Official Seafoam DIY

[Boost Addicted]

So here it is! I talk about Seafoam all the time, and how its a great tuneup item that everybody should get their hands on. This is the official DIY. There's lots of them out there, especially on Vortex, but this is the single proper way to do it.

I did it on my 2004.5 Jetta GLI 1.8T, but this procedure works the same for naturally aspirated engines too.

Lets get to business...


*** Before you even start this process, make sure the engine is up to operating temperature. DO NOT perform a Seafoam tune-up while the engine is cold!


Materials you'll need:

1. A can of seafoam, ofcourse! $10, available at your local autozone/advance auto.
2. A cup. I used a flimsey paper cup, but I'm sure you kids have some Solo's laying around somewhere
3. A buddy! Yes, you will need another person to help you out. Make sure he/she has a steady throttle foot.
4. 1.5 feet of CLEAR 1/4'' vacuum hose. I got mine from NAPA for $1.12. 1/4'' is the right size for the 1.8T models, but I'm not sure about VR6 or 2.0 engines. Just have one of the guys come outside and measure the proper vacuum source, which you'll see later in the DIY.
5. 1 golf tee (not pictured below).
6. (Optional, and not pictured below) Small universal hose clamp... Screw type. Maybe $0.40 at your local hardware store/walmart.

*Don't mind that male-male fitting in the picture. I was gonna use it and decided against it.






Step 1. 50% of the Seafoam gets dumped into the cup.



Step 2. Go out to the car open the hood, and remove the top throttle body hose. Its one of those ''One time use crush clamps''. Somehow I got mine back on, but I reccomend replacing it with a small universal hose clamp.

Once it's off, insert the 1/4'' vacuum hose into the throttle body section, and insert the golf tee into the black TB hose you just removed. The tee is also optional, but it helps reduce vacuum leakage, and keeps idle steadier while performing the following steps.



Step 3. Have your buddy turn the engine on, and mentally come to terms with what you're about to do... Which is, suck liquid directly into your engine lol.

Step 4. As soon as the engine fires up, have the other guy/girl rev AND hold the motor at 2,000 - 2,500 RPM's.

Step 5. Cup in hand, begin dipping the end of the clear vacuum hose into the seafoam. The trick here is not to let the vacuum hose submerge into the liquid. You want to just suck SOME of the Seafoam from the surface, dipping frequently, but allowing air to be sucked in with the liquid. You never want to see the hose completely filled with liquid. After a couple minutes, you'll get the hang of it, and be able to steadily suck a nice mixture of air/seafoam into the engine. Another key point here is, DO NOT LET THE ENGINE STALL! If this does happen, wait a couple seconds, start it up, and continue, but if you're patient, this won't happen.








By this point, you'll realize Seafoam creates ALOT of smoke lol, and it's entirely normal.



Step 6: As soon as all of the Seafoam has been sucked into the engine, cut the ignition, and patiently wait **5-10 minutes**.

Step 7. After no more than 10 minutes, get back in the car, and fire her up. You'll notice a nice plume of smoke upon ignition lol. From here, let it idle for approximately 10 minutes. After 10 minutes has passed, get in the car, and drive it around untill smoke no longer comes out of the tail pipe, or, about another 10 minutes. You can scroll around like your grandmother, or drive like you're in the WRC, either way you'll get the job done, and not damage the car.



Now, you have 2 options. You can leave it at that, or go all out. I personally chose to go all out. BUT, if you do the following, you're on a strict time limit.

What you CAN do (its not necessary) is use up the remaining Seafoam to clean out your injectors, fuel tank, fuel lines, fuel pump, as well as the valve/cam housing, crank case, and oil pan.

Pour 1/2 of the remaining Seafoam (or, 1/4 of the total bottle) into your oil. Then, pour the last of the Seafoam into your fuel tank.

If you so choose to do these final steps, you will NEED to burn that entire tank of fuel before you change your oil, AND you will need to change your oil no later than 1 week after Seafoaming.

If you DO NOT pour Seafoam into your oil/fuel tank, you will still need to change your oil within 1 week maximum, but no sooner than 1 day after.


Results: Idle is MUCH steadier (wasn't even bad before, but now it doesn't move at all), steadier vacuum, smoother acceleration, more powerful acceleration (third gear felt quite a bit more powerful), steadier boost throughout the RPM range, and 1 more mpg average.

Necessary time: Approx. 45 - 60 minutes.

[OregonDweller]

is your car single? id like to take her out on a date.

[Boost Addicted]

LOL taken, sir

[Sitrane]

Freaking Awesome boost! Too bad you didn't have this up before I dropped $150 on a fuel system cleanout...which did not appear to improve my gas mileage anyway...

Either way, SO glad you did this! Now I just need to grow the stones to actually do it...

[OregonDweller]

maybe i could just go along and be the 3rd wheel? she looks like a monster lol

[Boost Addicted]

lol I wouldn't say it's a monster, but it can move pretty well...

I need a TBE to get some real top end power.

[OregonDweller]

chris, when you have a 2.0, alot of cars are monsters : p

[Boost Addicted]

With a fully built suspension, you can beat alot of the monsters out there on all kinds of twisy roads and rally type environments lol

Gotta look at the bright side man lol

So what'd ya think about the DIY? Clear? Good?

[OregonDweller]

i can neither afford or build a suspension, im not that talented lol most tools will only race in a straight line anyways.

But yeah i thought it was pretty clear, pictures are nice and you tell it how it is. i'd do it but i dont have the balls lol

sticky it dawg your a mod now!

