and highway. We shall see if it holds up.

[blackdemon]

I know all about the smoke, I did it outside the hobby shop out here, and I had plenty of people come by and ask if I was alright, cuz the car wasn't supposed to smoke like that. I'm not puting seafoam down don't get me wrong, when I used it I could feel my car running freely, but never really changed my mileage from 27, I dumped some in the fuel, crank case, and intake manifold, but I used zmax shortly after applying seafoam, and my mileage came up to 30, and like you I drive my car like I stole it. I guess it works differently with different cars. don't know, but glad to hear your truck is running fine.

[djb383]

Seafoam, when added directly to the intake, will belch white smoke whether the engine is brand new or has 250,000 miles on it. It's an oil based product and can momentarily/temporarily foul plugs, when added to the intake too quickly, which will trigger a CEL because the system detects a cylinder misfire. If you add it to the gas tank, you won't have the plug foul problem. Also, the only way Seafoam will clean the injectors, is to add it to the fuel tank. Adding it directly to the intake just bypasses the injectors. As lean as these trucks run (ULEV II) there's no way you have cylinder carbon build up at 20K miles. Again, it will smoke in a new engine just as much as in an old engine.

[Mickey]

This seafoam cleans your injectors? Is this the same stuff that mechanics put in to clean your injectors? Just asking. Never heard of seafoam. I did of Zmax.

[TX Tundra 07]

Originally Posted by djb383

Seafoam, when added directly to the intake, will belch white smoke whether the engine is brand new or has 250,000 miles on it. It's an oil based product and can momentarily/temporarily foul plugs, when added to the intake too quickly, which will trigger a CEL because the system detects a cylinder misfire. If you add it to the gas tank, you won't have the plug foul problem. Also, the only way Seafoam will clean the injectors, is to add it to the fuel tank. Adding it directly to the intake just bypasses the injectors. As lean as these trucks run (ULEV II) there's no way you have cylinder carbon build up at 20K miles. Again, it will smoke in a new engine just as much as in an old engine.

Makes sense...but if you only add it to the fuel, it only cleans the injectors and never cleans the top end, correct?

At any rate, I added a 1/2 can through the vacuum line, and about 1/4 can through the gas...still running great.

[djb383]

Once the Seafoam passes thru the injectors it enters the air intake system, along with fuel, just like when you let the intake vacuum pull it into the intake thru the brake booster hose. From there, the air/fuel/Seafoam mixture enters the combustion chamber. The method you used is basically for old engines that have a heavy carbon build up so you can hit it with a heavy concentration of cleaner. Engine revs must be kept well above idle speed when adding directly to the intake or else the engine will stall and/or plugs will be fouled. If you introduce the Seafoam thru the tank, it still enters the combustion chamber but in a lower concentration. Again, no way these lean running engines will carbon up after only 20K miles.

[TX Tundra 07]

I thought these engines were pig rich...or is that just WOT?

[djb383]

At WOT, yes, as are most other engines.

[SybErkRimInAL]

Excuse my newbie ass question. What is WOT?