Using Seafoam

[jonnythan]

I picked up a can of Seafoam at Advance Auto while checking out a diagnostic code reader for my car.

I initially planned on using this in my car, but now I'm thinking about using it in my bike. The bike is an '87 Virago XV535. I get about 42-45 mpg at the moment, which is apparently lower than this bike should get. Any chance running Seafoam through it will help the mileage?

If I do use the Seafoam, should I use it just as a fuel treatment or should I do the vacuum line thing? How much Seafoam should I use in tank of fuel that holds 2 gallons?

What else can I do to improve gas mileage? Air filter is clean and the spark plugs were supposedly new when I bought the bike last summer.

[jonnythan]

Anyone?

[Big B]

it might help it out, it certainly couldn't hurt. those bottles are normally good for up to 12 gallons iirc, so if you've got a two gallon tank, only put a sixth of the bottle in (doesn't have to be completely accurate i suppose) and yeah, i'd just dump it in the tank.

[flynrider]

I use Seafoam about once every month or two to keep the jets and small passages in my carb clean. I use 1/2 bottle in 4 gallons of gas. My jets and idle passages are still sparkling clean after 10 yrs. I just had an emmisions test done and the results indicated that the carbs are mixing fuel and air like they did when they were brand new.

[Ian522]

Ive been using seafoam as a fuel stabilizer all winter. Took the bike out the other day from a pretty long slumber and she fired right up. It says on the can how much to use, I just said F it and put about 1/3 of the can into my 2.5 gallon tank. Hopefully as a bonus it'll give the fuel system a nice cleaning as I burn through the tank.

[blues2cruise]

What about your riding style? Are you aggressive with the throttle? Take it easy and you will improve your gas mileage.

[jonnythan]

What about your riding style? Are you aggressive with the throttle? Take it easy and you will improve your gas mileage.

I ride like a grandma

I've heard a bit on a Virago-specific forum that my MPG is about right for the older XV535s. I guess the newer ones get slightly better mileage.

The bike is out of commission right now, I'll let you guys know if the Seafoam did anything.

[BananaKatana]

Good stuff! I put about 1/3 of a can into my 3.sumthin gallon tank every now and then, but to get the full de-carb benifits from it I've done this:

Take a funnel and about 6" of crooked fuel tubing and connect them. Vice clamp the fuel line, and use the clamp as a handle. Carefully pour some Seafoam into your ghetto funnel with the line all the way clamped shut, put the fuel line end up to your carb's mouth with the warm engine running, and loosen the vice clamp till the seafoam pours out either in a fast drip or a slow stream. This is kinda a tedious and often messy process that makes more sense if youve seen the way shops do the de-carb services with their little tool, filled with very similar chemicals as seafoam. You have to rev the engine lightly while adding the product to blow it all out, being careful not to let it idle too long while dripping it into the motor or the seafoam will just pool up. I've done this with excellent results, and it clean the carbs and indvidual cylinders a little more effectively.

There is really no need to do this much unless your intake is either old and/or gunky.

[ofblong]

I used it in my oil as well as the gas tank. I know it cleaned my oil surfaces cause when I changed the oil Ihad some nice size "gunk" come out with the old oil . I went from 55mpg to 57mpg after using it in the tank. Not a huge difference. However its not the gas mileage you should be concerned with its the fact you are lowering the amount of required maintenance from an unplaned "shut down" of your bike .

[Jadien]

So I picked some Seafoam up and I'm wondering if I should put it in with a full tank of gas or not? I know to put it in with the old oil, but what about gas? Does it make a difference?