Revising and Upgrading Your Engines: The Role of Seafoam

As Bruce P explains, seafoam is called so because it was originally used in outboard motors with two-stroke engines in the 1940s. These engines had a tendency to "carbon up" due to the mixture of oil and gas, which would create carbon deposits on the rings and valves. Seafoam helped clean these engines by removing the carbon buildup. However, it's worth noting that seafoam does not contain nitrogen-based cleaners, which are now widely used in four-stroke water-cooled engines found in cars today. The lack of nitrogen-based cleaners in seafoam makes it less effective for modern engines.

In contrast to seafoam, Chevron Techron contains nitrogen-based cleaners that have become a standard feature in many cleaning products. These cleaners are designed to improve the performance and longevity of four-stroke water-cooled engines by removing contaminants and deposits. The fact that Chevron Techron explicitly lists its ingredients makes it a more appealing option for car owners who want a reliable and effective cleaner.

Spark Plugs: A Gimmick or a Necessity?

Car enthusiasts may have heard the debate about single-electrode vs multi-electrode spark plugs. Scotty explains that both types of plugs have their own advantages and disadvantages. The key to understanding the difference lies in how electricity works. When a spark plug fires, it creates an electric current that jumps from one point to another, following the path with the least electrical resistance. In theory, having multiple electrodes would increase the likelihood of all four sparking at once. However, in practice, this is not the case.

The laws of physics dictate that electricity always follows the path with the least resistance. As a result, a single-electrode spark plug will usually fire first and continue to fire until it reaches the ground or another conductive surface. This means that even with multiple electrodes, only one of them will ignite the fuel at any given time.

The use of multi-electrode spark plugs is largely a marketing gimmick, designed to make cars seem more high-tech than they actually are. In reality, most car manufacturers do not use these types of spark plugs in their vehicles. Scotty's advice to his viewers is to focus on choosing the right spark plug for their specific engine and driving habits rather than getting caught up in the latest trends.

Buying a Used Jeep Wrangler: A Good Investment?

Scotty advises his viewers to consider buying a 1991 Jeep Wrangler with a straight-six cylinder engine and manual transmission. These engines have a reputation for being rock-solid, and the standard transmission is known for its reliability. However, it's essential to inspect the vehicle thoroughly before purchasing.

Some potential issues to look out for include bent steel frames, water damage, or previous accidents. If the Jeep Wrangler has been properly maintained and is in decent shape, it can provide years of reliable service. The straight-six engine is a good choice due to its reputation for durability, but even newer engines may not last forever.

Reliability of Toyota and Honda Engines

When it comes to smaller engines like 1.4 or 1.6 liters, both Toyota and Honda are known for their reliability. However, as time passes, all engines will eventually wear out, regardless of the manufacturer. Scotty notes that while these engines may not last forever, they are generally well-built and can provide many years of trouble-free service.

One key factor in determining an engine's lifespan is maintenance. Regular oil changes, filter replacements, and other routine tasks can help extend the life of an engine. Additionally, addressing any issues promptly will also help prevent more significant problems down the line.

Finding a Reliable Used Car: The Sienna Van

In his experience, Steve has found that used Sienna vans are often underappreciated gems. These vehicles have been in production for many years and have a reputation for being reliable and practical. With low mileage (in some cases as low as 90,000 miles) and a reasonable price tag, they make excellent choices for those looking for a dependable ride.

The Sienna van's popularity lies in its versatility and spacious interior, making it an ideal choice for families or those who need to transport equipment. By targeting buyers who are willing to overlook minor cosmetic issues, the used car market has found a way to get more people behind the wheel of these excellent vehicles.

Chinese-Made Cars: A Changing Landscape

In recent years, Chinese-made cars have gained significant attention due to their improved quality and innovative designs. As Scotty notes, the biggest challenge facing Chinese manufacturers is balancing labor costs with the need for high-quality production. With modern factories equipped with robots and advanced automation systems, workers must be highly skilled engineers who can maintain and reprogram these machines.

