Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) What the heck is the best way to

[RSP]

Get the carbon off the tops of the pistons? That stuff is hard as a rock. BG guy gave me a can of stuff and said It would take it right off LOL Ya right. Didnt even soften the stuff.

 

[KingS]

dip a paper towel or rag in antifreeze wipe around the top about three time it should be almost if not all gone, but make sure the rag is dripping wet and the dry the piston off with a clean rag.

 

[RSP]

Anti Freeze, Really?

 

[Matt42]

Anti Freeze, Really?

Really. I had a Mazda GLC 4 cylinder gas engine that got a coolant leak into a cylinder, but not the oil. It was one clean piston.



Unfortunately, it was utterly destroyed because the $#@& head repair shop that had heliarced the head a year earlier didn't get the combustion chamber size right, and that one cylinder also ran (I surmise) 17:1 compression. Maybe it was the compression that kept it clean, but I digress.

 

[ALehman]

sandblasting the piston will do. You just have to really clean the ring lands with fine grit paper to remove anything that could stick a ring

 

[RSP]

Well I got news for you, Antifreeze didnt do it. That fancy BG stuff didnt do it. Solvent didnt do it, And a friend told me Coke would do it with no problem Well It didnt do it either.

 

[WDixon27]

actually it's the steam it makes during combustion that does it, smearing it on ain't the same thing

Really. I had a Mazda GLC 4 cylinder gas engine that got a coolant leak into a cylinder, but not the oil. It was one clean piston.



Unfortunately, it was utterly destroyed because the $#@& head repair shop that had heliarced the head a year earlier didn't get the combustion chamber size right, and that one cylinder also ran (I surmise) 17:1 compression. Maybe it was the compression that kept it clean, but I digress.

 

[Matt42]

That makes sense. Sort of an expensive steam cleaning.

 

[RacinDuallie]

Are the pistons in the block or out?? Glassbeading is better over the sand...

 

[RSP]

They are out, I ended up useing scotch brite pads and a nylon bristle buffing wheel, It got 95% of it off. Was not a fun job :{

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Man what were you burning for fuel?? I didn't have too much trouble cleaning carbon off my '96's pistons. I used a strong mix of Castrol degreaser stuff and brake parts cleaner. Engine had 353,000 miles at that point (first time head was removed).



When I pulled the head again 35,000 miles later piston tops had next to nothing on them, cleanup was a breeze.



Vaughn

 

[KingS]

yea mine has 264,000 on it and I just wipe them with antifreeze and came right off they looked like new shiny and so did the cylinders oh well each truck is different so to each his own.

 

[RSP]

Antifreeze didnt cut it. I dont know what kind of fuel he ran, I bought this engine with a blown HG and decided to Ring and bearing it. Coke seems to be working if I soak them long enough.

 

[moparguy]

I usually just take em to the bench grinder with a wire brush wheel.



HOWEVER, do not wire brush the ring grooves. You've got to perserve the sharp 90deg. transition of goove to piston sides. A brush can cause the rings to slop around in the grooves and not seal properly.



I know, ya already knew this, the last point was for those guys that might be new. LOL



Good luck, RR

 

[WDixon27]

me too with a soft or medium wheel

I usually just take em to the bench grinder with a wire brush wheel.



HOWEVER, do not wire brush the ring grooves. You've got to perserve the sharp 90deg. transition of goove to piston sides. A brush can cause the rings to slop around in the grooves and not seal properly.



I know, ya already knew this, the last point was for those guys that might be new. LOL



Good luck, RR