Is Techron better than Seafoam? Let's see the proof!
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- čas přidán 22. 04. 2018
- Seafoam and Marvel Mystery Oil have both proven to be very effective engine cleaners in testing during previous video episodes. However, many have asked that Seafoam, Marvel Mystery Oil and Techron be compared for preventing buildup.
Products Tested In This Video (in no particular order):
Seafoam: amzn.to/31lowCx
Marvel Mystery Oil: amzn.to/31ikzPc
Techron: amzn.to/3glQ2UL
Videography Equipment:
Sony DSC-RX10 III Cyber-shot Digital Still Camera: amzn.to/2YdXvPw
Canon 70D Camera: amzn.to/31b5Gy0
Azden Microphone: amzn.to/34d3DLE
Go Pro Bundle: amzn.to/31aince
➡ Thank you very much for supporting the channel: / projectfarm
➡ An easy way to find past videos along with products tested: bit.ly/2FCrBpk A big thanks to Jim for putting this together.
➡ Merch: www.Project-Farm.com
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This video is only for entertainment purposes. If you rely on the information portrayed in this video, you assume the responsibility for the results. Project Farm LLC - Jak na to + styl
The hours and hours and hours that this guys puts into each video is crazy. Respect.
Thanks!
Thats why this one of the best product test channels
I completely trust him. 👍
@@ProjectFarm try this product for carbon build up. It seemed to work great for me, plus they have an engine oil treatment to clean out build up. Scotty Kilmer talked about it and I tried it. The oil treatment seemed to clean the engine because when I drained the oil, it was way darker than I usually see. I did both of these at the same time and it did seem to work, but I would like your testing skills on this product if you have the time. Thanks and love your videos
Mad respect for what he does for sure.
Man this amount of quality work should be on paid channel. Thank you very much sir, for putting so much effort and time into these informative videos. Straight facts, true unbiased info., unlike you get from a tv ad or neighbor, friend, dad, etc.
Thank you!
Soooooo send him a check :)
@@ericyoder6550 People do help him buy engines to blow up.
Ikr!? This dude is the shit! My dream is to make enough money to feed myself put a roof over my head, and to be able to send Project Farm donations!
He is on patreon. PF is the only person i donate to. His testing actually helps guide me to buy something that actually works. Its worth a few bucks a month. Thanks
When I worked for Nissan, we used a fuel injection cleaner made by 3M, you bypass the fuel rail and run the engine right off the pressurized can. worked great ! especially on the carbon magnet VG30 engines. When I asked the parts rep what was in the 3M cleaner ? he said it's 100% techron. Been using it ever since. Except I put in two bottles per tank about every 4-5th fill up. When I traded in my 2006 Kia Spectra three years ago, it had 354,000 on it and never burned any oil. Great stuff !
Thanks for sharing.
KIA? I don’t trust anyone that drives a KIA 😂 talking about automotive issues 🎉😂😂😂
@@staycurious3954 bro Kia or not, an engine is an engine. Also if the Kia part bothers you so much, he says he worked for Nissan lol
@@BWTECH0521even worst. Cant trust anyone who drive kia and fix cvt for the living 😂
@@staycurious3954 funny you say that my 2014 kia forte out lasted my 90k truck that was purchased a year ago (truck has since been bought back by dealer)
I put Pennzoil ultra platinum in both vehicles with WIX filters, fuel additives every other fuel up. My oil is changed every 4k which is overkill and idc tbh.
I've owned tons of vehicles and my worst from best or worst are 05 Cummins, 97 ford ranger, Mazda, kia, Veloster, 21 ford bronco, Dodge avenger and lastly platinum 6.7 ford absolute junk in ever category.
I love how thorough this guy is in everything
Thanks for watching!
HE DRAGS IT OUT FOR A GREAT REASON= MORE ADS! MEANS MORE 💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💳💳💳💳💳💳💲💲💲💲💲💰💰💰💰💳💳💲💰💰💰💰💰FOR HIS MASSIVE INCOMES
He's very dedicated. That's why I love his videos, gets me out of doubts fast.
@@theblackdragonpr He' GETS MEGA RICH BY THE DAY! 😥😥😧😧💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💳💳💳💲💲💲💲💲💲💲💲💲💲💲
@@captainamericaamerica8090 He no where drags it out. Gtfo!
You are one of the best youtubers. Seriously.
Thank you for the positive comment!
yes, for sure. thanks for your neeto videos. i love them.
Totally agreed. Todd really goes into every Auto/mechanic mystery thing like these addictive or cleaner with good information reference.
Straight up!
That's why he accumulated more than 2M subscribers in just a few years.
I like Techron. I fill up with Chevron gasoline which already contains Techron, as preventive maintenance. My mechanic recommended it. It runs good and passes the emissions test every time. I add a bottle to a tankful once in a while but otherwise no additives. I run 87 octane and consider the slightly additional cost of the Chevron an investment and so far it's paid off. Not that I wouldn't use other top brands or try Seafoam but the Chevron with Techron is working for me. Great video, as always!
I love going back in the PF archives. Would love to see a new update on this, or more around fuel injector cleaners. Checking compression before and after see how they perform.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Yes please do a video on fuel injector cleaners
Fuel injector cleaners don't contain PEA, only Complete or High Mileage products contain PEA
@@ProjectFarm please do fuel injectors!!!
Royal purple injector cleaner
I really appreciate that you did it over and over to make sure we get the perfect idea of these products.
Thank you for your efforts and your time.
Thank you!
Dude your dedication to testing these products makes your channel unique in its own way. So glad I found you and I appreciate all the time and effort you put into making these videos/tests. Probably my favorite CZcams channel, and I watch a lot of CZcams lol
Awesome! Thank you!
