People Who Have Done The Seafoam Intake Clean - Questions For You

Madpete

Madpete

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Hi guys,

My cars been running rough for a few weeks, I've been trying to get to the bottom of it so I've been looking into a few things. My Torque app show I'm getting misfires, but the car has not thrown a code.

Plugs and coil packs have been changed 3 or 4 months ago, so I dont think its them.

Anyway, I decided I'd try the Seafoam intake clean.....I know people say it doesn't do jack etc but I thought for £14 quid what the hell I'll try it.

So....I've just done the first treatment and all has gone well so far, the questions I have is this:

When the Seafoam is being sucked into the intake the car spluttered and shuddered, then eventually stalled after sucking everything up...which I presume is normal?

BUT...there was a fair bit of smoke coming from the back of the engine bay....is this normal? I'm not daft, but I'm not a mechanic so I was wondering if this is a sign of an air leak somewhere? Smoke has to be coming from somewhere right?

And so, would this be the cause of the misfire and rough feeling the car has? Its like it takes ages for it to spool up, then once you hit about 4k rpm it all comes in one big lump.

Any help would be greatly appreciated,

Pete.
 
Did a second clean, this time watching like a hawk to try and pinpoint where it was coming from, and would you believe it....no smoke.

Is it me, or do car engines make very little sense. :)

Time to do some more driving / testing with Torque and Dash Command.
 
Seafoam will dissolve the carbon deposits in your intake valves and does result in a lot of smoke coming out of the exhaust. There are videos on YouTube showing this.
 
Thanks for the reply.

Yeah there was loads of black smoke from the exhaust, i expected that.

But I was asking about smoke from the engine bay? Right at the back.

Car is still running rough after treatment, when accelerating today there was a sort of flapping noise when on the throttle.

Think I'm gonna have to have it looked at, it spluttering at low revs, and in reverse. Its very laggy too, something is not right.

If anyone has any ideas, I'd be grateful.

Pete.
 
I have a similar type issue no smoke though and after trawling the internet as not much mention on here about issues with the airbox connected to the intake manifold it sticks resulting in a build up off pressure and lagging spluttering. its location though is at the front so maybe not your issue?
 
i guess i'm old school but i prefer to take the engine apart and do it proper. thinking it's clean and seeing it's clean are a world apart
 
I have recently removed my intake manifold and cleaned the intake valves myself.
I will be removing the manifold again over winter but will do a Seafoam clean before hand and see if actually does any cleaning.
 
tcardio said:
i guess i'm old school but i prefer to take the engine apart and do it proper. thinking it's clean and seeing it's clean are a world apart
Click to expand...

I guess I'm the same....I admit I haven't tried Seafoam or any of the similar products,but I'd rather spend a bit more,and have it properly cleaned,and visually confirmed.

Have to see ina few months how my new breather system sorts this problem.
 
Thanks for all the replies guys, I know that a manual clean is the best way to go (I have the option of getting Awesome GTI to do it @£175)...just thought I'd give the seafoam a whirl as it really easy to do, guess I'm clutching at straws trying to figure out the problem I have.

But then while I did the first Seafoam treatment, there was definitely smoke from the back of the engine bay while it was sucking it up. I haven't seen this happen on any videos I've watched.

So does anyone have any ideas as to what the problem might be?

Symptoms are:

1. Jerky and spluttery at low revs, first and second gear...reverse too.

2. A "laggy" feeling when accelerating from a standing start, almost hesitant, then the power seems to come in lumps.

3. It sounds rough when accelerating, but idle is solid and sounds fine. The other day when on the throttle, I could hear what I can only describe as a "flapping sound" in 3rd when accelerating.

Mods the car has:

Bluefin stage 1 remap (but I went back to stock and its the same)

GFB DV+ (fitted about 4 months ago, problem started about a month ago)

ITG panel air filter

Eibach / Bilstein B1 Sportline kit (can't see that having anything to do with it!)

Plugs and coils were changed about 6 months ago (I had a coil pack go, so I replaced them all at the same time).

I've used Torque and Dash Command to monitor my boost levels, they seem normal (Idle reads -11 psi and spikes at around 25 psi).

Torque keep failing one of my oxygen sensors and saying I have misfires, Dash Command says it cant read one of my oxygen sensors, and that the misfires test is passed.

Any help is great appreciated,

Pete.
 
I took mine to a garage today and they send smoke through the intake and shows up leaks I had three issues maf sensor gasket was failing, a small boost pipe was split at either end and the pipe that goes to the intercooler wasn't on properly the last two were probably the work to replace my thermostat, cars running sweet as now.
 
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Manor, thats interesting about the smoke...because I had smoke from the back of the engine bay, and I'd only put Seafoam into the intake.

Re the spark plugs, they have been done not long ago...but that got me thinking about the plugs used.

The originals in my engine were: 06H905601A gapped at .28 from what I can tell

The plugs that replaced they are NGK Laser Platinum PFR7S8EG 1675 gapped at .32

I didn't realise there was a difference is gap until tonight, I didn't check because i was told these were the correct plugs for my engine 2010 TSI (CCZA). Could this be the problem, or have caused it? Have the correct plugs been used?
 
Awesome GTI don't use the manual method to clean the intake, they use the chemical method like Seafoam.
 
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Dan-Jnr said:
Awesome GTI don't use the manual method to clean the intake, they use the chemical method like Seafoam.
Click to expand...

Interesting.....a few others here thought they used the intake off technique.

AMDTuning take the inlet manifold off and clean the whole thing properly.
 
I know this as I asked Awesome what process they use. Unit20 do intake valve cleaning the manual way and charge about £360.
 
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Dan-Jnr said:
I know this as I asked Awesome what process they use. Unit20 do intake valve cleaning the manual way and charge about £360.
Click to expand...

I think I'll stick with the traditional method,for dried-on coal!
 
Dan, have you used Unit20 yourself? They are only about 15mins from me, the cars due a service so could take it there for inspection if they are good?
 
I have been there several times for service, modifications and Revo mapping stages 1 and 2. Very helpful, knowledgeable, and honest. I highly recommend them.
 
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Right well, she's booked in for a full service on Wednesday and a bit of an investigation.

I ended up booking in with Awesome GTI.....I did try to get hold of Unit 20 but they didn't reply to my email, so I called them and a lady the other end said she'd ring back within 10 mins and never called back! Two strikes you're out.
 
Good luck using them, I know I'd rather wait for Unit20 to be available
 
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Dan-Jnr said:
Good luck using them, I know I'd rather wait for Unit20 to be available
Click to expand...

I have to say I'd also choose efficient cleaning over quick service any time,but interested to see the results before and after if possible...
 
I understand what you're saying guys, however I gave them 2 chances to book me in and they took neither of them. Awesome on the other hand have always answered the phone and replied to email very quickly, when I asked they quoted me straight away and booked me in there and then.

I haven't used them before, but they did a thorough job today...so I would go back.

Just to clear up any confusion, I booked in for a full service (it was due)....not a carbon clean.

I also asked for my fuel filter to be changed because looking at the log book, I don't think Audi change them!

Anyway, they did all that....scanned for faults, test drove it twice, checked DV, PCV and fuel pump etc, and said they couldn't see anything amiss.

Have to say I drove the car back afterwards and it was sweet as a nut again, so maybe it was a clogged fuel filter or spark plugs after all? Time will tell.
 
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