Do these pistons look ok?

[Hoytster]

Just got the head's off tonight and it's amazing how clearly you can see the cross-hatching still in the cylinder bore. The piston's look a little caked with carbon build up...

Do you think this?

Caused this?

It's hard to see in the pictures, but the number 3 piston has carbon that is actually starting to peel and flake off the piston. The thermostat was put in over the summer and was working fine. I drove the car for about 500-800 miles this winter and the engine would not warm up, now I know why.

What should I use to get the carbon off the pistons?

 

[bill302]

if check engine light is not illuminated i would think the carbon buildup was caused by the thermostat stuck open causing engine to run too cool,to remove i would use gas and a rag but not too much gas as to have gas pass by rings into crankcase, just dampen rag and rub and i would change oil before restart...

 

[69clark]

I think the haynes manual I have states to just carefully scrape it off, but that was with the pistons out of the motor. Don't think it would be a great idea to do it the motor.

As for the gas idea, I could be wrong but I don't think that gas will hardly touch that carbon buildup. I think you will need something stronger.

 

[Hoytster]

I was thinking gas wouldn't really do much, that stuff is really on there. I'm wondering if a small metal brush would take the majority of it off, though I would be worried about doing it while the piston's are in the engine.

 

[bimmertech]

go get a bottle of GM's top engine cleaner.

pour it right on to the piston and let it soak overnight. it is kinda thick so it won't bleed into the crankcase to quick.

with the heads off you should change the oil before you crank it up anyways.

 

[bill302]

i don't think gas would do much either but its the only thing i think that would be safe but i would to try to wipe it down to see if it might help a little but your best bet might be to put it back together and suck some seafoam into a vacuum line...i would not brush, scrape or take any chance getting any debris between piston and rings in this case it would be better to leave it alone and when you reach proper temp in the engine along with some seafoam it should clean itself...

 

[69clark]

I agree about not scraping or brushing while in the engine, worse problems could result.

 

[Hoytster]

I'll go ahead and take your guys opinion on that

I'll see what I can get off with gas. I also have some professional intake cleaner (made by heartland) that might help disolve the carbon a little better. Does anybody see anything wrong with doing that?

 

[bimmertech]

go get a bottle of GM's top engine cleaner.

the stuff works, way better than seafoam can think of.

seriously used it back in my chebby days and it always works. i have like 3 cans here at home.

 

[Hoytster]

Bimmertech, I didn't even see your post ealier.

Do you know if I can get that stuff at a GM dealer? I tried looking on the internet for a description but didn't find anything.


That's going to hurt walking into a GM dealership



*edit* Found it, GM part number 1050002

 

[bimmertech]

Bimmertech, I didn't even see your post ealier.

noone ever does.

Do you know if I can get that stuff at a GM dealer?

that is where i get it

 

[Hoytster]

Thanks for the info!

 

[go-stang5.0]

OR....you could look at it this way. Free increase in compression ratio!

 

[Yobi1Kanobi]

I have actually taken a wire "scrubber" on a drill with a low setting and clean mine up , use very little speed and pressure with the cylinder at TDC. hey it worked for me.

 

[mytight95]

i did the same as above with a scotch brite wheel as to not get any loose wires etc. into the ring land area.....


shined em up nicely...


jason

 

[RIO5.0]

I use a wet vac when cleaning gasket or that carbon as I clean em....Roll it up top, start the vac and have at it...you can run around it and suck up anything that fall's over the edge of the piston...
I shoot the walls with WD40 to keep the rust from happening as it comes round quickly..

 

[94gts]

my pistons were relatively clean because off all the nitrous they saw

 

[SWYZ721]

OR....you could look at it this way. Free increase in compression ratio!

Yea, but you're also displacing "would be" oxygen.

 

[Hoytster]

I was wondering if I could just use a vac. to suck up the particles as I scrape them off, but I wasn't sure if I'd still have some bad after effects by doing that.

Kind of reminds me when I was younger and I'd cut my own hair, my mom would be behind me with a vac to suck up all the hair so she didn't have to clean as much

 

[WhiteDevil]

I also brought each one up to TDC and then used a wirebristled drill head to clean off my pistons. Got them nice and shiny too. THen i blew them out with compressed air afterwards. Worked well and that was like 10k miles ago.