Yeah he is super rare. I think he should be considered a national treasure and a holiday made for him lol
I know seriously ! He actually comes with tangible data instead of just saying it looks/sounds/runs better. So we can actually compare numbers. Incredibly thorough and I love it
*your
This guy truly does an amazing service to all of the handy man and he doesn’t take anything from any company to test. We all appreciate everything you do for us . Keep up the great ideas in tests you make for each item. Btw I loved watching you make a homemade knife that was really awesome.
Thanks.
Yes, I appreciate hearing your opinion after the video. This is great. Seems like you'd do best using all three of them at the same time! Or back to back to get the ultimate clean. I don't use cleaners but might give them a try.
Thank you for the feedback!
Cannot say enough good things about the quality of your videos and your testing. This is tremendously helpful for me, and for my customers at my automotive shop.
Keep up the great work!
Thanks, will do! Glad it is helpful!
You must have the shortest grass lawn in the neighborhood.
No its just all perfectly cut. All 7000 square miles
not really his lawnmower doesn't cut grass , he uses it for running stuff in it stationary. oops.
OMG lmao
That and the MOST well maintained lawn mower.
(If only I had a lawn mower parts / supply store next to this guy.)
@@johnhodg8400 yes he does use it to cut grass
I have run seafoam since I was a teenager. If you want to see a lot ALOT of proof it works try it on a higher performance engine. I ran it thru an old motorcycle, an FZ600, it made the engine run like NEW. I am also a big fan of engine Restore. Tried it on my wife’s mini cooper with 130k on it, like a new car I swear
In my corvette I used Techron mainly to keep the Fuel pump and and fuel gauge sender (in the left tank) working. Recommended by Vette owners and it worked for me.
Thanks for sharing.
04 Z06 owner and I do the same 👍
Your comparison videos are in a class of their own! Excellent! Don’t stop!
I am a gas tanker driver for 25 years now. When I did Chevron stations in a Chevron takeover from another brand, Conoco or whomever, we would add raw techron into the tanks. 1 quart would treat 3000 gallons of gasoline. When Chevron change the techron formula they gave the older formula to the driver's to use. A quart bottle would last me years. Anded my own to each tank. Had a chemist do the math for how much to add to 20 gallons of gas, then I doubled it. I changed heads on my car for better performance and was shocked at how clean the valves, pistons and chambers were. I rebuild the Edelbrock carburetor and it really was clean... I'm down to my last quart now..🥲
Thanks for sharing.
By far, the most impressive additive I've ever used was "Yamaha Ring Free" on two stroke Yamaha outboards. It was absolutely amazing. Research seemed to indicate that it was developed by the same people who came up with Techron using the same ingredients. Thanks for taking time to do this video.
You are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
RingFree is Techron
@@roystubenrauch5625 concentrated about 100 times
I've used tech. When I go on ongoing trips in my f-250 5.4 2003 and Chevy 1500 5.3 2002 both 4x4s. I've noticed better fuel economy by 2 to 3 mpg. Before ethanol as much as 5 mph highway 55 to 65 mph.
Thanks for sharing.
ethanol is the real snake oil, hurts the engine and reduces mpg
Seafoam has worked for me for years. Mild solvent that is safe for engine and fuel system. Excellent for periodic maintenance especially in this era of turbochargers. Nice video as always brother.
Thanks! Thanks for the feedback.
I've seen techron clean out stuck fuel injectors in just a few dozen miles. It works at least with regards to injectors. I put a bottle in all my vehicles gas tank whenever I do oil changes.
Chevron with tecron gas stations all over here in Washington state
You should do it before the oil change according to the pds from Chevron
Yrs ago I read fuel cleaners are either detergent based or solvent based and that solvent was too watered down so as not to be corrosive. Also heard that techron is detergent based and Lucas says on the bottle 'not a solvent'. Haven't heard about any others.
Thats a pretty ambitious test. A lot of time went into that video. I appreciate it
Thank you!
AND MONEY! 4 sets of plugs, 4 head gaskets and 4 tanks of gas. Not to mention hours of his time in shooting and editing. I love it when this guy has a new video. Unbiased and effective.
@@barrettabney Companies have guys doing exactly what he does to test their products.
@@alb12345672 But they only share the results if it benefits them. This guy is like another arm of Consumer Reports...
I used Marvel Mystery Oil as an additive to 87 octane aircraft fuel. The engine was a Lycoming 4 cylinder O-320 with high hours (1000 hours past recommended overhaul of 2000 hours). I could feel the difference after just one tank. I continued to use MMO in the gas and oil and the engine snapped back to running smooth and powerful. It started quickly and the throttle response was smooth. MMO was developed by the same guys who made the Marvel-Scheibler carburetor for light aircraft engines. It might be a mystery but I can say for sure it works well.
Thanks for the information!
_"I used Marvel Mystery Oil as an additive to 87 octane aircraft fuel."_
That's illegal.
@@twitherspoon8954 QQ
@@twitherspoon8954so
@@twitherspoon8954No, it's not. Not in experimental aircraft.
Also, piss off. He's not filling up a B737 with it.
Really respect and appreciate the amount of time and effort you put into making all that - it was fascinating! I was curious about these products so it's really interesting to see the comparisons. I live in Thailand and run a Mitsubishi Attrage which is designed to run on E20 (a mix of 20% ethanol 80% gasoline) as are most cars over here. I've never opened up the engine (obviously) so I've no idea if these cleaners work and really appreciate seeing the results on your lawnmower. I've always used the official Mitsubishi fuel system cleaner, but I recently saw the the E20 fuel I buy actually contains additives (or something) designed to keep the engine clean, like the fuel nozzle unclogged.
Thanks so much! Thanks for sharing.
Honestly this is my favorite CZcams channel. Thanks PF for being so unbiased and helpful
Thank you
I would like a spark plug and head gasket for my mower please
Parts guys: How many?
