How do I clean this stuff on top of my pistons?
05-23-2005, 12:03 PM
#1
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How do I clean this stuff on top of my pistons? Pulled the heads and found my pistons and valves coated with this crap. How do you clean it off without damaging/scratching the piston?
05-23-2005, 12:47 PM
#2
Brake cleaner and a green scruby work, or gm topend cleaner. Get a shop vac pot and suck all of the old gasket and carbon material out of bolt holes and water jackets. Some welding shops sell toothbrush sized wire brushes, the brissals arent the coarse to scratch the pistons. Also put each cylinder a TDC when cleaning
05-23-2005, 01:32 PM
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Are they stock pistons? Don't use anything but brake cleaner(or similar) and some rags. Any brush or scraper will gouge cast pistons and cause you more headaches than you need. If you put any sharp edges or leave any carbon "edgy" you'll be prime for detonation.
05-23-2005, 08:55 PM
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Brake cleaner will really clean that carbon off? I got some valves I need to clean as well and if I can just soak them without scrubbing, i'm all for that..
Dan
Dan
05-23-2005, 09:09 PM
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The ideal solvent is Carbon Tetrachloride which was once available at any drugstore but is now difficult to obtain because it is a hazard to life on Earth. I used Easy-Off Oven Cleaner instead which is only hazardous to Aluminum. I don't know HOW hazardous - probably minimally so long as exposure time is limited. It removes that carbon gunk like magic.
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05-23-2005, 10:03 PM
#8
Staging Lane
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Thanks for the info. Its running colder plugs (Tr6's) and I haven't sprayed for the longest time. Then I went and sprayed and busted the #7 intake valvespring (2 year old Manley singles), that's why I pulled the heads. Anyway, I figured that if the heads were coming off, might as well freshen stuff in there while I'm at it. So putting on PP LS6 style Stage 2 heads, Comp Lifters, timing chain, new pump, etc. But the crap on the pistons and chamber/valves got me wondering...
Is this the carbon buildup that should be expected from running the colder TR6's and NOT spraying in a long time?
Is this the carbon buildup that should be expected from running the colder TR6's and NOT spraying in a long time?
05-25-2005, 06:02 AM
#11
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Brake cleaner and a shitload of good rags,
some coarser and some smoother for final clean when aluminum is exposed.
Do not use any abrasive material on those pistons, that alum is soft.
some coarser and some smoother for final clean when aluminum is exposed.
Do not use any abrasive material on those pistons, that alum is soft.
05-25-2005, 08:37 AM
#12
blaster or other penatrating oil cuts the carbon, brake/carb cleaner worked for me also. DUE NOT USE ANYTHING THAT IS A STONG BASE. oven cleaner uses caustic soda (sodium hydroxide). it melts aluminum. even if you dont see it immediatly it damages the surface structure and erodes later.
