What do you think about this carbon removal technique?

[les]

I've never done this, so asking for opinions.  Yes, I have carbon problems.

1) Remove spark plugs.
2) Bring one piston to TDC.
3) Fill with Seafoam; let set for a couple of days.
4) Suck out fluid; blow out remaining fluid with compressed air.
5) Repeat 1-4 with other cylinder.
6) Start engine and take it out for a hard ride.

[rbabos]

I wouldn't use compressed air or it can force crap down past the ring gaps. Too slow for me too. Water spray seems the quickest and most effective but best left to someone who has an understanding of what's going on. It has it's risks if not done right. Otherwise very quick and effective.
Ron

[Buffalo]

Pretty sure that 3-4ozs of Seafoam wil bleed down into the crank and probably a lot sooner than a couple of days!! The Seafoam would remove all traces of oil everywhere it touched, including cylinderwalls, rings. Excess may even end up in main bearings.
If I attempted to clean pistons this way, I'd use 1/4 to 1/2oz, let it sit for 2-4 hrs, then start the engine.
My preferred method is to run 4oz or so in each tank full of gas for 2-3 cycles.
IMO, you want the carbon to slowly dissolve and be sent out the exhaust port. This worked great on my S&S T124 last summer. fwiw Buffalo

[les]

Ok, so all the things you guys said confirm the bad things I suspected might happen.  So, I won't do it.

I have used water by setting a garden hose on mist and spraying into the throttle body while I rev it.  But the carbon seems to be very stubborn.

I have not run 4 oz. in the tank through a few cycles.  I'll try that when the weather gets better.

Thanks for the responses. 

[Ohio HD]

Les, when you do the water removal process, get a spray bottle that will emit a fine misted spray. Hold the throttle to about 2,000 RPM on a hot motor. Spray a little, stop, spray more, stop. You don't want to dump water in. I also use Sea Foam in the fuel tank every three months or so. If you run them pretty hard, they don't get carbon build up easily.

[ThumperDeuce]

I've posted this before.  I usually mix the seafoam 50/50 with water.  Carefully spray it in the tb while running the engine so as not to hydrolock it.  The steam breaks up the carbon and the seafoam lubes the cylinders.  At least that is my understanding.  I then go for a 20 - 30 minute ride and change the oil.

[Leed]

Sea Foam also makes a product specifically for what you want to do.  It's called Deep Creep.  If I remember correctly from another site you spray it into the throttle body on a hot engine until the engine stalls.  Then wait an hour or so and restart.  Should smoke like a SOB when you first start it up so do it outside.

[Ohio HD]

Yeah, he Deep Creep is the same stuff that GM uses called Top Engine cleaner. I was always told to only use that when there was really heavy deposits. And the oil should be changed afterwards too.

I was never a fan of stalling the motor with fluids though, gotta be careful to not hydro lock it, and bend a rod.

[les]

I've posted this before.  I usually mix the seafoam 50/50 with water.  Carefully spray it in the tb while running the engine so as not to hydrolock it.  The steam breaks up the carbon and the seafoam lubes the cylinders.  At least that is my understanding.  I then go for a 20 - 30 minute ride and change the oil.

You mentioned that the Seafoam lubes the cylinders.  In an earlier post, it was mentioned that the Seafoam (if I poured it in and left it a couple of hours) would drain down and leave the cylinder walls void of lubrication.   Is Seafoam somewhat of a lubricant?  If so, then perhaps it washing the oil away might not be such a bad thing during the initial startup?

[mrmike]

I have some seafoam in a spray bottle, the day before I do an oil change I get the engine running and warmed up bring the rpm's up a bit and spray some in until it stumbles, let it run a bit and repeat a few more times. Then I spray it heavier until it stalls, I let the bike sit over night and the next morning I start it up and take it out for a ride to warm up the oil for the oil change, smokes quite a bit for about 5 min or so.

I do the same thing to my 95 GMC pickup.

Ray I'm pretty sure the motor stalls because the seafoam or water even for that matter is noncombustible, though you are right, a person could get carried away and cause some damage if as you say they didn't understand what's going on.

I do the same thing to my snowblower but with WD-40 when spring time comes sort of like a cheap carb fogger.

Those of you that have to ask what a snowblower is can eat a.....


Mike

[ThumperDeuce]

SeaFoam is made from petroleum distiliates, naptha and iso-propyl alcohol.  I can't find the link to where I got my recommended usage from.  But I think the logic is sound that the steam from the water will blast off the carbon deposits and the petroleum components from the SeaFoam will add some lubrication into the process.  Longer term usage I think would thin out the oil on the cylinder walls.

[koko3052]

"Deep Creep" is a rust buster made by the same people as Sea Foam.
If you look up the history of Sea Foam, you will have a better understanding of why & for what application it was made.

[No Cents]

put a tablespoon of Marvels Mystery Oil in your gas tank at every other fill up. Ride as normal.
Three or four tanks of fuel ran thru the bike...and the carbon will be gone. 

Ray

[rbabos]

I use 2.5 ounces MMO per 5 gal in the V rod now and then. Same with the softail I use to own.
Ron

[No Cents]

I use 2.5 ounces MMO per 5 gal in the V rod now and then. Same with the softail I use to own.
Ron

 

[N-gin]

I snuff out the engine with seafoam at idle let it sit for 5 minutes. Restart and spray into throttlebody ..last ime i did this before takin the engine apart. Cleaned it pretty darn good. Piston ringswere definatly clean. Pistons stillhad carbon in some places but they were stock pistons.

[86fxwg]

That is exactly how every car manufacturer wants it done. Except for letting it sit four days,usually just over night.
But any that has been posted works fine too.
Water trick works great but as said can be tricky!
86

[HD/Wrench]

Kroil is some cool stuff if you want to put something on the piston dome.  I have used it as a test with pistons on the bench coat the piston and leave it over the weekend the carbon is almost all turned to a gel like coating and it comes right off..  I have used it to clean guns for years works great for heavy fouled barrels

[les]

I sent this to Seafoam tech support:  "I have a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.  I am experiencing carbon build up in the combustion chamber, especially on the top of the pistons.  Your literature talks about "fogging" the engine.  Is it appropriate to spray some Seafoam Spray onto the pistons through the spark plug hole, let set for an overnight, and then run the engine to expel the carbon?  What precautions should I take?"

Their Technical Services Director reply:  "Yes, Sea Foam is used in that way quite often. Before you start the engine, rotate the engine to get excess fluid out of the cylinders then reinstall the plugs and start engine in a well ventilated area."

[yankee dog]

Try mopar combustion chamber cleaner. Can get at any dealer. The stuff really works....google it for good info. YD

[02roadcling]

The BEST product available is what somebody uses. If you don't believe me, then just ask them!

   cling 

[Tsani]

Actually I prefer my method (Note the dremel in the back ground), my chemical of choice.

[jam65]

Kroil is some cool stuff if you want to put something on the piston dome.  I have used it as a test with pistons on the bench coat the piston and leave it over the weekend the carbon is almost all turned to a gel like coating and it comes right off..  I have used it to clean guns for years works great for heavy fouled barrels

That is some pretty good stuff Steve. I bought it for guns also but have seen other uses for it.

[slypig]

Question.  What causes carbon build up?  The only bike I've ever decarboned was a 1970 something Kawasaki 750 triple which was a 2 stroke and I understand the carbon build up from the oil on a 2 stroke. I've had big twin Harleys since the mid '70's and never a carbon problem and why mostly bikes and not cars?

Sly

[02roadcling]

Kroil penetrates gaps into the millionths!!

http://www.kanolabs.com/

   cling