Car not starting after seafoam

[HatchSurfer3]

Ok so I did a seafoam treatment on my Civic yesterday. I put maybe 1/3 of a little less in the gas tank and just a little bit into the crank case. I didn't use much because it is higher mileage and I didn't want to over do it. So when I went to start it up it sputtered and stalled out like normal. But then when I went to start it back up it just keeps trying to turn over but won't do it. I took the plugs out and let it sit for a while, then tried and the same thing happened. I changed the plugs and the same thing keeps happening. There was maybe 1/8 of a tank of gas in there when i put it in, so I put some more gas in just in case and still nothing. I haven't changed the oil yet, which I planned on doing after it started up and ran through for a little while. So I'm going to do that, but I figured I would see if anyone else had any suggestions. I was thinking of spraying some carb cleaner into the intake as I read somewhere that that could work. I'm open to suggestions though.

[jpalamar]

Have you tried cranking the car while your foot is on the gas pedal?

I think 1/3 can of SeaFoam is enough to do a full tank of gas. Maybe thats part of your problem? Double check the instructions.

[HatchSurfer3]

Have you tried cranking the car while your foot is on the gas pedal?

I think 1/3 can of SeaFoam is enough to do a full tank of gas. Maybe thats part of your problem? Double check the instructions.

Yea I tried giving it gas to try and make it turn over with no luck. I don't even think I was 1/3 of a can I put in but I thought I had read you should do it with not much gas in the tank. Maybe I'll try adding some more gas in there again cause. I thought maybe it wasn't getting enough gas which is why I added some. Although I only put about a gallon or so in there when I added some, so maybe more will do the trick. Thanks

[TNTramair]

is it getting fuel?? i know you put it in the tank but is it reaching the engine? check your fuel and spark first.

[HatchSurfer3]

Check my fuel as in check for the fuel pump priming? It seems like it is. I changed the plugs, so that shouldn't be a problem should it?

[TNTramair]

not just plugs...spark. make sure the plugs are firing. could be a bad coil or something in the distributor (depending what type of ignition system your specific honda has). and yes, make sure your getting fuel to the motor ie: pump pumping.

[supraghost]

fuel filter.


and drain your oil asap, the same thing is happening to your oil pickup screen

[dastpe]

change spark plugs, seafoam gunks them up. i also dont recommend the crankcase, just gas a brake booster. def get an oil change.

[jpalamar]

Since you changed the plugs... did you gap them correctly? Are you sure the wires were put back on in the right order?

[enohand]

hmmm....i alayws seafoam 1/3 in gas tank, 1/3 in oil, 1/3 in a vac line (brake booster)

i have had issues 1 time of a car starting but help the thoirrlw WOT & it started, but had to keep it open thorrttlw for a bit or it would die.

also a fresh tank of gass (highest octane) & a oil chnage afterwards is a MUST! i have never had it gum up spark plugs...part of the reason of putting it in the vac line is to de-gum the intake track/valves/plugs etc..

[jpalamar]

You don't need to put higher octane in your car then what is in the owners manual. Thats just as much of a waste of money as the guys that put expensive Amsoil in the car and like it actually makes a difference for oil changes.

[HatchSurfer3]

Thanks for all the recommendations guys. I'm going to try and get on it tonight to see if I can get it running. Fingers crossed.

[O2SpecV]

And this is why i have always been nervous to seafoam. Main reason i heard it was bad was it takes carbon build up and **** say from your cylinders or where ever and when you blast that stuff in there it moves the carbon build up essentially cleaning the motor but the build up can move to other areas where there was no build up and it can cause problems. Good luck OP

[MattBear]

And this is why i have always been nervous to seafoam. Main reason i heard it was bad was it takes carbon build up and **** say from your cylinders or where ever and when you blast that stuff in there it moves the carbon build up essentially cleaning the motor but the build up can move to other areas where there was no build up and it can cause problems. Good luck OP

I've seafoamed nearly a dozen cars without issue.

the idea is the seafoam (close to kerosene from what im told) is to disintegrate and bond with the carbon to burn it out, hence the funny color smokes.

