Trouble trying to Seafoam


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ihatemybike
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Trouble trying to Seafoam

Post by ihatemybike »

Took my intake apart so I could pour Seafoam into the throttle body, tried to start the van up, fires for a second then dies, followed by a sucking sound and pop. Put the intake back together the van starts and idles.

What's causing it not to run? It will keep running if I remove the air cleaner box and map sensor, but as soon as I lift the elbow off the throttle body it dies.

I've never had this problem before. Am I missing a maintenance item somewhere?
Aaron

2005 Astro (Gandalf) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, 130k+ miles
1997 Astro (Grumpy - $250 Rally Van) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, LSD, 2" lift, 31" tires, 335k+ orig engine, $30 eBay fuel pump
Prev Astros:99,97,00,94,87,86

Southern
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Re: Trouble trying to Seafoam

Post by Southern »

Seafoam works better on a warm engine. Did you pour too much in at one time? I just trickle it in while the engine is warmed up and running.
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Rileysowner
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Re: Trouble trying to Seafoam

Post by Rileysowner »

It sounds like he hasn't even gotten to the point of pouring the seafoam in.
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kings-x59
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Re: Trouble trying to Seafoam

Post by kings-x59 »

what's the temperature like? is it pretty cold?
If the engine hasn't warmed up, the fuel mist may be condensing back to liquid in the cold air.
'89 Astro, 4.3L, TBI. Minor intake and exhaust mods. Rebuilt 700R4 trans (by me). Corvette servo, 0.5" boost valve, police grade 1-2 accumulator spring (shifts fast and solid). B&M stacked plate trans cooler. Bilstein shocks. Belltech sway bars front and back. New head unit, speakers and subwoofer. Needs paint and a new headliner.

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ihatemybike
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Re: Trouble trying to Seafoam

Post by ihatemybike »

Yeah, not even getting to the pouring in part. Engine was warm, having just drove the 25 miles home from work. It was mid 20s outside when I got home, mid 30s inside the garage.

I Seafoamed Green last April and Grumpy last month. At the time, both ran fine when I pulled the elbow off the throttle body.

Guess I'll just put it back together till next week.
Aaron

2005 Astro (Gandalf) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, 130k+ miles
1997 Astro (Grumpy - $250 Rally Van) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, LSD, 2" lift, 31" tires, 335k+ orig engine, $30 eBay fuel pump
Prev Astros:99,97,00,94,87,86

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ihatemybike
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Re: Trouble trying to Seafoam

Post by ihatemybike »

Figures, engine is cold, I've reserved myself to put everything back together, and I figure out what the problem was. I left the MAF sensor plugged in. Van had no problem running once I unplugged it. I'll have to make note of that in my manual.
Aaron

2005 Astro (Gandalf) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, 130k+ miles
1997 Astro (Grumpy - $250 Rally Van) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, LSD, 2" lift, 31" tires, 335k+ orig engine, $30 eBay fuel pump
Prev Astros:99,97,00,94,87,86
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GEJ
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Re: Trouble trying to Seafoam

Post by GEJ »

Aaron,
Either way(cold or hot),don't believe in the stuff here in this camp.Kind of a if it ant broke,don't fix it.Some of that kurd it taking up the space on worn parts and once removed bad things happen.Just my two cents worth.
Call me Gary

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1994 LT Astro
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ihatemybike
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Re: Trouble trying to Seafoam

Post by ihatemybike »

I wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't for the sticky poppets. GM's TBS originally swapped the CFI for MFI, but then they switched to a chem treatment similar to Seafoam, so that's the route I'm going.
Aaron

2005 Astro (Gandalf) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, 130k+ miles
1997 Astro (Grumpy - $250 Rally Van) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, LSD, 2" lift, 31" tires, 335k+ orig engine, $30 eBay fuel pump
Prev Astros:99,97,00,94,87,86
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crash
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Re: Trouble trying to Seafoam

Post by crash »

ihatemybike wrote:Took my intake apart so I could pour Seafoam into the throttle body, tried to start the van up, fires for a second then dies, followed by a sucking sound and pop. Put the intake back together the van starts and idles.