500 of each please
Thank you for the video idea!
@@ProjectFarm i always thought you just went to the store and said 'hey i need some gaskets and spark plugs for my mower' and when they asked how many, you just say
'all of them'
@Nick K dude when i mentioned 'my mower' thats the part where you can mentally insert the specifics, and then look up the rest. use your imagination a little dude
There's a few things I buy like that...
Go to store. Get asked, "How many do you want?"
Point at pile: "That many."
What video idea?!
I was an automechanic for 30+ years and one product we sold at a few of the shops I was employed at was BG aka Bearing and Gear. We did top engine cleaning with it and also installed a pressurized system that cleaned the injectors and rails. Note you had to pull the fuse or relay for the fuel pump to do it and on return type system block it off. This was done with their injection cleaning rig and was somewhat involved but honestly did a great job. Customer always noticed a huge difference on vehicles with over 70K on them. Would mind see you try the BG fuel system cleaner...
Thanks for sharing.
Another great video. I have used sea foam in the past and it looks like sea foam performed the best visually. We are trying to get a outboard motor working and will be adding sea foam to the fuel. Thanks again. I like how you test and show us results on video. All the best!
Thanks and you are welcome!
Imagine if you have a company in the future that test products, and investors and consumers rely on your results. that would be amazing
I agree. That would be great!
I'd buy the results!
Mohammed Al how is that so different from what’s happening here? His business is testing products and documenting the results with public access to the testing procedures, obviously some of us consumers are relying on his tests to make our purchasing decisions and investors can do the same. It’s just more honest and straightforward than if he were corporately influenced to be biased to who signs his check. So, what you said would be awesome, but what’s happening here is better than awesome.
I have to agree with you, Jax. It'd end up being a trade-off. Maybe some more sophisticated equipment like a dyno but then every contributor would have their finger in the pot or their hand out or a big flag or a decal flopping around. It'd be a dream but TOUGH to pull off and stay unbiased. I dare say, like you that the independent guys like the Commander will give the most honest and straightforward answer and show proof of the test than a big fancy firm. This is a FINE place to hang out. Plain and simple, the Commander is nobody's fool and surely no dummy. We're getting as good as it can get right now. You did good, Jax! REAL good!
Jax Turner I agree with some of what you said but the problem here is that he is not a standard for companies, and what I meant by my comment is that imagine if he has a standard that many companies wish to get his approval, he can still be independent and honest but at the same time gets paid to do these tests, it comes down to morals and principles he's getting his income from add revenue, he deserves much more than that.
I loved the way you used Fast Forward to save us all a lot of time - nice job !!
Thank you!
LOL
And you still get the gist of whats going on in the fast forward segments.
He saved us "time and money".
Thats Todd's byline.
He could skip the "safety data sheet" and the compression test, would save even more time. Just cut to the chase!
Use Seafoam on my 175 hp outboard….. anytime I have stuttering or hesitation in performance it has always helped with carbon buildup. Haven’t tried others but sticking with what I know works!
Thanks for the feedback.
An excellent video - thanks. I use Seafoam in the fuel, a little at each tank refill, with all my lawn mowers, trimmers, power saw, etc. 2 and 4 cycle for years now and absolutely no "bad gas" problems. Everything fires up in the spring with no gas issues whatsoever. Additionally, I rarely change spark plugs anymore, only every 5-6 years and honestly they always look just fine. I've never used it in my cars, just the small engines. I agree, any additive is probably better than nothing.
Am i the only 37 yr old that has never seen someone crank a lawn mower with a drill???🤔
Great way to get a mower going. lol
I got to try something like that on a chainsaw my shoulders sore just thinking about pull starting it
Let's see, I did this myself trying to start a Tecumseh H35 with (unknown to me) oil-soaked points some 44 years ago, so that would make you -7 back then :^)
After a back injury, I started drill starting my mower,.....Once you do it, you'll NEVER go back to a rope start!
I start my weed eater with a drill
Wow. When I heard you say you were gonna run each one through 1 tank of gas I thought there was no way that would be a long enough test to put each one through its paces. After seeing the results, it's crazy to see that much carbon build up on just 1 tank of gas.
Thanks for the feedback.
That was my biggest takeaway from this experiment. So much carbon build up in such a short amount of time.
It's american gasoline - full of shitty additives to make the mix leaner and get more money from each barrel of processed high octane fuel - "pissing in the soup" as it's coloquially referred to - wouldn't surprise me at all if someone said regular gas is only 70% fuel and 30% additives.
This is why for years now I've been running my tank down and filling with higher octane premium 1/5 fills as the engine runs a bit hotter and burns some of the crap off - which is basically what these additives do as well as having the solvents to loosen the deposits - but I also generally only do a premium fill when I know I've got a reasonable amount of motorway driving coming up to keep the engine running at full temps for a while to facilitate the carbon burn off.
Keep in mind these engines aren't under a load, so there will be lower chamber temps.
@@jayw900The story I heard was this is why Ferrari mechanics invented the "Italian tuneup." Customers would putter around which created build-up. Apparently mechanics would do a few full throttle pulls on the highway to burn off all the deposits.
I used to use Techron on every third fill up on my 96 geo with 260000mi and stopped that with having a couple newer cars but will start again with my newly aquired 99 ranger with 118000mi. As your usual great, helpful content, thank you
You are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
Marvel Mystery Oil is great stuff I've used it for years to get every last drop of oil to drain out at oil change time. I've never used MMO continuously I use Seafoam for that. Add about 6 ounces of MMO to your oil on change day and drive the car at least 20/30 mins (longer is better) before changing the oil. You'll be amazed how long it takes for the old oil to completely drain out. Remember patience is a virtue here.. lol
That Geo was a great car, I believe it was actually a Toyota engine in it.
