MikeTR

Well, as some may have seen from a previous post I made, I just brought a 1995 Formula with 160,000 miles. Well, fast forward 2 weeks & 2,000 miles later and a Seafoam treatment......Boom! It still runs, but it's got that "Knock" and then like a metal on metal screeching noise mixed in. I'm NOT blaming Seafoam! I have used it MANY times on other cars with GREAT results! This is the 1st time I used it on a car with this many miles AND it's the 1st time I added it to the motor oil itself. What really kills me is that the car was running AWESOME before it went! I didn't even beat on it!
I knew going in that buying a 160,000 mile car was a risky propositon. I have no one or nothing (Especially NOT SeaFoam!) to blame but myself for buying this high mileage car. The transmission was rebuilt & I hopped that I'd get another 40k out of the motor before it decided to retire! Guess not! Due to budget issues, it looks like I'm going to go with a low mileage LT1 that a Salvage yard that we use at my work has. 1997 motor with 57k on it with a 12 month unlimited mileage warranty on the motor. Headers are going in with the swap as well as a Hot Cam kit since the motor is out already. Thank God I manage a transmission shop with some good techs that can get this project done in a weekend!
Mike

Josh'95Z28conv

Did you drive it with seafoam in the crankcase? If so you probably spun a bearing. You're just supposed to let it idle a little higher than normal, with no load at all. Not even the AC should be on. Then change the oil in 15-20 min of runtime.

Honda Hunter

wow dude.

96capricemgr

Seafoam is solvent(mostly Naptha and isopropl alcohol) and contrary to what it says on the can does not belong in oil. I would have expected an LT1 of that milage to be in great shape yet. The other thing that hurts them is some of the oils everyone loves are too thin, I say that based on used oil analysis not the usual "this is what I use and never had a problem" reasoning.

Josh-'04 GTO

Wow...I really don't know what to say. The ONLY thing that belongs in your oil is...oil. Period. No Seafoam, no bottled additives, no snake oil, just oil. My opinion, of course.

Digital Designs

yes, it is a cleaner, like motor-flush. there should be no "band-aids" in the crank case

TransAm396

yeah i never put it in my crankcase either...didnt seem logical to put a SOLVENT in where metal is rubbing together....

ibanez6rg

Time for a 355 & boost.

96capricemgr

There are SOME good oil additives they are by far the minority of the products sold for such a purpose though and some of the best are much harder to get than walking into Walmart. Quality products often cost money to make and people want things CHEAP this leaves little room left for 20 middlemen and a marketting department to get a cut so they stay small and mailorder only. One in particular that is great is AutoRX, their website can be a little bit much with the big claims but the product is for real and good.

TAEnvy

I always used Compression Restore on te trucks and it seemed to help a few of em, or it could have been a placebo effect.

MikeTR

I didn't see that very important bit of information on the bottle! I'll have to pull it out of the trash at work to see! The funny thing is when I was pouring it in, I thought it seemed a little to "watery" for me.....Always go with your gut feeling!
Thanks to everyone for your responses.....As far as what I'm going to do, I'm on a REAL strict budget! We just got started remodeling the WHOLE house and money is TIGHT at the moment. I'm probally getting a used engine (found a few in the 50-70k range for less then $1500) with an LT4 HotCam/CC305 and 1.6 RR's & Springs, Mac shorty headers (NJ inspection is TOUGH), high flow Cat, and catback exhaust with a 2800 Stall. I'll be in under $3000 since ALL the labor is FREE!
I guess now's as good a time as any to just do all the mods I wanted to do, but I never thought I'd be able to with an engine with that many miles! At least the header & cam install and tuneup will be a walk in the park! LOL
Mike

MikeTR

Well, dropped the oil pan today......spun a rod bearing! In an effort to save some money up to do it right, I'm just going to replace the bearings and installing a new High Volume Oil Pump. HOPEFULLY this will buy me a few months to get all my money together to do it as right as I can afford to! Right now that looks like a low mileage (less then 60k) USED engine, a mild cam & RR's and MAC midlength headers, high flow cat & catback exhaust. I have a 2800 stall ready to go as soon as we have to pull the motor.
Mike

crAzy95z28

stick with a m55 pump. Dont go high flow unless u go bigger oil pan. Dont want ur oil pressure dropping when wit do ya?