[billh1012]

Great DIY! Just to clarify for a 2.0 is the below hose the correct one to use right off the throttle body. This is just a pic i had handy if you need a better one let me know and i will get one. Thanks.

[amrrlz]

Good job man!
guess what i'll be doing this weekend haha

question: Theres no way i can burn a whole tank within a week, can i get half tank and 1/8 content of seafoam?

[Boost Addicted]

Yeah you can do whatever ratio of fuel/Seafoam you want. I had a quarter tank of fuel when I put a quarter can of SF in.

Might even be better that way, more concintration of SF going through the injectors.

[Vixen]

Good write up, I might have to do this. Add this to the DIY's too.

Chris, why the hell are your rims 2 different colors? The back one looks good with your car, the front one looks eh though lol.

[Vixen]

P.S. you should have entered in augusts rotm. You engine bay looks amazing, no dust even in there! Plus that turbo set up is nice and shiney.

[Boost Addicted]

Originally Posted by Vixen

P.S. you should have entered in augusts rotm. You engine bay looks amazing, no dust even in there! Plus that turbo set up is nice and shiney.

Haha I JUST cleaned it. Got some engine bay cleaner... some hardcore shit. Did that a few times, then believe it or not, tire shine makes everything look new. All rubber hoses, plastics...

Just found out the other day that tire shine works great in restoring the black in all the rubber seals around the doors, the rain tray under the windshield, and also the inner wheel fenders.



And yeah I was hoping nobody would notice those wheels lol. I blew a tire a while back.... the whole thign came off, and the road tore up the lip of the wheel... had to get it repaired and repowdered. ASC ****ed me over again, took A MONTH to do the wheel, and it was the wrong color. Needless to say, I flipped a shit and refused to pay.

No joke though, I'm leaving in about 5 mins to have it repowdered by another place thats about a half hour from my house. Luckily some local dubbers said they're real good.

Its like impossible to color match w/ powder though... I'm hoping they can come close. If not, I might do them all over again... I really would rather not cause I dont have the cash. I might ask you later if you can do some photoshopping for me on different color wheels on the GLI.

[Boost Addicted]

Originally Posted by Vixen

Good write up, I might have to do this. Add this to the DIY's too.

Chris, why the hell are your rims 2 different colors? The back one looks good with your car, the front one looks eh though lol.

Oh yeah, and thanks

Its the back one thats ****ed up lol. The front one is the right color. The rear looks MUCH different in sunlight though.. Its way lighter than it looks in the picture.

Originally they were supposed to be a few shades darker than my car... Like a charcoal grey. Specifically, the new ''Charcoal Grey'' that toyota uses on the newer Yaris's as well as tC's.

Woulda looked dope. Too bad ASC is a bullshit business.

[WolfsJetta]

Would anybody know which hose do i take off on a MK2 92 jet 8v

[Boost Addicted]

No hoses comming off the throttle body?

Really, any hose thats connected directly to the intake manifold should work, but the throttle body is the best.

[WV Jay]

Nice DIY! I've preformed this on all my vehicles and it works like a charm, but have yet to do it to the Jetta....hmm

[vwa]

damm that a sexy as car

[Boost Addicted]

Hah, thanks guys

[WolfsJetta]

thanks boost i am going to try this, hopefully soon.

[JettaNut]

Hey man nice wheels. lol mind telling me where you got them? or atleast the name cause i been searching all over for those kind of wheels

[Nicholai]

We should trade cars...

I saw sea foam at walmart yesterday, and knowing you had a DIY up for it I was like ehhhhhh..... So i got it! Guess I'll be doing it sometime soon. I have a 94 pathfinder that could use it too.

[Boost Addicted]

Originally Posted by JettaNut

Hey man nice wheels. lol mind telling me where you got them? or atleast the name cause i been searching all over for those kind of wheels

Thanks man lol. They're actually the wheels that come stock on 04-05 GLI's. They're called BBS RC's. They come from the factory in a silver color, but the clearcoat on mine were peeling off, so i had to do something about it... I chose to get them powder coated (stronger and tougher than paint). They actually came out entirely the wrong color... They were supposed to be charcoal grey. But thats another story...

BBS RC's are VERY expensive, but other companies make replicas that look like them. I'll ask my buddy for ya... He got some replicas, they were abotu $1000 for all four including shipping, and are VERY good quality for reps.

[Adius]

Oh nice tutorial, unfortunately for me...I just changed my oil yesterday.

[JettaNut]

Originally Posted by Boost Addicted

Thanks man lol. They're actually the wheels that come stock on 04-05 GLI's. They're called BBS RC's. They come from the factory in a silver color, but the clearcoat on mine were peeling off, so i had to do something about it... I chose to get them powder coated (stronger and tougher than paint). They actually came out entirely the wrong color... They were supposed to be charcoal grey. But thats another story...

BBS RC's are VERY expensive, but other companies make replicas that look like them. I'll ask my buddy for ya... He got some replicas, they were abotu $1000 for all four including shipping, and are VERY good quality for reps.

Hey thanks sorry for the late response 1000 is a bit to much for me im only a high school student i saw a nice pair on the tire rack i think ill get those instead maybe for christmas =)

[TBUCK1.8T]

Originally Posted by Boost Addicted

Hah, thanks guys

excellent DIY boost! im definitely going to do this in spring, seeing as i doubt the woman who owned my car before me even knew what seafoam is haha. great info!

[Boost Addicted]

Thanks Its definitly a good tuneup item!

[BigJ389]

I did this like a month ago...i had my friend take video of it, buuuut he sucks at taking pics of video sooo blah, had to delete it lol