Watch: How to Use AMSOIL Power Foam®

AMSOIL Power Foam helps remove carburetor and engine deposits in two- and four-stroke engines, helping them run better. Here's how...

July 13, 2020

One of the biggest reasons people junk their lawnmower, string trimmer, chainsaw or other equipment is because it starts hard and runs rough. The problem is often a dirty carburetor or carbon buildup in the engine, and the solution is AMSOIL Power Foam.

How the carburetor gets dirty

Over time, oxygen deteriorates the gasoline in the carb, leading to the formation of varnish and other deposits that stick the float, block the screens and plug the tiny fuel passages.

The result? Fuel that doesn’t flow properly and an arm nearly ripped from its socket from fruitlessly yanking the starter cord.

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ECHO Piston

Engine deposits are another problem

Carbon buildup creates additional problems.

The combustion chamber grows intensely hot during operation. Heat breaks down motor oil, creating carbon that can lodge in the ring lands and cause the piston rings to stick.

Stuck rings reduce engine compression, which makes starting more difficult and can cause the engine to run rough.

Gasoline byproducts can form deposits on the piston crown, which can lead to pre-ignition. That’s when a super-heated chunk of carbon ignites the fuel/air mixture before the spark plug fires, causing a shock wave in the cylinder that can lead to piston damage.

In two-stroke engines, deposits can block the exhaust port or spark arrestor screen, choking off airflow and leading to rough-running. If bad enough, the engine will quit running altogether.

ECHO Exhaust Port
String trimmer exhaust port plugged with carbon deposits, causing it to run poorly.

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Prevention is the best medicine

An effective way to prevent a hard-starting, rough-running lawnmower or other equipment is to treat gas with gasoline stabilizer prior to storage and to periodically clean the carburetor and combustion chamber with a good fuel additive.

If your engine and carburetor are already dirty and causing grief, clean them with AMSOIL Power Foam. It’s a potent cleaning agent that…

  • Cleans deposits from ethanol and degraded fuel
  • Removes gum and varnish
  • Maximizes horsepower
  • Restores startability
  • Helps improve fuel economy
  • Reduces pollution
AMSOIL Power Foam

How to Use AMSOIL Power Foam

Power Foam will not damage seals, gaskets, rubber or plastic materials commonly used in gasoline engines. And, as the video shows, it is simple to use.

Time needed: 20 minutes.

How to use AMSOIL Power Foam

  1. Drain the gasoline

    Remove the old gasoline from the fuel tank. This ensures problems with difficult starting or rough running aren’t due to stale gasoline. Refill the tank with fresh gas.

  2. Remove the air cleaner

    To use Power Foam, you need to remove the air-cleaner assembly and air filter. This provides ready access to the intake.

  3. Start the engine and administer Power Foam

    Either outside or in a well-ventilated area, start the engine and spray Power Foam into the throttle body as fast as possible without stalling the engine. It’s normal to create considerable white exhaust smoke and smell a distinct odor. You may need to rev the engine to prevent it from stalling.

  4. Continue spraying Power Foam

    The amount of Power Foam you’ll need depends on the size of the application, but, as a rule of thumb, continue spraying Power Foam until the engine runs smoothly. Then give it one last shot to choke out the engine.

  5. Let the engine sit

    Allow the engine to sit for five minutes. This allows Power Foam to dissolve carbon deposits.

  6. Restart the engine

    Then, start the engine again and let it run another five minutes.

  7. Reinstall the air cleaner

    If the engine is now running properly, shut it down and reinstall the air cleaner. If not, repeat treatment of Power Foam.

  8. Change oil

    In four-stroke engines, change the oil prior to using the equipment again. This removes any contaminants that may have accumulated in the oil during treatment with Power Foam.

After using Power Foam, your engine should start more easily, run better and have more power.

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