Whats this pm3 stuff...

[Bird76Mojo]

Here's some interesting DIY stuff: http://hildstrom.com/projects/seafoam/

 

[4.0blue98]

Additionally, Seafoam's main ingredients are now listed as being a "hydrocarbon blend" instead of listing the individual chemicals used like nearly all other manufacturers. It's largely a snake oil type of product, though it can help in certain scenarios.

As of about 1996, the approximate analysis of the formulation was as follows:

50% light hydrocarbon oil (pale oil);
30% petroleum naphtha;
10% isopropyl alcohol;
10% water.

Petroleum Naphtha is really a mixture of many compounds like all those things listed on the PM3 MSDS but covered by the Petroleum Naphtha term on the bottle.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

Petroleum Naphtha is really a mixture of many compounds like all those things listed on the PM3 MSDS but covered by the Petroleum Naphtha term on the bottle.

From my reading on it, it seems like Naptha is really an un-refined petroleum product similar to gasoline. Un-refined gasoline basically. But I'm not a chemist by any stretch.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_naphtha

"In some (but not all) petroleum refineries, the cracked naphthas are desulfurized and catalytically reformed (as are the virgin naphthas) to produce additional high-octane gasoline components."

 

[Uncle Gump]

Nothing at all like seafoam. PM3 From the bottle:

Petroleum naphtha
2-butoxyethanol
oleic acid
ammonium hydroxide
kerosine, petroleum, hydrodesulfurized (no idea what this means but sounds like it's just diesel)
dodecylbenzenesulphonic acid
methyl amyl alcohol

I've been using for about 5 years. The only stuff that'll stop the carbon knock for more than a few weeks. You cannot put it in the tank. It has to be poured into a carb or sucked into the intake.

I've tried B-12/Lucas/ BG44k/seafoam (5 times)/many gumout products/techron (still use this in other vehicles)/ and many others.

I'm not saying these other things don't work but for the OHV carbon knock the PM3 does.

One thing I tried recently (free bottle) was gasoline extreme from Hot Shot. Sounded horrible on the tank that I added it to but the next few have been great.

I'm surprised this is so mysterious. the TSB has been around for 20 years.

Did you ever consider all your carbon build up issue could be root caused to the fact you are running Bosch spark plugs? Not trying to start an argument here… but just read in another thread you've been running them for 120K. My guess would be your carbon issues started about 118K ago.

 

[fastpakr]

Why do the Bosch plugs concern you?

 

[Uncle Gump]

Experience tells me they just don't work as well as a factory plug. They opened up a chain of tune up shops called Precision Tune back in the day. They exclusively used Bosch Plugs on anything that came through the door. We had a severe influx of drivability concerns shortly after... 9 times out of ten the customer concerns could be rectified by simply installing a factory set of plugs.

I'm a firm believer when it comes to spark plugs... you put in exactly what came out. The strategy has worked well for me for nearly 40 years. I'm not changing it... ever.

 

[19Walt93]

After 42 years in the dealer service department I won't use anything but Motorcraft plugs. If you look at Champion's cross reference chart you'll see they often equate one of their part numbers to multiple Motorcraft numbers with different heat ranges. I also never heard of carbon knock in a Ranger engine, the only ones I encountered with carbon knock were 200 and 250 six cylinders and the 1.8 dohc Mazda used in early 90's Escort GT's.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Walt knows...

 

[snoranger]

The strategy has worked well for me for nearly 40 years. I'm not changing it... ever.

What I picture when I read that comment:

 

[Bgunner]

The women I made into dolls in my basement would be furious that you would think I used any chemicals on their perfect smooth lovely silky happy loving amazing....

All you hear coming out of Dirtmans cellar is "He passes her the lotion, She puts it on her skin."

 

[sgtsandman]

Naptha is also used for dry cleaning. We use it to clean fittings as directed by Technical Order. We order Naptha as specified and the jug we get says dry cleaning solvent.

 

[Ranger850]

I've used Naptha to remove powder coating from aluminum.

 

[4.0blue98]

Naphtha is also used to keep away moths...

Did you ever consider all your carbon build up issue could be root caused to the fact you are running Bosch spark plugs? Not trying to start an argument here… but just read in another thread you've been running them for 120K. My guess would be your carbon issues started about 118K ago.

Ok you've shamed me into it. I have a set of SP-500 (Motorcraft double plats) that are the recommended factory replacement. I'll install them this weekend. I promise. It will be a good test. I did get 18mpg on my last tank (70/30 city/highway) and they looked good last year when I pulled one to check but they have been in there since about 70k. My Jeep used plain old copper core (NGK) every 25-30k. My ranger always gets the least attention since I maintain 5 other vehicles.

After 42 years in the dealer service department I won't use anything but Motorcraft plugs. If you look at Champion's cross reference chart you'll see they often equate one of their part numbers to multiple Motorcraft numbers with different heat ranges. I also never heard of carbon knock in a Ranger engine, the only ones I encountered with carbon knock were 200 and 250 six cylinders and the 1.8 dohc Mazda used in early 90's Escort GT's.

I actually preferred NGK above all. I'd probably say Autolight and maybe Denso after that but I really have no data other that using them myself. I don't have much experience with Motorcraft plugs but I tend to alway equate Motorcraft with quality so I'll give it a go.

I really do appreciate the feedback from you guys with real experience. I am by no means a mechanic! The TSB was from 2001 and covered the 4.0L OHV in Aerostars, Exploders and Rangers. I don't know how widespread it was but pretty sure I've got it. I've considered pulling the heads just to see how bad the carbon buildup was. Maybe I'll get one of those scopes.

 

[black_demon69]

spark plugs
motorcraft= FORD
ac delco = GM
champion = DODGE CHRYSLER etc...


with that said i will substitute autolite for motorcraft in a Ford ... as a matter of fact all 3 of my FORDS currently are running autolite withno problems

 

[19Walt93]

I worked at a Sunoco station in the early 70's that was run by a former GM mechanic so we got a lot of his old customers. If someone with a GM complained of highway surging the first thing we'd check was the spark plugs, replace the Champions with AC's and the surge was instantly gone.