Marc '99T/A

iTrader: (22)

I'm in the middle of a H/C swap and while I'm cleaning the old head gasket material off, should I worry about cleaning the top of the pistons? If so, with what?

ZZebes

iTrader: (10)

wouldnt hurt to bring them to TDC and use a Non abrasive cleaner and a scotch brite pad to clean them, hell use some seafoam since it wont hurt if ingested into the oil. and then just clean them up nice and shiny and you should be good

CNTLSE 1

iTrader: (11)

hey there sunshine I just finished my H/C swap. good times. I left my pistons alone

Halloran

iTrader: (7)

I just cleaned mine during my head swap and they look brand spankin' new. I used some brake cleaner and an emory cloth to get as much off as possible then I carefully used a flat razor blade to peel up the rest of the gunk that wouldn't come off with the cleaner. Then finish up again with brake cleaner and cloth. You'll be surprised at what they'll look like with a little elbow grease. Also, it's much easier to turn the crank bolt to raise 2 pistons to the top at a time.

Daredevil_TA

iTrader: (6)

Aw, c'mon thats the best natural way to up your compression haha, jk but I think if you let too much of it stay on there it can cause pre-ignition which is bad.

DONAIMIAN

iTrader: (18)

Youre already there so clean it off.

speed_demon24

iTrader: (6)

Gasket remover + brush takes it right off.

BriancWS6

iTrader: (18)

There wasnt hardly any carbon build up on mine when I did my H/C swap last summer. Mainly just discoloration, which is to be expected. I guess it's cause I keep her blowed out on a regular basis

bsf

iTrader: (7)

+1 on Permatex Gasket Remover.

I did not even use a brush. It just sloughs off. The key is to really soak it. If everything does not wipe right off, just soak it again.

Krab

iTrader: (28)

I cleaned mine off also, might as well since you're right there. I used a razor to carefully take off the stubborn buildup, then just wiped it clean with some WD-40 and a shop cloth. Looked pretty damn new when I was done.

Formulated

iTrader: (16)

Never pass up the opportunity to clean engine parts, especially pistons and chambers.

Gauge

iTrader: (3)

Seriously, does it do any good? I've had my heads off a few times, and I never bothered since I figured it would come right back in a hundred miles or less.

TAQuickness

iTrader: (28)

It helps. Carbon buildup eventually creates hot-spots

Randy WS6

iTrader: (69)

I use lacquer thinner ,it just melts it a way.

JimMueller

iTrader: (9)

I didn't want to clean mine so I bought new pistons

Gauge

iTrader: (3)

A man after my own heart!

stealth71

iTrader: (15)

Gasket Remover is the key to this.

jub jub

A clean piston is a happy piston!

Bill Bowling

iTrader: (6)

I am going to clean mine real good when I replace the heads in a few weeks.

Bill

helicoil

iTrader: (104)

I used a razor blade and it scraped right off. Must have been an easy .015" there. What is that about a 1/2 point of compression?