[cossh014]

And this is why i have always been nervous to seafoam. Main reason i heard it was bad was it takes carbon build up and **** say from your cylinders or where ever and when you blast that stuff in there it moves the carbon build up essentially cleaning the motor but the build up can move to other areas where there was no build up and it can cause problems. Good luck OP

No offence, but why are you posting in here about something you know nothing about or have no personal experience with?

I seafoam both my cars 4 times a year (every time the seasons change). Half a can in the gas tank, half in oil, with both cars. Then promptly changed the oil.
My wagon has 220k miles, the Redline 80k. Not once had an issue. Actually it fixed my wagons sputtering when given gas and high idle.
But OP, def replace the fuel filter like 'supraghost' said, same with oil. They recommend the oil within 300 miles since the build up is probably be bad haha.
Maybe make use of some starter fluid to get it going again, because 1/3 of a can of seafoam in that little of gas could be the cause?

[O2SpecV]

i was only posting because i have read horror stories of people with seafoam

[cossh014]

Fair enough. Same stories gave me a scare for a bit. Finally tried it out and am very thankful!
Just got to follow the directions to the letter haha.

[jpalamar]

I've done it 10+ time to random cars/bikes. Never had an issue with it and not sure if it really does anything... it was more of a preventative maintenance thing.

[HatchSurfer3]

Again, I appreciate all the help guys. I haven't gotten a chance to work on it yet. I feel like it didn't do any real damage or anything. It'll most likely be something simple. I've used seafoam plenty of times before without a problem so this probably won't stop me from using it again.

[jpalamar]

Again, I appreciate all the help guys. I haven't gotten a chance to work on it yet. I feel like it didn't do any real damage or anything. It'll most likely be something simple. I've used seafoam plenty of times before without a problem so this probably won't stop me from using it again.

Thats my guess also. It is always the simple thing that is a PITA.

[HatchSurfer3]

Thats my guess also. It is always the simple thing that is a PITA.

An unfortunate, yet true statement with life and cars haha. I'll update once I get it figured out.

[piku]

If you really slammed it in through the vacuum line you could have hydrolocked a cylinder. But you'd have to let it suck down the seafoam crazy fast to achieve that.

[HatchSurfer3]

If you really slammed it in through the vacuum line you could have hydrolocked a cylinder. But you'd have to let it suck down the seafoam crazy fast to achieve that.

Didn't put any in through the vacuum line, first post said just the gas and oil.

[enohand]

If you really slammed it in through the vacuum line you could have hydrolocked a cylinder. But you'd have to let it suck down the seafoam crazy fast to achieve that.

this is highy doubtful

[HatchSurfer3]

Well figured I'd update this. Finally got a chance to actually work on this. Changed the oil and put s few more gallons of gas in it. started up and runs fantastic. Seems there probably just wasn't enough gas. Thanks for all the suggestions and everything. Runs like a top!

[Honduh]

this is highy doubtful

Its really not. We do a service at my work much like seafoam and its very possible to lock up a motor if you do it too fast. The fluid pools up in the intake manifold and if you stab the throttle it all gets sucked in.

[MattBear]

Well figured I'd update this. Finally got a chance to actually work on this. Changed the oil and put s few more gallons of gas in it. started up and runs fantastic. Seems there probably just wasn't enough gas. Thanks for all the suggestions and everything. Runs like a top!

dont be surprised if you are replacing the fuel pump come august. keep more fuel in it. old pumps need to stay cool - running them low lets them heat up, esp when its 60*+ all the time

I'd say changing the oil contributed to none of the car's willingness to turn on again

Good to hear its alive though!

[AutobahnRacer]

lol another seafoam thread...

[HatchSurfer3]

dont be surprised if you are replacing the fuel pump come august. keep more fuel in it. old pumps need to stay cool - running them low lets them heat up, esp when its 60*+ all the time

I'd say changing the oil contributed to none of the car's willingness to turn on again

Good to hear its alive though!

Yea I was thinking that too. I rarely let my tank go below 1/4-1/3 though. Thanks for the info!


lol another seafoam thread...

Cool story bro