@@Theyralltakenfu yeah, Chevy bought a bunch of cars from Toyota and put the Geo name on it, it was about the same as a corolla. It was reliable and kinda fun to zip around in
@@Theyralltakenfu In my opinion: No Suzuki made them. Suzuki Swift, GEO Metro & Chevy Metro were the same car. Surprised Chevy customers didn't sue for being sold what blatantly appeared to be a rebranded Suzuki. Sure looks like a would be consumer fraud. Customer review magazines would erroneously give different interior dementions that were exactly the same for those would be psudo brands.
I had a client share this video, great channel! My experience was similar to years when testing on RV generators. My recommendation has been to alternate between Seafoam and Techron to try and get the best benefits of both as they do seem to work better in different areas of the engine.
Thanks! Thanks for the feedback.
Thank you for being thorough with your testing. I've been using Chevron gas with techron already included since 1985 and never has issues with carburetors nor fuel injections. Mainly had Nissans and Toyota. First car was a Honda. Only had to change mechanical fuel pump once on 81 Celica at 140,000 miles. No other fuel pump. Great videos you produce.
Thank you very much!
Hey man I love how thorough and well thought out your tests are. Keeps me coming back. Thanks for all the effort for them all!
Thank you!
I use BG 44K in all my vehicles and small engines to clean out the fuel systems. I also flush all my engines with BG's EPR. I have flushed my engine with Gunk auto flush, then put a new filter and 5 new quarts of oil. The oil always comes out darker the second flush with the BG's EPR. I go with the recomended time of 10 minutes with the Gunk, and 30 minutes with EPR, because they recomend 10 minute minumim run time. I also add prolong engine addive and BG's RF7 to every oil change. I spend around $100 per oil change on each of my 2 vehicles. I put 2 oz of prolong, and 1.5 oz of RF7 in my (7) small engines. I only use Star Tron Enzyme fuel treatment to gas. It is keeps fuel stable for 2 years. I really enjoy watching your videos. Keep up the great work, and a big Thank You for your hard work!!!
Thanks and you are welcome!
You put so much work, thought and effort into these videos. I think a lot of us value your opinion on the products, and believe your opinion, or we could say final thought, would be a great addition and widely accepted from everyone. Also I am so happy with the speed that your channel is growing. Been here since about 70k, and how time flies to almost 200k! Keep up the great work.
Thank you very much!
As an OEM automotive engineer, I worked for many years with colleagues at Chevron and Techron is a very good product. I don't know about the formulation today but it used to be a chemical called poly butyl ether amine. This is an expensive additive to manufacture but highly effective. I have used it in my own vehicle by (1) filling the tank and then (2) adding one full bottle of Techron. In the past, I have done this on two consecutive tankfuls and it makes a difference. One has to be careful not to overdose the fuel with additives because this can potentially thicken the motor oil and cause issues like valve sticking. Modern fuel injectors are very resistant to plugging/reduced flow and most ordinary gasolines have additives sufficient for adequate cleaning. Fuel injection cleaning at a service appointment is not needed and a complete waste of money. Techron helps keep intake valve and combustion chamber deposits at bay - these can cause cold driveability issues and increased emissions. There are a number of good SAE papers on this topic. Currently I just use Amoco/BP Ultimate gasoline. The base fuel is refined using a proprietary process removing impurities and it has a very good additive package for cleanliness. It is the best gasoline and engines run exclusively on this are spotlessly clean internally even after 70-80,000 miles. It is expensive but one gets what he pays for. Good video and test methodology. Thank You! 🙂👍
Thanks! Thanks for the feedback.
I work for MANY Chevron engineers & suits. Techron is what we use (of course), but I have found some engines prefer mid over supreme, an actual loss of mpg.
I am VERY curious as to piston ring cleanup via any of those additives.
That's great advice for older port fuel injected engines but that's not the reality with GDI engines. The cleanest fuel in the world will still leave a GDI engine with filthy intake valves and intake ports because the fuel simply doesn't reach them to clean them.
Poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether amine
BP is no longer Top Tier gasoline since 2021.
any one have a theory on why a big oil felt the need to cheap out on a few ppm of addictive injection? I'm filling up mostly at Costco and BP
Your testing is always phenomenal. I've recently considered using Techron but now may have to reconsider
Thanks!
Why ? It did a great job.
Seafoam personal experience. Had 2014 Jeep. Couldn't fuel up faster than a trickle...took forever. I'm told there is a check valve with the vent system that sticks in the tank and the only way to fix it was to remove the tank and replace stuck/clogged item. I ran 3 tankfuls each with double Seafoam as per instructions for very dirty engine. Unbelievable. Freed up whatever was stuck and now I can fuel up at full speed. Anecdotal evidence yes, but accurate and true.
Thanks for sharing.
@@ProjectFarm FYI 6 month follow up. Jeep still fueling up at full speed. Have not used any additives since Seafoam "cured" my Jeep's problem. Never tried the Techron as it wasn't necessary, however my boss at the auto parts store considered the Techron as the best additive. I do avoid topping off the tank and gooseneck to the brim as I was told that could cause the problem I had to begin with. Thank you Todd.
@@fireballxl-5748 so you still use seafoam? i heard of techron, used it before but if you buy chevron gas, it comes with it so you don't even need to get techron. if seafoam worked for you, i would just stick with it... i just bought some cause my car be jittering or takes time to crank up the engine. 2 for $10 not bad!
Thanks for taking the time out to actually put these products to the test it helps us viewers determine what's good and what's not I was just watching another Channel and this guy was rambling about something but never took the time to actually put it to work and you actually work hard on your channel and do things the right way thank you very appreciative
Thank you!
