# Seafoam **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [June 13, 2008, 10:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seafoam/15289 "2008-06-13T22:45:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rocketman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@rocketman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rocketman)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 10:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seafoam/15289/1 "2008-06-13T22:45:49Z")
I have what seems like a “tapping” valve noise in my wifes’ 95 civic, only on start-up . . . goes away in a minute. Tomottow is maintenance on the civic day (oil change, filters, other stuff. I bought a can of seafoam to address this “tapping” . . . any comments? How much seafoam in the crankcase and for how long before the oil change? The civic is a 95, non-vtech, 150,000 miles, runs great except this annoying tapping. Rocketman ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 11:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seafoam/15289/2 "2008-06-13T23:14:17Z")
The directions say 1 1/2 oz per qt of crankcase oil. So if it’s a four quart system that would equate to 6 oz. But since a 16 oz container, I generally add a half a can of Seafoam to the oil. How long do you leave it in? Until the next oil change. Tester ---
**Author:** ![cappy208](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cappy208/32/31_2.png) [@cappy208](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cappy208)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 11:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seafoam/15289/3 "2008-06-13T23:17:26Z")
not looking for a sales pitch, but… what is seafoam? how does it work? and why should one use it? what would the alternative be? ---
**Author:** ![crankwalk5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@crankwalk5](https://community.cartalk.com/u/crankwalk5)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 12:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seafoam/15289/4 "2008-06-14T00:18:40Z")
so just type in (ww.seafoam).com. or please steal my cash. or barnum bailey circus. FREE rides at Hershey park.(today only) all circuits are busy ,so please stay on the line. please while I’m at work (rob my house) chrysler (FREE gas) im sorry 2.99 a gallon. I own the Bermuda triangle,you interested? lots and lots of SEAFOAM! ---
**Author:** ![rocketman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@rocketman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rocketman)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 12:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seafoam/15289/5 "2008-06-14T00:28:57Z")
No kidding Tester? Until the next oil change? I know you’ve had good luck with it and I’ll follow your advice. Thanks! Rocketman ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 1:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seafoam/15289/6 "2008-06-14T01:03:27Z")
Don’t hold back, Crankie. ---
**Author:** ![Xebadaih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d07c76/32.png) [@Xebadaih](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Xebadaih)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 1:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seafoam/15289/7 "2008-06-14T01:09:40Z")
Have you had a valve adjustment done recently? The tapping noise is almost surely your valves “tapping”. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 1:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seafoam/15289/8 "2008-06-14T01:57:22Z")
I agree with checking the valve lash. This should be done about every 30k miles at the latest. The reason it may go away in a few minutes is that oil is being pumped up there and is cushioning the rockers. After more than a few minutes the clearance will decrease due to expansion of the metal. If this is the case then SeaFoam, while a great product, is not going to fix that. ---
**Author:** ![rocketman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@rocketman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rocketman)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 2:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seafoam/15289/9 "2008-06-14T02:28:55Z")
I thought that too, Xeb and OK . . . I checked the valve clearance last oil change and it was pretty close . . . checked it twice. It goes away, but it bothers the crap out of me. I’m thinking a sticky cam follower, but I’ve never been into the head beyond checking the clearance. Anything I’m missing? Rocketman