What is Sea Foam Motor Treatment made of? [SOLVED]

Love the question, Al! Sea Foam Motor Treatment is made using ONLY organic petroleum ingredients that work to clean and lubricate. It does NOT have harsh detergents or abrasive chemicals that can harm your engine or fuel system components. In summary, it’s a blend of three petroleum cleaning and lubricating oils that work together as a cleaner, lubricant, and to stabilize fuel. Use Sea Foam with confidence!

My vehicle states not to use manganese or metallic products as a fuel additive. Metallic products are not organic, so I’d say there is none in Sea Foam. But there are many manganese products that are organic. Does Sea Foam contain manganese in any form?
I’m a longtime Sea Foam user. But I don’t want to put it in this vehicle if I’m not supposed to.

Good question, Elijah.

“Manganese” or Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) is an organomanganese compound with the formula Mn(CO)₃. Initially marketed as a supplement for use in leaded gasoline, MMT was later used in unleaded gasoline to increase the octane rating. Sea Foam products have no ingredients that effect octane rating. Interestingly, manganese was used in aviation fuels as an “anti-knock” additive during WW2.

“Metallic fuel additives” are listed as manganese, iron, copper, barium, cerium and platinum. Ultimately, your owners manual is telling you not to use any octane modifying or catalytic activity products in your fuel system.

You are safe to use Sea Foam Products in your vehicle. Our Sea Foam products are made from 100% highly refined petroleum ingredients and do not contain any harsh chemicals or cleaners. And will not affect octane rating in any way.

Thanks for using Sea Foam!

Does Seafoam contain methanol alcohol? I use Seafoam and buy it by the gallon BUT want to know what is in it. Thank you

Hi Dan – Sea Foam does not contain methyl alcohol (methanol).

Does Sea Foam Motor Treatment contain PEA?

Hi Mike,
Sea Foam Motor Treatment does not contain PEA. Sea Foam is made of petroleum cleaning and lubricating ingredients. It works by reliquefying heavier fuel and oil forms, not a detergent (like PEA) that breaks things up.

Does Sea Foam gas additive contain alcohol?

Sea Foam Motor Treatment does have a small amount of isopropyl alcohol. Here’s a note about isopropyl from one of our blog posts about choosing the best Sea Foam treatment for your engine:

Isopropyl alcohol (derived from petroleum) is very well-known for its ability to effectively solubilize water in fuel. Additionally, isopropyl is an excellent fuel residue cleaner. Unlike ethyl alcohol (derived from grain), isopropyl is not corrosive and does not have the same ability to draw moisture from the atmosphere. While there’s often confusion about the different types of alcohol and how they work in a fuel additive, isopropyl is a safe and effective petroleum-based ingredient. In any case, some Sea Foam products include a small amount of isopropyl and some do not.