Love this channel. I ran Techron in my 1994 Nissan Sentra every 3k miles and drove the car for 22 years. Never had a fuel system problem and ran the original fuel injectors until the car got towed at 280k miles (it was worth less than the tow fee, so gave them the car.) Original fuel pump lasted 216k miles. My 1995 Nissan truck has seen the same maintenance and has never once had a fuel system issue - I credit Techron and using it every 3k miles over these vehicles’ lives. The truck is in my garage today, starts every single time I turn the key.
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
I had an 1987 Nissan SEV6 pickup that I treated the same, it ran perfectly until 270,000 miles when I got hit and they totaled it. Wish Nissan still were that reliable. I’ll never own another after all the problems we had with two Muranos. NEVER NISSAN AGAIN
Similar except, 95 Acura, still driving at 473k, fuel pump died at 470k, fuel filter replaced at 460k along with a cracked injector.
No other engine work excepts belts.
Always use Chevron or Shell with Techron
Still starts most every time, but original starter gets a bit wonky sometimes..m/t, so no worry's, park on hill just in case.
I use Techron only periodically at the advice of a co-worker who at one time owned a repair shop. He said the engines that he rebuilt where the owner used Techron were far and above much cleaner than the other engines he had worked on. My 1999 Camry with 236K miles seems to like it too!
Thanks for sharing.
I use Techron 2-3 times per year now. The one thing I notice is that the engine always seems to run smoother especially at idle. I have used Marvel Mystery oil in older engines to de-carbonize the upper cylinders by dumping it into the carb while revving the engine while it's running. It smokes like crazy, but the engine ran great afterwards. That all stopped with the advent of catalytic converter equipped engines. So much for progress!
Thanks for sharing.
I'd like to se 44K compared
Interesting test! I have been using Techron since 1984 starting with a 1983 Isuzu Impulse which required mid grade fuel in order to run. After several tanks it would develop an annoying hesitation. The addition of Techron would resolve this problem. I have seen Techron solve many fuel related problems in a wide variety of engine since then and always keep some on hand and use it as a periodic additive. My view, great stuff!
Thanks! Thanks for the feedback.
Your efforts here are very much appreciated! Thanks for doing this for us.
Thank you
If I'm buying anything for the workshop I always check to see PF has a video on it. Unfortunately not all items are available in the UK but at least I know what to expect from those that are. Extremely rare to see such honest, impartial and practical testing these days.
Thanks!
The patients on this guy is truly amazing.... RESPECT for doing all these projects..
Thanks and you are welcome!
Love all your content. One thing that may have been overlooked is how well these products clean the back of the intake valve. This is where carbon can get thick and impede airflow into the cylinder. More carbon in the combustion chamber after using a cleaner may indicate that it's working better to remove carbon from the other side of the valve.
Thanks! Thanks for the constructive feedback.
i have a GDI engine and want to know as well
Nothing can clean that, there's no fuel there
@@AgentOffice true in engines that only have direct injection.
You make great videos Project Farm! I've probably watched 20 of them now just out of interest, but this was the first one I actually sought out for advice on a specific topic, and I couldn't have been happier with your methodical approach to these tests. Thank you for doing this work. It is obviously very time consuming and very well thought out, and I know I'm not the only one who benefits from your efforts!
Thank you very much!!
With modern engines (catalytic converters) I am skeptical of fuel additives with upper cylinder lubrication additives as they can cause an issue with the catalytic converter. On small engines I use Marvel Mystery Oil but with my Toyota 5th gen 4Runner and other cars/trucks I use Techron with each oil change and have had great results.
Thanks for sharing.
I enjoy the thoroughness of testing. I am sticking with my Wal-Mart Super Tech knock off of Sea Foam or Sea Foam. Carbon on the head should act as heat insulation but a clean spark plug and valve is always desirable. I only use Sea Foam 2 to 3 times a year as over use may, as in I don't know, cause problems as the vehicle ages. I also use once a year, the mowing of the year, in my lawn mowers.
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
I have used Techtron for years after it corrected a stalling problem on a 1999 Mercury V6. I use it twice a year and also try to use only Shell gas. Interesting video. Thanks. OleDave
Why only Shell gas if you don't mind me asking?
@@shaquileoatmeal7365they have the most addictive amount in their premium gas compared to other mainstream brands gas. in my experience shell have slightly better mpg on my car. but if you add addictive yourself, any high quality gas station is fine
@@shaquileoatmeal7365 It is a Top Tier rated gas. This means it has higher
detergents then the minimum required by the Govt. Prevents Carbon Build Up (Google Top Tier Gas for more info. ) Pumps also have sticker on them verifying the Top Tier rating.
shell gasoline is more cleaner and better additives
Thank you for the in depth tests!! Not just a basic run thru but replaced spark plugs & gaskets and cleaned surfaces to give a true base level to compare to!! Top notch
You are welcome!
❤❤
Love it. I am a huge believer in seafoam pretty much forever. The techron didn't seem to do much. I really enjoy this channel. Thanks again. You rock!
Thank you!
The uncleaned engine looked worse after the Techron treatment.
The techron looked better than the others afterwards, are you sure you watched the video?
Techron clearly worked better than seafoam. Some people are just stuck with their bias.
I’ve always been partial to seafoam. I run it in my vehicles a couple times a year. Thanks for the video.
You are welcome! Thanks for the feedback.
The statement on the box says cleans in 1 tank full not completely cleans. That's how they get you, just like a politician
welcome to the art of quibbling. you can get your pound of flesh IF you can get it without shedding blood. (merchant of venice)
@@dhtsoaedsdhtnadi9575 I'm going to read that book
or a lawyer
Techron is great for cleaning fuel injectors and it also seems to work well for keeping the valves clean. I've been using Techron since it came out in the 90's
Thanks for the feedback.