What's causing it not to run? It will keep running if I remove the air cleaner box and map sensor, but as soon as I lift the elbow off the throttle body it dies.

I've never had this problem before. Am I missing a maintenance item somewhere?
this may sound realllllly silly.. but, when you removed the intake, you also removed the MAF right? so you could dump the seafoam into the TB ... I think that the MAF may not be getting enough air flow past it to get an accurate reading... so it quits on you.
Rob Image

current rides:
04 Mazda 6 V6 5spd

vans owned: Image
97 Astro AWD (selling by summer .. i think) SOLD
99 Astro LS Sept 08 ASV VOM
94 Astro LT
93 Astro LT
96 Astro LT AWD * parts van*

Topic author
ihatemybike
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Re: Trouble trying to Seafoam

Post by ihatemybike »

crash wrote:this may sound realllllly silly.. but, when you removed the intake, you also removed the MAF right? so you could dump the seafoam into the TB ... I think that the MAF may not be getting enough air flow past it to get an accurate reading... so it quits on you.
Figured it out. MAF needs to be unplugged.
Aaron

2005 Astro (Gandalf) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, 130k+ miles
1997 Astro (Grumpy - $250 Rally Van) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, LSD, 2" lift, 31" tires, 335k+ orig engine, $30 eBay fuel pump
Prev Astros:99,97,00,94,87,86
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crash
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Re: Trouble trying to Seafoam

Post by crash »

aaron.. if the seafoam doesn't work for you get the stuff from the dealer. i'm not sure exactly what's different about it but it worked on mine when the seafoam didn't. on the bottle it's injector cleaner... but when you tell the parts person 'for the sticky poppets' they'll know which one you are talking about.

i think the GM part number is 12345104
Rob Image

current rides:
04 Mazda 6 V6 5spd

vans owned: Image
97 Astro AWD (selling by summer .. i think) SOLD
99 Astro LS Sept 08 ASV VOM
94 Astro LT
93 Astro LT
96 Astro LT AWD * parts van*

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Re: Trouble trying to Seafoam

Post by mikedamech »

ihatemybike wrote:I wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't for the sticky poppets. GM's TBS originally swapped the CFI for MFI, but then they switched to a chem treatment similar to Seafoam, so that's the route I'm going.
What's TBS?
98 Astro with a 95 LT1
94 Astro stock w/Flo master.

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ihatemybike
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Re: Trouble trying to Seafoam

Post by ihatemybike »

TSB misspelled
Aaron

2005 Astro (Gandalf) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, 130k+ miles
1997 Astro (Grumpy - $250 Rally Van) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, LSD, 2" lift, 31" tires, 335k+ orig engine, $30 eBay fuel pump
Prev Astros:99,97,00,94,87,86

pj
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Re: Trouble trying to Seafoam

Post by pj »

FYI:
According to a parts counter dude at a GM dealer here in Sac, they can no longer sell the original injector cleaner in Cali.
Cali emission/hazmat rules and regs and all that stuff...

GM came up with a new 'mix' that they sell now; at least here in 'Green'-land.
The guy said all the techs in the shop say the 'new' stuff doesn't work any better than soapy water...

I didn't buy the new stuff.
94 Safari Passgr 185K RWD
99 Astro Passgr LS 102K AWD

I have TSB...male counterpart to PMS...strikes at any time of day or night...sometimes a number of times a day...

Topic author
ihatemybike
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Re: Trouble trying to Seafoam

Post by ihatemybike »

Ask real nice and maybe one of us non-green heathens could arrange some being shipped to you.
Aaron

2005 Astro (Gandalf) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, 130k+ miles
1997 Astro (Grumpy - $250 Rally Van) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, LSD, 2" lift, 31" tires, 335k+ orig engine, $30 eBay fuel pump
Prev Astros:99,97,00,94,87,86
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