sandersd

Sorry. I've never heard of seafoam. I guess it's some kind of oil treatment... Just googled... Never seen it but I have a bottle of the Bugs-B-Gone in my garage.

I'll check it out for future reference.

ivangene

dont put Bug-B-Gone in your motor

that stuff only works on computers

sandersd

While I appreciate the suggestion I have to admit I've always viewed oil additives as "snake oil" - lots of marketing hype. There never seems to be any empirical scientific test data to validate their claims, but there is an over-abundance of anecdotal evidence from everyone and their brother.

I read this on another forum: "I have no empirical evidence to suggest that Seafoam is not a useful treatment. If owners are seeing positive results with their own eyes, who am I to argue? What I do know is that it contains pale oil (a lightweight, highly refined mineral oil), naptha (commonly known as Coleman lantern fuel), and isopropyl alcohol. Solvents, essentially. None of these are magic elixers and all can be found in the other motor flushes on the market. Do they work? If they do, I would expect the manufacturer to be ble to produce evidence from ASTM, SAE or other well-respected testing lab for scrutiny. AMSOIL and other companies do this with some of their additives. I could find nothing of the sort on the seafoam site, though admittedly I didn't dig long."

I guess it's my engineering background but before I buy additives, I want to "see the numbers". In the meantime I'll change my oil regularly.

Perhaps you have seen test data to support Seafoam's claims?

seanmcr6

If you work in oil n gas...you should come to Fort McMurray. LOTS of jobs here and you make mad money.

If you can deal with the cold that is

sean

sandersd

The cold I can handle, it's the commute that would kill me.

Byprodriver

I recommend you don't attempt to do this, but without actually hearing the noise in person this is likely the cause since it sounds like it already happened to your Variocam actuator which works like a tall lifter. I was providing the info because it might be a good compromise for everyone to clean & reuse all acceptable lifters instead of replacing the 1 or 2 that are noisy now. The problem with the lifters is the internal clearances are so tight that trash in the oil goes in but never comes out. If you use Seafoam or other engine flushes it brings trash from the whole engine to park in the lifters.

ivangene

never used seafoam, but I think you put it in the intake down you ? (like a cleaner?)

maybe they offer multile levels of snake oil protection
actually I have heard a lot of people say its good stuff

bkjwhipple

yes, its diffrent in that you put it down the intake.

sandersd

Their website says as a fuel additive or oil additive.

"I wonder how it is on stains." - Clint Eastwood as the outlaw Josey Wales

ivangene

LoL - just re-watched that - great movie

bkjwhipple

directions smerictions....
honestly I have never used it, but I had one of the old pathfinders and they had lifter problems, and I know a ton of people that swear by it and say it completely stopped their noisy lifters. many people do it 2x a year as maintance, and these are people who have clocked 250+k miles on their motors.
But agian, I have never used it. :-)

sandersd

Dealer just called and said they couldn't find anything wrong. They believe the noise was because it sat for a few days and the oil drained from the lifters causing the clattering and subsequent knocking. Anyway they say it's running fine so I'll go pick it up and listen for the knocking I heard. If all's well, so much the better.

I think I'll pick up a new filter while I'm there...

ivangene

bitchen - now dont let it sit so long anymore

sandersd

Jeez, it was only three days. I need to hook it up to an oil recirculating unit next time.

rb101

Might want to think about replacing the chain tensioners, it's simple to do, only cost about $200 for all 3.

Rick
99 996C4
87 944S