I use Techron every oil change as recommended from the owners manual along with a tire rotation about every 2,000 miles or 3 months on my 09 Mercury Mariner 4WE & have noticed improvement through the last 3 years of owning it!
Yes bmw recomended it to aleviate the carbon buldup on intake valves that was an issue on 80 bmws 325e 528e series not the big sixes the small block cambelt driven newer straight sixes at the time
Me too
@@apfelbasket you use it before or after oil changes? I hear its not good to use after a new oil change.
I took a repair class and the mechanic that taught it swore by Techron. I also read an article that put it as #1. What about doing all 3 in succession? Maybe in various orders?
Thanks for the suggestion.
In the late 80s I worked at an Acura dealership, as part of our 7,500 mile interval services we added a bottle of Techron, the dealership in a neighboring city did went strictly by the Acura recommended service menu; they were replacing fuel injectors 1.5-2:1 what we were doing.
Fuel injector technology has advanced greatly since then, but I still use either Techron or Lucas injector cleaner at every 5,000 mile synthetic oil change.
Thanks for sharing.
I only use Techron because I live in an area where top tier fuel stations are few and far between. So maybe about twice a year I use it. It seems to help with smother idling and improved gas mileage. Thank you for your work, you are my go-to guy now!
You are welcome! Glad I can help!
Here in iowa a lot of the stations buy the cheapest cut gas they can get from companies like keck fuel, And they overcharge. My personal experience with keck is that its so bad that it can allow algae to grow in it, we had a fleet of vehicles have the fuel systems ruined by them
Have you ever tried the expensive AMSOil injector cleaner?
Please keep sharing your observations - you can see in person much better than we see in the video so it is important to me to hear your perspective.
Thank you very much!
One thing I learned about additives to your gas or oil. You should use them all the time It prevents the buildup in the first place, It doesn't do much for removing it.
It did for me. Used to have pinging until few full tanks of caltex. They have techron in their fuel
Great point here. Ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure.
Been using Techron in all my small engines and my 2 cycle 1984 yamaha boat gas… no issues. Works for me.
Thanks for sharing.
its amazing how much carbon buildup comes from just one tank of fuel, could do a test on different gas to see which gas burns cleanest?
Thank you for the video idea!
Yes I was thinking the same thing. Cheap gas veres top tier gas to compare. Looking forward to that video! Thanks for all your awesome content
@@jerrycostanzo1137 Yea I want to see something like that. I wanna see Ethanol Gas Vs Non Ethanol Gas and see how they do?
@@ProjectFarm He did that test in another video, ethonal free gas works best
This is on a small displacement carbed lawnmower. A car engine has many different parameters....temp., compression, fuel injection,ignition, spark, etc.....having said that....Different cars have different parameters.....But comparing a lawnmower to a car or motorcycle .....much different.
I have been a fan of Techron since the late 80s and thank you for your video, this test reflects my experience as well. I still continue using Techron from time to time.
Thank you for the feedback!
Great video. I started using sea foam a few years ago om my small engines. In a couple of engines, it did help the engine run smoother. After using seafoam in my pressure washer engine, (10 horsepower) it guit surging and now runs nice and even. I also use two stroke oil a few times a year in my vehicle engines to clean the injectors. Truckers use Transmission fluid, but in small diesels, ATF could leave red rings around the injectors. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, will do! Thanks for the feedback.
I've used Techron begining in 1981 as a technician at a Mercedes Benz dealership to clean fuel injectors, which were causing rough idle problems in that 380 V8 engines. I worked with a Clayton Dynamometer and Sun equipment. The Techron did clear poor spraying injectors and smoothed out idle. At the time it was the only additive of any sort approved by M-BENZ NA. So maybe it's better as a fuel system cleaner than a combustion area decarbonized. Yours is a Gold Standard test channel. Keep the faith .👍👍
Thanks!
I'm surprised about the Techron. I'm a GM mechanic since 2000. Years ago we had several problems with fuel causing issues in South Texas. GM came up with a process to put their chemical "Top Engine Cleaner" in a measured amount of gas and flush it directly through the fuel injectors w/ the feed and return lines disconnected and blocked. You would then add a bottle of Techron to the tank. As mechanics working on flat rate, the " unofficial" repair was to mix the Techron and Top engine cleaner 50/50 and force that through the injectors. It was magical!
I've had several Trailblazer injectors that would not flow any fuel at all return to a near new level of flow. I also personally used one bottle of Techron with 5 gallons of gas to clean up motorcycle carbs. You had to run a fresh gas tank after as it would eat important stuff at that concentration. With great success I bought motorcycles that would barely run, ran that mixture for a tank or two, and then sold them when I was done having fun with them. I even had a case where that mixture cleaned things up so we'll a Kawasaki intake valve hung open a little. I'm guessing from lack of fuel lubrication. Pulled it all apart and everything was so shiny and new it looked like it had no miles on it. Back together and she ran like new and still does as far as I know.
I'm aware that our mixture was well above any recommendations. I'm also aware that when you pay mechanics Flat Rate they will do almost anything to make a problem go away and stay gone.
Really like your videos, Thanks!
Thanks! Thanks for the feedback.
I'm an ex-GM mechanic (retired), & Techron IS truly a magic potion! I used it through the late 90s & early 2000's just as you did. Some Top Engine cleaner mixed with fuel in the injector cleaning canister, & the Techron in the tank. Problem solved!
Techron is the ONLY product I have found, that does what it says it does!
I called my GM dealer about using seafoam for cold-weather to keep the fuel from gelling up and they told me it will ruin my engine but honestly I don't know if these guys know what they're talking about. Do you have any recommendations for a 2020 GMC Denali 3500 Duramax diesel to keep the diesel gas from gelling up?
