Sea Foam or Ring Free

edge · Post by **edge** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:19 pm

I run a 1998 175 EFI Merc and all the buzz is about using these products.

What are the benefits? Could they possibly harm the engine in any way?

How often do you use it?

Looking forward to your input.

blkdog812 · Post by **blkdog812** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:52 pm

these products keep the carbon from building up in the cylinder. too much build up and usually a piston ring will break , hence the names. both are great products. follow directions and make the motor last. also run some power tune thrui the motor once a year will help too.
there will probly be some guys that say never used it and still running, but to me little prevenitive now never hurt. cause its 3-6k for a rebuilt head

CORAL 96 · Post by **CORAL 96** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 5:29 pm

My vote goes to Seafoam. 2 reasons, it cleans & stabilizes your fuel. I'm not as lucky as others to be able to run once a week, so when I do run, I'm guaranteed to have good fuel still. Actually, there is a third reason, it can be run in your cars and trucks as well. Keeps your injectors nice & clean!!

The Lone Angler · Post by **The Lone Angler** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:58 pm

I had a yamaha 150 from 1993-2007. I ran the spray in the carbourator combustion chamber cleaner through the motor once/year, but needed to change the plugs after the treatment due to the released carbon chunks fouling the plugs.

As I understand it, a fairly famous bass fisherman kept blowing mercury powerheads and then started running the mercury brand combustion chamber cleaner through his motor. Suddenly he did not blow powerheads........that was good enough for me. The only difference was that since I owned Yamaha, I bought yamaha combustion chamber cleaner and eventually switched to Ringfree which is designed to be added to each tank of gas. I believe the ringfree keeps carbon from building up under the piston rings, forcing the ring into the cylinder wall causing scoring, compression loss, heat up, and eventually engine failure. I ran ringfree in this motor until I sold it in 2007. I never had any kind of problem with this motor from 1994-2007. I take that back.....I had the spark plug wires come loose off the plug. I zip tied the wires onto the plug and never had another issue.

I recently bought a mercury 175 efi and am currently hunting a MERCURY gas additive to prevent carbon build up. I read a bottle of sea foam, and I don't remember it saying that it was designed to help remove carbon from the combustion chamber. I realize that ringfree might work, but I thought I would go with a merc brand with this motor.

Is Sea Foam comparable to ringfree??? I don't know. I can't find a Mercury dealer in Yuba City to check their stock.

The preceding are just my observations,

Phil

Kevin · Post by **Kevin** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 8:41 pm

Eric's Marine in Yuba City should have it.

Lee In Mountain View · Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:13 am

I've read numerous opinions on other forums about Seafoam. Most seem to like it. I have been using it in my 1994 Mercury 75hp outboard for about 2 years now. I add a can approximately every other tank of gas or so. I'm not sure of all of the benefits that it provides, but, one thing I do know is that my outboard idles alot smoother than it did when I bought my boat, which was used. So, I'm not sure if that is a result of less carbon in the chambers or less gum in the carbs, maybe both, but I like it!

Jeff C. · Post by **Jeff C.** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 1:34 pm

I use ring free in every tank of gas.

Two questions: First, isn't Sea Foam a lot more expensive, with a whole can needed for each tank of gas? A $15 bottle of ring free will last me 6 months or more. I rarely add more than 5 gallons of gas at a time and so I think Sea Foam would be real expensive or a hassle to add only part of the can. I know Sea Foam also has a stabilizer but it's still got to be more expensive than Ring Free + Stabil.

Second, how many of you use the spray in combustion cleaner in addition to regularly adding the treatment to your gas? I've always added Ring Free to my gas but wonder if I should also use the spray in stuff once every year or two.

CORAL 96 · Post by **CORAL 96** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:27 pm

It depends on where you get it (Seafoam). I've seen it range from $3.99-$5.99 a can. One can will treat 25 gal. I just like the fact that I only add one additive vs multiples. It works for me!!

This is my 2nd outboard using it in now. Usually Autozone, Napa, & some marine places carry it. As for spray (Powertune) it is a good idea. Go to www.bogerprops.com. Rich has a pretty detailed instructions for doing this on an EFI Merc, but would work on any of them. The other thing I've heard of folks doing to decarb is to get a gallon gas jug, fill with good test gas, add a can of Seafoam. Disconnect your fuel line & place in gas jug. Run your boat at about 1500 rpm until mixture is gone. Let motor sit for 20 minutes. Start up & run her good. All the built up carbon will loosen up. Afterwards, keep a set of plugs handy as you may foul the ones you have in. I'm going to try the latter here soon. I'll let you know the results (Merc 225 efi)!!

Bill K · Post by **Bill K** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 5:37 am

My mercury mechanics have always reccommended Quickleen put out ty Mercury as the additive to use for best results on a outboard, or any engine for that matter. Have used it for numerous years on several engines and never had bad results. Bill K

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