Any system with moving parts would work best if it doesn’t have impurities and deposits clogging it. Motors follow that natural law too, and that’s normal.
The fuel used to run any engine is made from hydrocarbons. These substances pass through the fuel injection pathways until they reach the engine where they combust to create energy.
The combustion process also produces charred carbon, an amount of humidity, and various other impurities. Even a brand new car has these deposits after a few months of usage. Over time, the accumulation of impurities chokes up the car, affects its performance negatively, and reduces its mileage per gallon.
It’s wise then to use an engine cleaner that would reduce these deposits and keep the car running at top form. There are several brands in the market, but two of them, in particular, stand out. Here’s a detailed comparison of Techron vs. Seafoam.
Read on to the very end to know which one is our favorite product!
What Are the Main Differences Between Techron and Seafoam?
Techron and Seafoam have been around for decades. The two brands are often recommended by mechanics, car manufacturers, and other car owners. It’s actually a bit difficult to pick one of them as the best in the industry, but we found some fundamental points that set them apart.
Overview
This is a brief, but necessary, introduction to each brand. Let’s see what each one is all about.
Techron
Chevron is currently one of the largest global producers of oil, and together with Exxon Mobil, it sits comfortably on the top spot. The actual start of Chevron was in 1879 under the name of Pacific Coast Oil Co. it grew over the years and diversified its services to an admirable degree. One of its innovations is Techron.
The Chevron Techron brand is quite familiar to global users, and it has gained public trust since its release in 1981. That’s probably because of the extensive effort that went into its development and testing phases. At the time Techron hit the market, it was an instant success.
Some gas stations, like Chevron and Caltex, include Techron within the gas that they sell. Many car owners developed the routine of doing a thorough clean every 3000 miles, then filling up their tanks with Techron infused gas.
Seafoam
Seafoam was founded in 1942, which makes it an industry leader and big-name brand. Seafoam fared quite well since its inception as well. It outperformed the competition in almost every way, and up to this day, it’s considered by many as the best fuel additive.
There’s a broad range of specialized products from Seafoam that serve the requirements of every type of engine. Three of them are especially popular, which are the gas & diesel cleaner, truck & SUV, and the high mileage motor.
Performance
An engine cleaner is supposed to achieve some basic goals:
- Clean the deposits from the engine and fuel system
- Improve fuel consumption
- Extend the longevity of the engine
- Eliminate or decrease engine noises
Let’s see how far each fuel additive fulfills these requirements. And whether one of the brands excels at a specific function more than the others.
Techron
Techron claims that this additive removes up to 50% of the carbon deposits, which leaves the car engine in top-notch condition. And this is achieved in a very short period, just as soon as you’ve done 4500 miles.
It also cleans up the whole fuel system, and that contributes directly to the economy of fuel consumption.
Seafoam
In addition to fulfilling all the abovementioned requirements, Seafoam also lubricates the system.
Its chemical composition allows it to mix with oil, and that’s why you can use it as a fuel or oil additive. Most users do both, especially, before oil changes.
This makes for a well-maintained engine, much fewer noises, and even a revival of engines that have seen plenty of mileage.
User Experience
User experience is among the most important factors to consider as you decide to buy anything. Individual opinions are sometimes biased positively or negatively, but they still shed some light on the nuances of a product.
Additionally, some of the users’ insights are quite helpful, and could potentially save you a lot of time and effort.
Techron
Most platforms reveal user satisfaction levels that range from 80-92% with thousands of verified purchases taken into account. This is quite impressive and reflects a high amount of trust and customer loyalty.
A couple of minor points arose with some users: the unpleasant smell of Techron and the difficulty of opening the seal of the container. While the smell was unfixable, a lot of users recommended using a key to pierce the seal rather than peel it.
One user complained that despite the long neck of the container, it still spilled as he tilted it to fill up the tank. There was some good advice to use a small plastic bucket, and that way, all the spills wouldn’t reach the floor.
One of the best reviews said that the user always thought of fuel additives as ‘placebo’, but having used Techron, he realized that it was the real deal.
It’s actually a circulating myth that these cleaners are useless, or at best, contribute to a slight improvement in performance. However, the majority of users’ stories say otherwise. Overall, the users were quite happy with the performance of their cars or other engines. The broad range of products was also frequently applauded.
Seafoam
This additive minimizes the evaporation of stored fuel, cleans up the deposits in the oil cycle, and makes starting the engine a breeze every time. That is in addition to its many other basic perks.
It’s not surprising that it has upwards of 96% user satisfaction, after tallying tens of thousands of user reviews. Most users rave about the cleaning capabilities of Seafoam and evident engine optimization.
Environmental Considerations
In our day and age, this has become an important issue for many users. Both products are EPA certified, so that’s good, but do they improve the engine’s harmful emissions?
Techron
The front page of the Techron site clearly outlines the emissions point. There’s a full description in another section of how Techron achieves a substantial un such emissions.
This additive attacks the carbon deposits that abound inside the engine, and thus increases the efficiency of fuel burning and decreases the unwanted emissions.
Seafoam
Seafoam is also quite conscious environmentally. They work on reducing emissions in a similar fashion to what Techron does. And in addition to that, the additive also manages the humidity content of the fuel, thus optimizing fuel combustion.
Price
It’s not unusual for products that compete head-to-head to have a similar price tag. There are slight differences though in size.
Techron
Techron comes in various package sizes and economy offers. Generally, the 20 Oz Techron container is available. Compared to other brands, this isn’t bad at all.
Seafoam
The most popular Seafoam container, which is the one for gas and diesel, is the 16 Oz, and it’s usually offered at a similar range, in a slightly smaller size.
Conclusion
A fuel additive is anything but a gimmick. It’s a necessary maintenance tool that makes the engine sing, and the whole driving experience becomes far more enjoyable. Additionally, it extends the longevity of the engine, is good for fuel consumption economy, and reduces harmful emissions.
Both Techron and Seafoam are amazing fuel additives, but we lean a bit more towards Seafoam. It does a great job at cleaning the fuel system, the engine, and the oil cycle. Its double-duty as a lubricant and cleaner is highly beneficial to any car.