@@bobbiweiss4176 what would you recommend for anti gel solution for a 2020 GMC Denali diesel? The dealer said seafoam will ruin the motor? But lots of people use it on CZcams in their diesel trucks I'm kind of confused.
@@thethiefonthecross9092 Sorry, I don't do diesel.
This is the first place I go when I’m evaluating a product. I trust you completely so ABSOLUTELY express your opinion on what you think of the product you are testing. “Being trusted is way more important then being loved”. It’s nice to have a place to go I know that there is no hidden agenda‘s.
Thanks!
The only thing I might point out is that when the additive is used on a automobile, the gas tank is much larger (20 gallons versus a half gallon) thus, it gives the additive a much longer time to work. There are more start /stops, heat soaking and cold soaking. My experience is you don't want to aggressively remove deposits as it can clog your Catalytic converter. I get the testing methods here but, they don't seem to follow how these cleaners are actually deployed. To me, you would need to run at least 10-20 gallons of fuel to see real results. Keep up the great work!
Thanks, will do!
My 80 year old auto mechanic professor who worked in the industry for ages recommended Techron. I respect my elders and their wisdom so Techron is what I use
Thanks for the feedback.
I just found this video and would like to comment on my experience with Techron. I started using it over 30 years ago when it cleared up some dirty fuel injectors in a 1978 Audi Fox. I have used it on all my car, motorcycle, and lawnmowers since and have had zero fuel system problems. Injectors and carburetors stay clean. I will run *two* tankfulls through each vehicle just before a scheduled oil change at the recommended dosage on the bottle of 1 oz per gallon of gas. On two motorcycles - each with about 60,000 miles - given that they have only a 5 gallon tank whereas the cars are 15 to 20 gallons, I ran 5 tanks of Techron one time and noticed a significant increase in performance and running smoothness. I've seen dirty carburetor bowels on motorcycles cleaned up perfectly after 5 to 10 gallons (again, at 1 oz. per gallon). I do believe their claims of cleaning and engine in one tank are optimistic, but by using Chevron fuel and the treatment schedule I've described, my engines and fuel systems have stayed very clean. It was good to see in your test that both Seafoam and Marvel Mystery Oil also will provide good engine cleaning.
Thanks for sharing.
Agree on additives i think i’ll start using one. Techron. THANKS for sharing this very informative video!!!
According to the "Car Talk" guys on NPR, additives made by oil companies have their additives already in their fuels-making them more $$ when they sell them seperately.
It's so nice to come back to these old videos, we can definitely tell how comfortable you've gotten with this.
Thanks!
Great video. Regardless of using it as a fuel additive MMO has always worked superb for unsticking intake valves from long sitting small engines. I put in several squirts from an oil can in the carb and cylinder and block the carb with my hand while cranking. If you can get the engine to fire with all this MMO in it the valve will almost always release. This alone makes it worthwhile to keep a can on hand.
Thanks! Thanks for the feedbac.k
Absolutely love the rope-less start up. I will definitely be procuring a socket set in the right range to use with my Dewalt 1/2" drill. Thank you, sir.
Thank you
Try it, you'll like it.
Very solid test plus I love the control run! Great content keep it up!
Thank you!
Great video, thanks ! Based on numerous videos touting the benefits of Seafoam, I decided to try it on my 2011 BMW Z4 which was running a little rough. I added it to the gas tank and the oil as directed. The car does seem to run smoother now, but it seems to have possibly cleared up another issue. There is a known defect in several BMWs with PCV valves clogging and emitting a burning plastic smell. BMW is working on a fix for the issue but does not have one yet. Strangely, the burning smell is gone after having used the Seafoam twice. I'm not a mechanic, so I'm wondering if you believe the Seafoam could have resolved the PCV issue or if that was likely a coincidence? The other variable is the weather is warmer now, I was getting the burning smell over the winter when it was colder, not sure if that is a factor ?
Thanks! It does seem possible but I can't say for sure.
Your mechanical scientific experiments are quite educational and enjoyable. Thanks for doing this. Great public service tool for consumers.
Thanks and you are welcome!
I hope youll still be creating these videos when youre 95 as its interesting to see your simple & creative testing methods as there are many ways you could engineer your tests ..
Thanks so much!
Gasoline is fungible. The difference in fuel brands are the additives usually added as the fuel is put in a tanker to be delivered. Top tier fuels have the cleaners in them. Costco is a fungible fuel from any refinery or fuel distribution center. To achieve Costco's top tier rating is by adding the cleaner in at the gas station. Costco purchases a bulk cleaner and has it delivered and put in a separate underground tank. The cleaner is simply added after the fuel is delivered. The top tier fuel brands, have a policy, to always have the fuel cleaner additive. The non branded fuels are the same fuel, within an octane rating, without the fuel cleaning additive. Please note that, from the same fuel station, different formulas to achieve same octane can and will be different at each and every fuel delivery. Please also note that the reed vapor pressure is also different at each load. The vapor pressure is normally changed to accommodate different temperatures.
In conclusion, I hope your testing is from the same batch of fuel. Fuel itself, is difficult itself to be considered a constant in scientific testing.
A recommended test would simply be to test fuels from different top tier and non top tier fuel stations.
There is also a new fuel tier 3 rating. Another test would be to check out the new fuel tier 3 fuel.
Enough rambling.
I do like your testing methods. I do not expect you to test the each batch of fuel. Keep up the great work. Simply adding information from a Gear Head.
ALL gasoline today (By EPA mandate in 1996) is required to have a minimum level of detergents so there are none sold without fuel cleaning additives. The different brands are free to add more than the minimum and that is what separates the "Top Tier" brands from the others.
