used Seafoam... car stopped working! any ideas?

[csondaatje]

So, last Thursday, I put a can of seafoam in my gas tank before a fill-up. Then, 30 miles into the tank my car is "putting," wont go over 5 mph, and my MIL is flashing. After speaking to Seafoam tech support, I changed out my fuel filter (it had been at least 40k miles... I know, bad A4 owner). The fuel that came out of the filter was BLACK. I got everything put back together with the new filter and fired her up. It seemed to be doing okay at idle, but when I got to driving it I couldn't give it more than 1/4 throttle w/o that same "putting"...

So this morning, I pulled the new fuel filter and checked it for clogging. The fuel came out normal looking (with the exception of a clear oily residue, I assume thats the seafoam) and when I blew through it, it was only slightly more resistant than before I installed it.

I'm about to pull my injectors to see whats going on in there... other than that all I can think is that I fouled up my fuel pump.

Does anyone have experience with this or have any ideas???

Thanks!

btw... I have a '03 A4tQM

[Elliott]

I could be wrong but I don't think you are supposed to use and entire can.

[Capt. Obvious]

Using the entire can shouldn't hurt anything as long as it was put into a full tank, the detergent properties aren't powerful enough to really do any damage.

Sounds like you may have blown a coilpack or two (or three...). If so, chances are it's just a coincidence.

[setay]

ya, i believe its a third in the gas tank, a third in the crankcase, and then a third through the intake manifold?

[csondaatje]

Using the entire can shouldn't hurt anything as long as it was put into a full tank, the detergent properties aren't powerful enough to really do any damage.

Sounds like you may have blown a coilpack or two (or three...). If so, chances are it's just a coincidence.

I had not thought of that... how can you tell which coilpack is blown?

[Capt. Obvious]

Without a VAG-COM, you'll need to just get a new coilpack and try replacing each one until the car runs correctly again.

[Ewok_Fetus]

ya, i believe its a third in the gas tank, a third in the crankcase, and then a third through the intake manifold?

2 cans total...

1 in tank
1/2 through oil
1/2 through crankcase...

[csondaatje]

Thanks Capt. Obvious! (no pun intended)

[Smiley]

you can test your coil packs by simply pulling out one CP out while the car is running

if the tone of the engine changes, that means that coilpack is working fine..

but if u pull one out and you notice the engine still sounds the same, that means that coilpack is gone!

[csondaatje]

you can test your coil packs by simply pulling out one CP out while the car is running

if the tone of the engine changes, that means that coilpack is working fine..

but if u pull one out and you notice the engine still sounds the same, that means that coilpack is gone!

CP#2 = bad

My first cp issue... I feel like I'm part of the club now.

Thanks for all the help guys!

[wolfdog]

2 cans total...

1 in tank
1/2 through oil
1/2 through crankcase...

+1

[dougyfresh]

I use one whole can in my gas tank. Never had a problem and I do it about every 10k to keep the injectors and fuel system clean.

[Elliott]

2 cans total...

1 in tank
1/2 through oil
1/2 through crankcase...

whats the difference in "through crankcase" and "through oil"?

[Ewok_Fetus]

whats the difference in "through crankcase" and "through oil"?

NOTHING! LOL! My kid was distracing me while I wrote that.... She was throwing chicken nuggets everywhere... So I had to yell at her...

But yeah, oil and intake manifold... Same thing!

[wolfdog]

whats the difference in "through crankcase" and "through oil"?

lol, I +1 and didn't even realize that! I read it and thought intake mani.

[Smiley]

CP#2 = bad

My first cp issue... I feel like I'm part of the club now.

Thanks for all the help guys!

Glad it worked for ya..

[My OOOO My]

Hmmmm....... I think I'm a seafoam junkie.

twice a month, I use 2 cans per fill up. YES YOU READ THAT RIGHT..... 2 cans per fill up, twice a month (i.e. 4 cans per month).

then.... every 2 oil changes, i use 1 can in the crank case (oil).

then.... every 3 months, i use 1 can in the intake vacuum (i.e. 1/2 can for 1st treatment on DAY 1.... 1/2 can for 2nd treatment on DAY 3).

[Ewok_Fetus]

That is seriously WAY too much... Every 10k miles is good... This comming from the person that made the write-up and pretty much introduced Seafoam into the Audi community...

[My OOOO My]

I know EWOK..... I've been over doing it with the Seafoam treatment.

I'll get over it soon..... promise.

And for those who read my post.... "DO NOT FOLLOW ME.... I HAVE A FORM OF SEAFOAM OCD".

[jettman]

I know EWOK..... I've been over doing it with the Seafoam treatment.

I'll get over it soon..... promise.

And for those who read my post.... "DO NOT FOLLOW ME.... I HAVE A FORM OF SEAFOAM OCD".

Any one use something other than seafoam

[old guy]

Any one use something other than seafoam

Only thing I use: Auto-RX

[kwimberly]

Only thing I use: Auto-RX

interesting looking stuff. I checked out their site, and it said to use dino oil during the cleaning process. Do you do that?

[InTTruder]

Any one use something other than seafoam

Custom lubricant from a company that does industrial additives at nuclear plants. VOILA!

Lubrication Engineers "L-X".

L-E website

L-X 2300

Flyer

MSDS

[A4TL]

I use chevron gas. it has techron. BMW's magical injector cleaner says on the bottom "techron". lol. you don't need to put crap in your car to keep the injectors clean if you stick to a good formulated gas like chevron consistenly.

104K miles and still going strong as day 1.