Best way to clean carbon off pistons??

[Cobra351]

What is the best way to clean the carbon off the tops of my pistons,before i install my new heads? Any good cleaning stuff?
Thanks, Phil.

 

[moneypit94]

yeah blow a head gasket... that worked for me... My pistons look like new now...

I wouldn't even worry about it unless there was some major build up... Enen then it will only help performance by raising the compression...

 

[zenboy99]

Carbon on the pistons might also increase detonation though.

 

[moneypit94]

Carbon on the pistons might also increase detonation though.

I would think there would have to be some serious build up to amount to anything anyway and if there was then you probably have some other problems that need to be addressed...

 

[stang_gt_1994]

Brake cleaner and a wire brush, watch out for the cylinder walls though.

 

[blksn955.o]

put it back together and run a n2o shot. that should clean up some of the carbon.

When I was cleaning my deck serf. I used a drill with a wire wheel and rotated the pistons to TDC and also hit them up and to try and keep the crap out of the cyl. as much as possible. I then used parts cleaner to clean up and an air hose (with air gun) to blow any little stuff out from between the cyl./piston.

 

[HoofnIt]

I've heard that you can run a small amount of brake fluid through the throttle body while the car is running. This would obviously have to be done prior to tearing the engine down.

 

[DirtyD916]

carb cleaner and a rag.

 

[blown93feature]

I used accetone, be careful the s*** is lethal but it works well.

 

[Cobra351]

Thanks for the replies.I will try some suggestions here.Think I will skip the n2o for now though would be my luck I would be pulling those heads back off after the first spray.

 

[Zero Signal]

Quote:
Originally Posted by zenboy99
Carbon on the pistons might also increase detonation though.
I would think there would have to be some serious build up to amount to anything anyway and if there was then you probably have some other problems that need to be addressed...

I think it's not the buildup taking up volume that creates the detonation, it's that the carbon gets super hot and pre-ignites it. I think.

Anyway, I heard the brake fluid through the throttle body works, but I didn't want to fudge up the sensors so I had Brake Max run their so called innovative carbon cleaning techique, it didn't do anything for performance or my pinging.

 

[WHITE94COBRA]

Simple green and carb cleaner while the car is running at around 1500 - 2000 rpm. Car will almost die but cleans the hell out of the pistons.

 

[tmoss]

Just took a razor blade and scaped mine off with the shap vac running to suck up the carbon.

 

[zenboy99]

"I think it's not the buildup taking up volume that creates the detonation, it's that the carbon gets super hot and pre-ignites it. I think."

Yep thats right, carbon creates hot spots that ignites the gasses. Thats what caused the old carbueratored cars to "diesel"