How to Use
Power Foam
One of the main reasons that people get rid of lawnmowers, string trimmers, chainsaws or other equipment is because it starts hard and runs rough. This is often the result of a buildup of carbon in the engine, or a dirty carburetor. The answer to these problems is AMSOIL Power Foam.
So how does a carburetor get dirty?
As time goes on, oxygen in the carb weakens the gasoline, causing varnish and other floating deposits to stick and clog the small fuel passages and screens. This leads to inadequate flow of fuel and a tired arm from futilely pulling the starter cord. Here’s what you should do if your lawnmower won’t start.
Engine deposits are an additional issue
Buildup of carbon can lead to more problems that you anticipated. The combustion chamber gets extremely hot when the piece of equipment is being operated, and that heat breaks down the oil. The carbon created from this can lodge in the ring lands and make the piston rings stick. Stuck rings decrease compression in the engine, which causes difficulty in starting and thus, the engine can run rough.
Byproducts of gasoline can generate deposits on the crown of the piston, which can result in pre-ignition. Pre-ignition happens when an incredibly hot piece of carbon ignites the air and fuel mixture before the spark plug fires, which causes a shock wave in the cylinder that can cause piston damage.
Deposits in two-stroke engines can block the exhaust port or spark arrestor screen, causing a rough run and compromising airflow. If the deposits are exceptionally bad, the engine will even quit running. If your weed eater won’t start, take a look at this article!
Prevention is most effective
Taking steps to avoid the problem in the first place is an affective way to prevent your lawnmower or other equipment from running rough and starting hard. Adding gasoline stabilizer to the gas before storage and occasionally cleaning the carburetor and combustion chamber with a quality fuel additive will help keep your equipment in tip-top shape.
If you’re past the point of prevention and already have a dirty, troublesome engine and carburetor, a good clean with AMSOIL Power Foam can help! This powerful cleaning agent:
- Removes deposits from ethanol and deteriorated fuel
- Gets rid of gum and varnish
- Maximizes horsepower
- Returns startability capacity
- Assists in improving fuel economy
- Reduces pollution
Using AMSOIL Power Foam
Power Foam is safe for use on seals, gaskets, rubber or plastic materials often seen in gasoline engines. As you will see below, Power Foam is easy to use.
How to use AMSOIL Power Foam
- Remove the gasoline — Drain the old gasoline from the fuel tank. This step is important to make sure you aren’t misdiagnosing your starting/running issues if it’s just because your gasoline is stale. Be sure to refill the tank with new, fresh gas.
- Remove the air cleaner — You must remove the air filter and air-cleaner assembly in order to use Power Foam, as it affords easy access to the intake.
- Start the engine and spray Power Foam — Power Foam is best applied in a well-ventilated area or outside. Start the engine and spray Power Foam into the throttle body as quickly as you can without stalling the engine (You may have to rev the engine to keep it from stalling). It’s typical that this process will cause a lot of white exhaust smoke and you may smell a distinctive odor.
- Continue spraying Power Foam — The size of the application can require different amounts of Power Foam, but generally, you should keep spraying until your engine runs effortlessly. Give it an additional shot to choke out the engine.
- Allow the engine to sit — Leave the engine to sit for five minutes. This lets the Power Foam fully dissolve carbon deposits.
- Restart the engine — After letting the engine sit, start the engine again and let it run for an additional five minutes.
- Reinstall the air cleaner — If the Power Foam has done its job and the engine is running how it should, turn it off and reinstall the air cleaner. If not, repeat treatment of Power Foam.
- Change your oil — In four-stroke engines, make sure you switch out the oil before using the equipment again; any potential contaminants that may have gathered in the oil during Power Foam treatment will be removed.
AMSOIL’s Power Foam should allow your engine to start effortlessly, run its best, and provide more power.