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View Full Version : what do you use to manually remove carbon deposits



Mordan
08-29-2008, 02:29 PM
Hey,

I heard about sea foam but that for use when engine is running.

let's say a cylinder head/piston is removed and needs to be cleaned?

plastic scrapper but what solvent / spray?

thank you.

Bill R.
08-29-2008, 05:26 PM
pistons and combustion chambers i would use any cheap carburator spray cleaner such as berrymans etc. They'll dissolve the carbon, things like brake spray cleaner won't.




Hey,

I heard about sea foam but that for use when engine is running.

let's say a cylinder head/piston is removed and needs to be cleaned?

plastic scrapper but what solvent / spray?

thank you.

sneekens
08-29-2008, 11:55 PM
carb/choke cleaner...

bsell
08-30-2008, 02:19 AM
Hey,

I heard about sea foam but that for use when engine is running.

let's say a cylinder head/piston is removed and needs to be cleaned?

plastic scrapper but what solvent / spray?

thank you.

Good call on the plastic utensil as most pistons/heads are made of aluminum, which can 'grab' steel brushes, causing hot spots and pre-ignition/detonation later. (Think mini-glowplugs)

Have you access to a bead blaster? They are the bomb when it comes to removing stubborn deposits. Folks say the beads pound down the miniture peaks in the metal, leading to less pre-ignition/detonation. Kind of a two-birds-with-one-stone kind of thing...

Brian

Mordan
08-31-2008, 03:41 PM
I have tried my carb cleaner but i'm not satisfied with it.

I looked at Bead Blasting. Used on pool tile or glass
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=oeKCHgp3mgo&NR=1

never head of that before.

thx for the input.!

Jr ///M5
08-31-2008, 03:59 PM
Whatever way you choose, make sure to use a wet/dry vac to keep any deposits out of the ring landings.

I cleaned the piston tops on my M5 using carb cleaner and a plastic scraper. It took 6 hours of labor to get them spotless. Afterward, I heard of an Aircraft paint stripper that you can get at your local parts store that you could just wipe the carbon off with one swipe and it was safe for aluminum. You might look into that method if you're not into the labor end of the project.

JR

Ross
09-01-2008, 09:35 AM
If the pistons are out you put 'em in the dishwasher also. At your own risk with the wife of course.

Jon K
09-01-2008, 11:32 AM
If the pistons are you can soda blast them wet