I just use a gas additive, such as STP or Tech 2000 every other fill up. It not only cleans the valves, but the whole fuel system, and my engine runs smoother and cooler.
There's actually no need to use Seafoam or any other $$$ additives to eliminate carbon from an engine. Really, they just want you to spend $$$.
The first age-old method has been around since "day one" and it's the tried and reliable "Italian tuneup". That just means you go drive your engine super aggressively, repeatedly accelerating hard to near redline rpms at wide-open throttle. That technique is still widely used by mechanics who work on high-performance engines driven too conservatively on the street which causes them to build up carbon. Like the guy who owns a 427 Corvette but is afraid to open it up too much so carbon just builds up inside. Mechanics who work on such engines often get customers in who complain their engines are knocking, not performing well, etc. They then drive the car around back and rev the crap out of the engine for an hour and watch the black carbon blow out of the exhaust system to get it running right again.
Driving engines too conservatively will definitely cause carbon to build up. That is a common cause of knocking and pinging since the carbon builds up inside the combustion chambers taking up volume. That raises the pressure inside during the compression stroke which causes the fuel to ignite prematurely (pre-detonation) which is what causes the pinging or knocking.
The other way is faster and is safe but scares some who hear about it and can't believe it's safe... but it is. Discovered by WWII bomber mechanics whose bombers used water injection to increase engine power for take-offs with heavy bomb loads, they discovered aircraft engines with water injection stayed perfectly clean inside, no carbon whatsoever. They were pristine inside.
So most experienced mechanics use it to to clean out engines that have carbon caked inside the combustion chambers. NO, you don't just dump water into the engine... that would indeed damage the engine, likely cause hydro lock which is bad news.
Instead, you very slowly trickle 12-16 ounces of water into the throttle body while the engine is running. Slowly enough that it take probably 2 minutes to empty the container. Rev the engine up & down as you do so. That is a more effective method than the Italian tune up is, you only have to avoid dumping the container of water into the engine. The water in effect steam cleans the inside of the combustion chambers.
Cost for either of these methods that are completely effective and safe when done properly and a modicum of care? 0$.
Products like Sea Foam have ZERO benefit over either of these methods other than they'll make some people feel better who just can't accept how something that is free could be as good as something that costs them $$$. Really.
The other way is faster and is safe but scares some who hear about it and can't believe it's safe... but it is. Discovered by WWII bomber mechanics whose bombers used water injection to increase engine power for take-offs with heavy bomb loads, they discovered aircraft engines with water injection stayed perfectly clean inside, no carbon whatsoever. They were pristine inside.
Instead, you very slowly trickle 12-16 ounces of water into the throttle body while the engine is running. Slowly enough that it take probably 2 minutes to empty the container. Rev the engine up & down as you do so. That is a more effective method than the Italian tune up is, you only have to avoid dumping the container of water into the engine. The water in effect steam cleans the inside of the combustion chambers.
I have used seafoam with good results on boat motors both 2 and 4 stroke. I have also used it on my motorcycles with good results. I think the problem with a just dumping it in a gas tank is that is just gets to diluted.
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