OSV + Seafoam =?

[xxxxxman]

Thought I would start a new post on this as this is the time of year that everyone gets a frozen OSV. I've been thinking... Seems to me that the main cause of this problem is that there is water in the crankcase that freezes and clogs up the OSV.

I have used Seafoam in several of my other cars with good results. In one case, I had a coolant leak that flooded the oil with water. I drained it, fixed the leak and used seafoam. That was 50K miles ago.

Seafoam is supposed to bond with the water and keep it emulsified in the oil, rendering it harmless. It seems like a cheap insurance for those of us who have short commutes to work.

The problem is that there is no way for me to report back and let you know if it actually worked. If I use it and get the OSV problem, I guess I can report back. Otherwise, I'm just going to assume it is working.


Has anyone here used seafoam and still had an OSV issue?

[hambone1983]

I've used seafoam... but do not dare using it on the X5 yet.

[JCL]

I am not a fan of Seafoam as it can be harsh on other parts of the engine.

That said, if all it did was to emulsify the water, it wouldn't make much of a difference. It isn't a coolant leak causing this, it is condensation. Once it has emulsified (see the paste under the oil filler cap), it gets carried out the breather into the OSV, where it can freeze. If you can't get the engine hot enough to boil off the condensation (simply by driving normally once the engine is at operating temperature) then change the oil more often, and maintain the OSV and associated hoses, cleaning them out when they get clogged up. If you did use the Seafoam as you describe, you would still need to maintain the OSV, so I don't see the advantage.

[xxxxxman]

From their website :"Fuel can absorb moisture from the atmosphere - even more so with the addition of ethanol. Crank case oil can also become easily contaminated with moisture. Sea Foam® fully encapsulates the water molecules in the fuel and oil to prevent phase separation - rendering the absorbed moisture harmless."

Also:
What is it about Sea Foam® that makes it so safe to use?
Sea Foam® is composed solely of three specially blended petroleum oils – each having specific functions such as lubricating, cleaning or moisture control. There are no other chemicals (not even color dyes) included in the formulation. Being of the same basic petroleum chemistry as the motor oils and gasoline you already use in your engine, Sea Foam® is completely compatible with all engine components, fuels, lubricants and other additives you may have in your engine. Sea Foam® will not damage gaskets or seals, and will not interact in a negative way with motor oil or fuel, or the additives used in them"

I emailed them to ask specifically about this question. I'll post what they reply with.

[JCL]

Those three petroleum products they reference are:

1) light mineral oil (not a synthetic) of unknown properties
2) naptha, properties not specified, but something usually associated with lighter fluid and white camp stove fuel
3) rubbing alcohol

Three things I wouldn't put in a modern engine, especially when they displace the required synthetic lubricating oil. Hence my reluctance to use it. Also the reason that BMW specifically advise against using such additives.