The shift towards more efficient manufacturing processes has led to some significant improvements in Chinese-made cars. While they still have a long way to go before matching the quality of Western brands, it's clear that they are working hard to close the gap. As the market continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these advancements play out and what impact they will have on consumers.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enrev up your engines,Bruce P says, what do you think aboutseafoam does it make an engine lastlonger, okay I'm not a Seafoam fan Imade a video about, it I'll tell you whatI think of seafoam, okay seafoam it'scalled seafoam for a reason, because along time ago like in the 1940s orwhatever, they used it in outboard motorengines that were two-stroke, they hadtwo strokes, you had to mix the oil withthe gas, and the seafoam help clean thecarbon out of the engine, those engineshave a tendency of carboning up becauseyou're mixing the oil and gas, and theoil that burns is gonna create carbon onthe Rings and valves and stuff,so that was very good for that, we drivefour-stroke water-cooled engines incars today, and that cleaner is not madefor them, any cleaner that you're gonnause, you really want the nitrogen basedcleaners in them, and from what I've readthe seafoam does not use those nitrogenbased cleaners, I know that Chevron Techrondoes, all the big ones that I know ofcontain it, they won't tell you whatpercentage it is, but they contain it, fromwhatI've read and the research I've done, theseafoam doesn't contain any of that, it'san expensive additive to put in, andthat's probably why the othermanufacturers don't tell you originallyChevron Techron told you how much ofthe nitrogen based cleaner was in it, butthey don't tell you anymore so who knowshow much is in there, but to my knowledgethe seafoam doesn't have any in it andI don't like it, car asks Scotty should Iuse a single electrode spark plug or amulti electric spark plug in myVolkswagen Golf Mark 5, here's the thingabout spark plugs you gotta understand, theyfire a spark, it makes an electric sparkthat ignites the gasoline, a spark willalways move from one part where thepower is to the ground top, to whereverthe closest and most electricallyconductive part is, so you got oneelectrode that goes, ifyou got four it isn't gonna fire allfour, it's only gonna fire the one that'sthe closest that has the leastelectrical resistance, so it reallydoesn't make any difference you know, that'sjust the gimmick that they used to putin cars and most of them they don't even usethatstuff anymoreI think they finally realized it wasabsurd to do it because the electricityis always gonna jump to the closest onethat has the least electrical resistancethat's just how electricity works, youcan't change the laws of physics, angelsays Scotty I'm thinking aboutbuying a 91 Jeep Wrangler for 3500 bucksand it's a straight cylinder with amanual transmission, is it a good buyokay everybody knows that I hatechrysler products, but that's a 91 jeepwith a straight six and a standardtransmission, those were rock-solidengines and transmissions, i'd buy it ifyou like that vehicle buy it, you know ofcourse check and have amechanic look at it if at all possible tosee if the steelframe is bent, if it's been wrecked orflooded and stuff, but if it's in decentshape and it's got a manual transmission,heythose thing can run a really long timethough straight sixes were very goodengine, maaco says Scotty what can yousay about Toyota and Honda smallerengines, like 1.4 or 1.6 in terms ofreliability thanks, well they're veryreliable engines, Honda's always makegreat engines and so has Toyota, now I knowastime goes on, they're gonna end upputting gasoline direct injection andturbochargers on all of them, and evenknown for their reliability, they willwear out faster that's just common sensethat's gonna happen, but if you'retalking about the older ones that arejust normally aspirated, oh they can lastforever, I mean especially the 1.6they're good strong engines,I've had many 1.6 Toyota engines myselfand they're just pretty muchindestructible, you can't destroy themthey just keep running and running and running,079says Scotty what are some good inexpensivecars that are good for disabled people,minivans are more expense and requireinstallation of ramps and drive the priceeven higher, I have a customer who loveshis Toyota Camry who's disabled, it's gotgianttrunks in them and they sold millions of themyou can use ones that are old still inpretty good shape, or if you can get aSienna van, they've made those for years andyears, I had a customer last year sold hisSienna van, it only had like 90,000 mileswhich is nothing for them and he onlygot like a couple grand that's all hewanted, it had a few dings and stuff on itand that was a great car, he sold it to aHispanic guy here that does lawn care he fitsallhis equipment and he loves it, Steve brosays Scotty what's your opinion on Chinesemade cars,Chinese used to make really crappy carsbut they're making them better andbetterbecause their factories are the mostmodern ones in the world their new, robotsare making them, from what I read thebiggest problem they have is they haveto pay their workers a ton of money,because most of their workers have to bequalified engineers who can maintain andreprogram the robots as they break downand as they need their periodicinspection, so they're whining that theirlabor costs are too high, because therobots do most of the work and the guysthat fix they have to know what they'redoing,they don't sell them hereyet in the United States, but I suppose oneday they will like everything else, so ifyou never want to miss another one of mynew car repair videos, remember to ringthat Bell!\n"