The Ford Barn

36tudordeluxe · 05-01-2014, 07:22 PM

After disassembly is there an at home method to remove carbon deposits from piston tops and combustion chambers, or is this best left to a machine shop?

Brian · 05-01-2014, 07:43 PM

I've found aerosol cans of brakecleaner to soften deposits allowing easy removal with a scotchbrite cloth.

jake197000 · 05-01-2014, 10:00 PM

we used to gently use a wire wheel in a bench grinder to clean piston tops,just be gentle.dont do the sides.we also used a small twisted wire wheel in a drill for the chambers.i think oven cleaner my work also.

36tudordeluxe · 05-01-2014, 10:55 PM

Thanks guys, will try your suggestions.

Sixseven · 05-02-2014, 01:50 AM

I have a gallon paint can shaped container that I just submerge the whole piston into. Rings rod, everything. I leave it overnight and the hardened carbon sluffs right off with a careful scraping and scotchbrite pads.. Carb cleaner is very hazardous, wear proper material gloves (nitrile?) and eye protection.

Mart · 05-02-2014, 02:42 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

^^^

Sixseven, what do you use in the container as a solvent?

Mart.

tiger.1000 · 05-02-2014, 04:56 AM

Isn't de-coking an engine a thing of the past ....in the days of sub-standard petrol and lubricants?

scooder · 05-02-2014, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiger.1000

Isn't de-coking an engine a thing of the past ....in the days of sub-standard petrol and lubricants?

Nope, everything I've pulled the head off needed de-coking, if it ain't been off in a while. Don't know about they modern fuel injection things, I've never had the displeasure of owning one.
Martin.

1952henry · 05-02-2014, 11:04 AM

I am just finishing putting the fuel rail/injectors on my Gov't Motors 3.8 V6. The tips of the injectors were carboned up and there was a lot of crud/carbon in the intake runners.

Another one of GM's cover ups was the plastic plenum getting cooked/warped from the egr valve. This allowed coolant seepage into the actual intake. Luckily mine wasn't so bad, as it only burned some coolant rather than getting hydro-locked by a lot of coolant. I just had the displeasure of replacing the plenum, gasket, intake gaskets, injector o-rings, plugs, and wires.

AKCJ · 05-02-2014, 01:51 PM

I recently cleaned carbon from piston tops using oven cleaner. Worked way better than brakleen.

Sixseven · 05-02-2014, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mart

^^^

Sixseven, what do you use in the container as a solvent?

Mart.

It was a can of carb cleaner. The carb cleaner came in a gallon can very similar to a gallon paint can and has a basket in it. Just regular chlorinated solvent.

05-01-2014, 07:22 PM	#1
36tudordeluxe Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 1,260	Carbon removal on heads and pistons? After disassembly is there an at home method to remove carbon deposits from piston tops and combustion chambers, or is this best left to a machine shop?

05-01-2014, 07:43 PM	#2
Brian Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Masterton, New Zealand Posts: 3,834	Re: Carbon removal on heads and pistons? I've found aerosol cans of brakecleaner to soften deposits allowing easy removal with a scotchbrite cloth. __________________ Unfortunately, two half wits don't make a whole wit!

05-01-2014, 10:00 PM	#3
jake197000 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 350	Re: Carbon removal on heads and pistons? we used to gently use a wire wheel in a bench grinder to clean piston tops,just be gentle.dont do the sides.we also used a small twisted wire wheel in a drill for the chambers.i think oven cleaner my work also.

05-01-2014, 10:55 PM	#4
36tudordeluxe Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 1,260	Re: Carbon removal on heads and pistons? Thanks guys, will try your suggestions.

05-02-2014, 01:50 AM	#5
Sixseven Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 482	Re: Carbon removal on heads and pistons? I have a gallon paint can shaped container that I just submerge the whole piston into. Rings rod, everything. I leave it overnight and the hardened carbon sluffs right off with a careful scraping and scotchbrite pads.. Carb cleaner is very hazardous, wear proper material gloves (nitrile?) and eye protection.

05-02-2014, 02:42 AM	#6
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,752	Re: Carbon removal on heads and pistons? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) ^^^ Sixseven, what do you use in the container as a solvent? Mart.

05-02-2014, 04:56 AM	#7
tiger.1000 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Hertford (UK) Posts: 905	Re: Carbon removal on heads and pistons? Isn't de-coking an engine a thing of the past ....in the days of sub-standard petrol and lubricants?

05-02-2014, 11:04 AM	#9
1952henry Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: North Dakota Posts: 1,619	Re: Carbon removal on heads and pistons? I am just finishing putting the fuel rail/injectors on my Gov't Motors 3.8 V6. The tips of the injectors were carboned up and there was a lot of crud/carbon in the intake runners. Another one of GM's cover ups was the plastic plenum getting cooked/warped from the egr valve. This allowed coolant seepage into the actual intake. Luckily mine wasn't so bad, as it only burned some coolant rather than getting hydro-locked by a lot of coolant. I just had the displeasure of replacing the plenum, gasket, intake gaskets, injector o-rings, plugs, and wires. __________________ I dig coal, which provides motivation for EVs.

05-02-2014, 01:51 PM	#10
AKCJ Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska Posts: 92	Re: Carbon removal on heads and pistons? I recently cleaned carbon from piston tops using oven cleaner. Worked way better than brakleen.