Threebond engine conditioner

[mr blackstock]

I visited a mate who is a mechanic, and while taking to him while he is working on a car, he uses a can of Threebond, spraying it into the engine intakes via a vacuum tube outlet.  lets the car sit for 5 minutes, then starts the car, and while I maintain revs, he sprays the rest in... the amount of blue smoke and black that comes from the exhaust pipe surprised the hell outa me.  After awhile, the smoke clears, car idling happily away.  My mate states that everytime they work on a customer's car, they run the same stuff through, apparently it helps cut back on carbon buildups, and idles a little better, customer is happy with the work done on their car.  He states they have been using it for years, usually at every oil change.

I went to Bursons and bought some, and ran it through the FJ.  A fair amount of smoke came out, then cleared into a nice idle.  Admittedly the bike was running fine prior, but I think this Threebond is used in a similar way people use "Seafoam", which I was keen on trying, but I reckon this Threebond might be just as good.  I was not sure how to get the spray into each cylinder intake equally from one can nozzle, so I rigged up some hose and vacuum T pieces, and it worked a treat.  I was not keen to spray it directly into the carb intakes, as I was unsure of the affect the spray might have on diaphragms, so that's why I used the carb balancing vacuum points on the carb mounting rubbers.

Has anyone else used this stuff?  I asked the person at Burson's if it sold well, she replied "only mechanics really buy it"

[camo]

That looks bloody interesting! Im gonna try it !

[FJmonkey]

28% Naptha (a solvent) and 25% water (H2o).
http://www.threebond.com.au/pdfs/6601j.pdf

[Pat Conlon]

On my old MGA I've used Seafoam (via vacuum ports) but never heard of Threebond.
I've used straight distilled water also. Both seem to work ok as top end cleaners.
I had my neighbor come running out to see what was on fire from all the smoke from the Seafoam.

Be sure to change your oil and filter after you're done.

I've never used these products in my FJ.

[aj52]

I do not want to be pessimistic or something,but it sound like one of those 'machanic in a can' products.
Sorry if I am at fault here,get the idea that it is a way that machanics are bull sh@tting people.

[mr blackstock]

I am inclined to think that it is not "mechanic in a can" as naptha and water are proven to assist in removing carbon buildup.  I found an interesting video online with a guy using seafoam on his lawnmower, interesting.
I can appreciate caution considering products and promises, but often mechanics use products that do work, and sometimes a car running better than before taking it to the mechanic, even if just to fix a panel, makes the customer happier and more likely to return.  Not bad for AUD$17.95.

For my own part, I think the can helped de-coke the head a little, she idles a touch better, but that could be just subjective.  As always, have alook around, do some research.

cheers, Gareth

[FJmonkey]

I heard stories from my father about using water straight in to the carbs with the engine at temp and high revs. The water causes rapid cooling of the hot carbon, it shrinks and fractures and gets shot out through the exhaust. A bit messy, but if only water goes in and the pipes shit out a bunch of black stuff then it must be doing something.