Does Seafoam Damage o2 Sensors? (SAFE)

Have you ever wondered if seafoam could damage o2 sensors?

Your car is very likely one of your most costly investments. Owning, operating, and maintaining a motor vehicle is expensive. 

You can maximize your return on investment by taking care of your car, making repairs as needed, and scheduling routine maintenance as per the manufacturer’s manual.

Modern cars have several sensors that help regulate your car’s emissions, engine performance, and other vital functions.  If these sensors are faulty, your car might experience increased fuel consumption, emission failures, or driveability problems.

Does Seafoam Damage o2 Sensors? No, it seems that when appropriately used on a vehicle that has been adequately maintained, Seafoam only helps and doesn’t hurt o2 . The negative results come from misusing the product, using too much, or using it on a vehicle with problems too advanced for the Seafoam to help.

The O2 sensor, otherwise called an oxygen sensor, is one of the most critical sensors in your car because it monitors the amount of unburned oxygen as the exhaust exits the car’s engine. 

The sensor helps measure the fuel mixture and can let the car’s computer know if the fuel mix is lean, meaning it has too much oxygen, or rich, meaning it doesn’t have enough oxygen.

It’s critical to know the ratio of fuel to air to ensure your engine will be able to run as it should. Cars more recent than the 1981 model year have at least one oxygen sensor but could have multiple sensors.  Oxygen sensors don’t routinely need to be changed and are usually only replaced when they fail.

There are a few signs that you might need to replace your o2 sensor. Sometimes your check engine light might come on if there’s a problem with your oxygen sensor or with your emissions or exhaust systems. 

If your car begins idling differently, misfiring spark plugs, stalling, or using more gas than usual, you might need to check your 02 sensors.

A new O2 sensor could cost between $100-$300 for the part, not including labor, so it’s not an inexpensive fix.  Driving your car with a faulty oxygen sensor could cause problems with your engine’s timing. 

Your vehicle could start stalling or accelerating slowly, and your combustion intervals might be off.

Taking good care of your car is a must if you want to get years of quality life out of it.  Several products on the market can help preserve the life of your vehicle, particularly as the mileage gets higher.

What are Seafoam products?

The Sea Foam Sales Company has been a trusted partner by mechanics since 1942.  The company’s focus has remained the same over the decades.  They aspire to make “safe products that are proven to work and keep engines and equipment running their best.”

Sea Foam Motor Treatment is the company’s signature product and top seller. According to the company’s website, Sea Foam Motor Treatment can be used with all synthetic and conventional motor oils and any gas or diesel fuel blend. It’s reported to stabilize gas and diesel fuels for as long as two years. 

It can clean your engine’s intake valve and chamber deposits and lubricate upper cylinders.  It cleans carburetor passageways and cleans fuel injectors.

Does Seafoam help?

Seafoam gets high reviews from individual users and industry leaders. When used as per manufacturer’s recommendations, Seafoam “helps with lubricating the engines and guarding them against wear and tear.”

Autovfix.com says it’s versatile and inexpensive and that it can be used on gasoline or diesel engines.  It also notes that it is an effective product to use for general maintenance and cleaning purposes.

The product has an overall 4.8 out of 5-star rating on Amazon, with many satisfied users giving it a full five stars.

How Seafoam can hurt: Is it Safe? 

While Seafoam has an excellent reputation and gets stellar reviews, there is some concern that using Seafoam can damage O2 sensors or cause other problems with your car.  When reading negative reviews about the product, users were often not following the instructions on the can. 

👉 For example, one disgruntled customer complained that after using an entire can of Sea Foam Motor Treatment, he got an error message traced back to the O2 sensor, which was faulty.  Upon further review, he learned that he should have used only 1/3 of a can on his car.

👉 Using amounts different than what the manufacturer recommends or using the product in different ways can lead to negative results. 

Also, if your high mileage car has not been adequately cared for or treated, using seafoam could loosen and clean out a large amount of built-up gunk, and that can clog up your oil flow.

👉 In that example, using Seafoam could contribute to a problem with oil flow, but not because of a problem with the product.  The product is doing its job, but because of the car’s condition to begin with, too much accumulation could cause adverse results.

Removing your O2 sensors for cleaning.

Your O2 sensors are exposed to extremely high temperatures within your car’s exhaust system, so it’s not uncommon for them to become coated with baked-on carbon deposits. 

You can clean the sensor with high heat and a solution like Seafoam to extend the sensor’s life before replacement becomes necessary.

Here are some simple-to-follow steps for removing and cleaning your O2 sensors:

1. In most vehicles, you’ll lift the hood and locate the O2 sensor, usually on the car’s passenger side, on top of the exhaust manifold.  Your owner’s manual will show you exactly where to look.
2. Use a socket wrench paired with an O2 sensor socket (available at most auto part stores). You’ll turn the wrench counterclockwise to loosen and continue turning until it comes off easily.  Pull it up off the manifold
3. Use a blowtorch to heat the oxygen sensor’s tip until it’s just starting to turn red.  Dip the tip in a bowl of water to quickly cool it.  This will cause some of the baked-on debris to fall off.  Use a can of compressed air to complete cleaning the tip.  You can repeat this process as necessary until you’ve cleared away all debris.
4. Pour some Seafoam in a bowl and soak the oxygen sensor overnight.  This allows the solution to break up any remaining deposits or build-up.
5. Use a clean cloth to dry the sensor thoroughly before reinstalling it in your car.

Following these steps is a highly effective way to clean your O2 sensors.

Seafoam as a solution. 

So what’s the final word on using Seafoam?  Does it work?  Is it practical, effective, and helpful?  Can it extend the life of your engine?  Or is it too risky to use? 

If your car has been well maintained and you plan to use the product as recommended on its label, you’ll find it easy to use and effective in helping to keep your vehicle in good running order. 

If you have an older, high mileage car that hasn’t been adequately maintained, you might want to check with a trusted mechanic to make sure this is a good option for your car.

Seafoam has been used by auto professionals since 1942 and today is one of the top-selling automotive additives in all of North America.  Used properly, you’ll find the same success that has made the brand so beloved and well trusted.

References

[1] https://seafoamworks.com/

[2] https://autovfix.com/