@@EristiCat former fuel delivery driver here. The operative word is SOLD without additives. Base products can be shipped from the refinery to retailers like Costco who then add their own additives in bulk. I used to deliver to a Costco.
I doubt if the EPA allows fuel station operators to add anything to the products after being delivered into the storage tanks. The additive packages are metered in at the loading terminals. Some years ago I repainted the loading dock at a customer's small refinery that made good money refining crappy crude that nobody else wanted into racing gasoline for cars, motorcycles and boats while acting as a loading terminal for the majors and independents. For that he used the big storage tanks to hold the basic stock gasoline piped in from Houston then metered in the desired additive packages and ethanol during loading. The majors supplied their own proprietary additive packages while the independent stations could select the A, B or C generic additive packages (the dockhand just had to turn a dial that had the three settings). The loading process gets the packages mixed with the fuel good enough so it can naturally disperse itself thru-out the load during transport and finally fully mixed in during unloading into the storage tanks.
@@billwilson3609 in Canada at least, Costco does it. Guaranteed.
@@RoadDogMedia im a dedicated Costco fuel delivery driver. Yes, Costco does add their own additives at the delivery site. They have separate storage tanks just for the additive at every fuel station. We are not allowed to use the measuring stick at Costco due to the pump systems they have inside the fuel tanks that pump the additives in.
Take engine apart and clean cylinders after each fill up.
Got it.
lol. Thank you
Yeah the best cleaning was that brush on the cordless drill and i like the use of the drill as a cordless starter...between the additives i didnt see much difference...techron may have made the spark plug look cleaner
YES THAT'S FINE.
This will make for long lines at the pump
Every 3k miles
I owned a 1984 Buick Skyhawk with a 4 cylinder and put 200,000 miles on it before I needed to replace the head gasket. I only used Chevron gas from day one with 8 miles on OD, one piston had a carbon deposit about the size of a Nichol. I have been using Chevron gas from the 1960's thru today. I did use Shell for a few months during the 1970's gas shortage, left a red film on my carb, stopped using Shell and went back to Chevron.
Thanks for the feedback.
I work for a major oil company at the facility where the trucks are loaded with fuel for delivery to the gas stations. Additive is added to the fuel during loading. 66% more additive is included to the “branded” station vs the unbranded stations. So the prices might be the same or within pennies you do get more additive with your purchases at the branded stations. Branded are locations with the oil company logo vs a mom/pop station.
Thanks for sharing.
I really like your evaluation criteria used in your tests. I have experience with Cfoam and have also used BG 44K. While I've experienced good luck with both it's difficult to tell the difference. Cfoam helped me to start my snow blower and 44K helped my car run smooth during the initial start up. I've not used Techron or Mystery Oil but heard good things about both.
Thank you!
I like the video for a number of reasons= It gets to the point and not full of dribble that turns into a 45 minute video---thanks. And, I like the fact that no bias is shown to any one of the products--we can make up our own minds. And I learned that you put the Techron in an almost empty tank then fill up.
Thanks so much!
He's the Auto Glory of product comparison and testing.
Once I did a fuel flush on a truck using a mix of gasoline, seafoam, Techron, and Lucas oil. Before I started the long term fuel trim was +8% fuel. At the end it was +4%. After a day driving it dropped back to factory of +0%. Those products are very good.
Thanks for the feedback.
To answer your question at the end… Yes, I would like to know your opinions on the products. You do a great job of showing the methods and results, so viewers can always draw independent conclusions, but I would value hearing your thought process and opinions as well, because I would learn a lot from your insights. Thank you for your videos.
Thanksfor the suggestion.
Your attention to detail is impressive. Consumer R should pay you to do testings. Thanks - love watching the tests
Thank you!
Great Video and experiment!
I would like to have the before and after weights as well to get a quantifiable amount of buildup rather than just a visual comparison
I’ve used Techron for just about 14yrs in all my vehicles. Seems to work not sure if it does but definitely get a treatment every road trip I go on
Thanks for the feedback.
I've been using Techron since I bought my 2017 Honda Fit new. It has direct injection, so not much if any cleaner is going on the intake valves. I also use Tier 1 fuel exclusively. Fortunately, The Honda 1.5L of this year does not appear to have the carbon buildup problem of earlier direct injection engines, particularly Volkswagen. I've considered getting a catch can for the PCV system, but want to talk to the service tech at my dealer first, since I have a 10 year warranty. Maybe after that runs out in 5 years? I plan to keep this car running until we stop using gasoline engines. I have a manual transmission, so I won't have to worry about an expensive transmission rebuild.
Thanks for sharing.
Shell claims to clean 60-70% of initial carbon deposits on one tank of nitro+ premium fuel. That's a pretty bold claim, definitely higher than any of these additives. You should do a review on all gas company fuels in general, but be sure to include the top end shell fuel to see if it's worth getting it as a engine cleaner. Thanks so much!
@project farm I second this
All fuels have cleaning additives in them. But we do not know what kind.
The problem is the intake that doesn't have fuel in modern engines
Yes project farm, this suggestion is great.
We sometimes think that if it's expensive it should be that good but we've found out based on your tests, NOT all expensive justify it's price.
@@myytchannel6632 another channel (Chris something, he does cleaning and car stuff ) claimed that shell premium had 7 times the government mandates
I'd like to see something with a higher PEA level, like Gumout Tune-UP or Redline Complete fuel system cleaner. I love your stuff, you really try to follow the scientific method!
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
Always informative. I’ve used Techron once or maybe twice a year in my cars for 30 years. Never had a problem with any engine during that time. Not conclusive, but it can’t be discounted either.
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
Techron worked really well in my ‘95 Buick 3.8. Engine ran smother and mileage increased. Seafoam cleaned the carburetor on my Toro lawn mower in less than one tank. That said, they both worked for me!
Thanks for the feedback.