Seafoam or similar on S63 engine?

[bleunetizen]

Hi guys,

Just wondering if anyone has done seafoam or similar intake manifold / valves cleaners on S63 engines.

Probably good to do it as regular maintenance as direct injection engines get messy around the valves, just wondering if someone had some experience with this and recommend where to inject it.

Cheers!

[rickyf10]

Wonder the same thing
I once got quoted $3000 for walnut blast by reputable local shop lol

[bleunetizen]

Yea and its invasive requiring a lot of work to remove parts.

Had a quick look and could not really find anywhere I could easily inject it.

[technician117]

I don't have any specific knowledge trying seafoam on this engine but I would guess you don't want it going through the turbos. I suppose it's for a limited time so it might not be a problem but personally I wouldn't take the chance because I don't know enough to take the chance.

[bleunetizen]

surely no good to go through the turbo, and I dont think it will clean all that much that way because it needs to expand and foam up.

The idea of the product is to have it fill/foam up the intake manifold which will break down the carbon deposit/gunk/oil etc and wash them off and burn.

I wonder if removing the stock air filter boxes would give me me any access to the intake manifold.

[rickyf10]

Originally Posted by bleunetizen

surely no good to go through the turbo, and I dont think it will clean all that much that way because it needs to expand and foam up.

The idea of the product is to have it fill/foam up the intake manifold which will break down the carbon deposit/gunk/oil etc and wash them off and burn.

I wonder if removing the stock air filter boxes would give me me any access to the intake manifold.

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25130485
I found this on f82 platform, hope it gives you some ideas

[M5Rick]

Instead you can use Redex with every fuel fill,available from Costco it will slowly clean up your engine, keep injectors sweet and reduce Co2 emissions.

[F10CPROG]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

Instead you can use Redex with every fuel fill,available from Costco it will slowly clean up your engine, keep injectors sweet and reduce Co2 emissions.

Trouble is Redex won't clean the valves and seats...

Of course it will do injectors and rings, but how do we clean valves?

[theinfamousdrew]

boots recommended it for some that had minor smoke issues.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by F10CPROG

Trouble is Redex won't clean the valves and seats...

Of course it will do injectors and rings, but how do we clean valves?

If you combine it with Shell v-power which has other cleaning additives (that you pay extra for their formula) over time it will reduce carbon build up and as said above if its not smoking then no need to throw serious money at it.
I use it with every tankful when I fill with Shell.

[bleunetizen]

Originally Posted by rickyf10

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25130485
I found this on f82 platform, hope it gives you some ideas

Thanks for the link , I will need to find where our MAP sensor port or ports are located. I have a feeling that this will need to be access from the underneath with all the covers off etc as our intercooler piping runs down that way.

Ideally want to spray this directly to the intake manifold while engines warm but off so it can fill the area with bubbly foam and break the build up down.

[bleunetizen]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

If you combine it with Shell v-power which has other cleaning additives (that you pay extra for their formula) over time it will reduce carbon build up and as said above if its not smoking then no need to throw serious money at it.
I use it with every tankful when I fill with Shell.

The method you described is for mainly cleaning injectors, which also cleans valves with cars that are not GDI as fuel is sprayed before the valves and fuel/additives will wet the intake manifold (to certain degree) and valves all the time. Actually they stay quite clean even without any additives because they are continuously washed with fuel.

The issue with GDI engines like ours is that the intake manifold or intake valves won't see any fuel at all, just air and some airborne oil with it which creates mess around the valves and valve seats.

[bleunetizen]

Hmm this advertising material from the CRC product claims that it is safe to spray before the turbo and it actually cleans the impeller too. Maybe I should try that product

[Craze]

It wont clean anything

[Simple5]

Seafoam does nothing on direct injection engines.

[bleunetizen]

Ended up buying two cans of CRC valve cleaners and sprayed it in front of the turbo. Hopefully it has cleaned up some of the crap inside..!

[rickyf10]

Originally Posted by bleunetizen

Ended up buying two cans of CRC valve cleaners and sprayed it in front of the turbo. Hopefully it has cleaned up some of the crap inside..!

Could you be specific about “in front of the turbo” ?
I’m about to do the same thing

[boots]

Originally Posted by bleunetizen

Hi guys,

Just wondering if anyone has done seafoam or similar intake manifold / valves cleaners on S63 engines.

Probably good to do it as regular maintenance as direct injection engines get messy around the valves, just wondering if someone had some experience with this and recommend where to inject it.

Cheers!

I used seafoam and it worked. it's about time I use it again tho. I've got 133k so it's a good thing for me to do. if your car smokes when you come to a stop, then it will clear that up. dint know the sd specifics but it works.

[theinfamousdrew]

Originally Posted by boots

I used seafoam and it worked. it's about time I use it again tho. I've got 133k so it's a good thing for me to do. if your car smokes when you come to a stop, then it will clear that up. dint know the sd specifics but it works.

Where are you adding it?

[Sophisticated Redneck]

I have always been curious if these actually do anything and this thread has inspired me to do a bit of testing. I just pulled the intake valves out of a N63 (valves are nearly identical as S63's) with its infamous valves stem seals, going to place the valves in jars of each of the popular valve treatments (Seafoam, CRC, LM, Berryman, Marvel MM, etc) heat it all to 200F, let it sit for 20min, then see what the difference is with the before and after.

While not exactly the same environment of a running engine, it should give us an indication if they actually do anything at all.

All of the treatments and the hotplates to do this are on order and will be here today, will post results within the next day or two for all those Interested.

[boots]

Originally Posted by theinfamousdrew

Where are you adding it?

you add it in your oil. there are directions on the bottle. pick it up at auto zone

[F10CPROG]

Originally Posted by Sophisticated Redneck

I have always been curious if these actually do anything and this thread has inspired me to do a bit of testing. I just pulled the intake valves out of a N63 (valves are nearly identical as S63's) with its infamous valves stem seals, going to place the valves in jars of each of the popular valve treatments (Seafoam, CRC, LM, Berryman, Marvel MM, etc) heat it all to 200F, let it sit for 20min, then see what the difference is with the before and after.

While not exactly the same environment of a running engine, it should give us an indication if they actually do anything at all.

All of the treatments and the hotplates to do this are on order and will be here today, will post results within the next day or two for all those Interested.

Wow! Shows just how dirty the back sides of the intake valves can get on a GDI engine...