Thoughts on Seafoam? Has anyone tried?

[Discovery]

After I got my RRC 4.2 fired up again after two years of sitting, I'm getting a fairly loud tick and tap coming from the top end, after a full warm up. Sounds like a lifter, I'm sure I'm not the only person who's come accross this. I'm not too sure what viscosity of oil was dumped before I picked it up, but it doesn't seem thick. Either way, it is due to be replaced, and I plan on running the 15W-40 Shell Rotella T, and an OEM oil filter. However, before I do this, I've been reading on Seafoam, and there are multiple of different ways on performing the service with regards to where to pour it, for specific cleaning.

I've been thinking of pouring a can into the crank case, and let it idle for awhile, and see if that quiets down the motor, then replace the oil and filter. I hear it cleans deposits and such, but is it any different that motor flush detergent (which is pretty much ATF in essence). Has anyone experienced this, and found success, or is it a farce? Keep in mind, my motor has 310,000km's now.

[BOlson]

Years ago I had a mechanic at my work who swore that draining a litre of oil out , refilling with a litre of diesel in the engine and running until warmed up then draining was the best thing for engine life . All I ever do is change it out fairly regularly never really had a problem so YMMV

[Rob]

I use it, mostly as a pre-change cleaner in the motor oil. I put it into the crankcase about 100 miles before a planned oil change then replace the motor oil and filter as usual. I have also used it as a fuel system cleaner (gasoline) and as a stabilizer for small motors that sit with fuel in the tank over the winter. In all cases I've not experienced any negative outcomes. I did use it as well on a 280Z motor that was sitting for about 10 years, added it to fresh gas and fresh oil in the motor and I noticed that it did clean-out a lot of gunk when I did an oil change after a couple of hours of running. I've run Rotella T in my diesels for years and I like it but it has a lot of detergent in it for a gasoline motor so you'll have to be cautious on using it in your 4.2 Hopefully some of the folks here on the board who have a deeper knowledge of oil chemistry can give you a better technical explanation.

Regards, Rob

[Discovery]

Interesting. Rob, where are you buying it from, and how much are you putting into the crankcase? Is it actually alright to run the motor for 100 miles with it in mixed with the motor oil, for long of a period? My 4.2 has been sitting for approx. 2 years now, with the same fuel with stabilizer. The motor oil looks new, but over time just breaks down, and I'm going to replace it anyways. I've poured a few litres of fresh gasoline while I was tinkering to get it started, there's not a lot, just under a quarter, so I'm going to run it empty.

With the Shell Rotella T diesel motor oil, due to the motors being and older style motor in design, they require high zinc, which diesel oil provides. Of course there are other additives that help clean the engine very well. I've been using it in my 4.0 DII for 4 years now, and looking into the valve covers, it's like new. So it is doing its job. However with this 4.2 and it being sitting for quite some time, I feel like it needs something really good to clean it up, and that's where seafoam is in question.

[DrRangelove]

I used seafoam to do an induction clean recently and it made a noticeable difference to performance. I sucked it into the motor thru a vacuum line and have also heard of people adding it to the crankcase before an oil change. Also from what ive read the rotella and regular oil changes is the way to go

[pragsy]

Once a year I put about half a bottle in my crank case and run the engine for about 10-20 monies. I then drain the oil and it comes out black as tar and sometimes there are little bits of gunk in it.
I don't notice any performance difference but man it cleans the gunk out.