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DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: 16v of Fury on June 23, 2007, 01:35:29 PM

Title: Removing Buildup on Pistons
Post by: 16v of Fury on June 23, 2007, 01:35:29 PM

After removing the cylinder head on my M42 to change the head gasket, it was apparent that there are 16 years of buildup on the tops of the pistons.  There is flaky black carbon on the piston tops - maybe because the car wasn't properly tuned up on a regular basis.

Is there a simple way to wear this buildup down?  What if I use a couple bottles something like Redline SI-2 in consecutive tanks of gas?

Any ideas?

I don't want to take the engine apart just to clean off the pistons, but would like to clean it up as much as possible while I've got the head off.

Thanks!

Title: Removing Buildup on Pistons
Post by: e9nine on June 23, 2007, 01:36:47 PM

Oven cleaner and a firm yet soft bristle brush is what I have heard. There's a few other tricks out there.

Title: Removing Buildup on Pistons
Post by: dlmrun2002 on June 23, 2007, 02:11:49 PM

soak in Keorsenne......

Title: Removing Buildup on Pistons
Post by: tjts1 on June 23, 2007, 03:25:57 PM

Quote from: dlmrun2002;28353

soak in Keorsenne......

+1

Title: Removing Buildup on Pistons
Post by: 16v of Fury on June 23, 2007, 04:24:30 PM

How 'bout Seafoam?

Title: Removing Buildup on Pistons
Post by: Eurospec on June 23, 2007, 09:01:36 PM

I recommend BG44k instead. Pour it in your gas with about 1/4 or less gas left in the tank and drive the car hard. It's recommended to do the treatment prior to an oil change. You should notice a difference.

Title: Removing Buildup on Pistons
Post by: JHZR2 on June 23, 2007, 10:40:19 PM

+1, cannot over-emphasize the fact that you should perform at least one oil change immediately, then one shortly thereafter.  An encapsulating cleaner such as Auto-RX would be smart for oil treatment during this process, in the fill after doing it.

A soak with Lubecontrol's LC20 helps, a lot... You may be able to even do it via the spark plug holes on other engines.

JMH