95ImpySS
01-19-2011, 09:45 PM
I’ve rebuilt dozens of engines in the past few years both gasoline and LPG. I have had to clean countless pistons and cylinder heads. At work we have tried multiple methods of carbon removal. Soaking in mineral sprits, lacquer thinner, water, citrus based degreasers, PB blaster, brakleen. Tried bead, walnut, and aluminum oxide blasting, wire wheeling, scraping, and lots and lots of elbow grease ;)
I did not want to use any abrasives on my pistons because I did not want to harm the surface. (generator motors at work could care less about surface quality) Bead blasting can leave particles in the soft piston only to be released when it reaches operating temperature. Wire wheeling removes any coatings and creates craters or scratches in which more carbon can easily attach to. The other methods are much too harsh or just don’t work all that well.
I recently decided to try soaking my OE pistons in Berrymans B-12 Chemtool. This stuff is AMAZING!! I have never seen anything eat carbon like this stuff. After about 30 mins of soaking, you can scrape, rinse or brush off %75 of the carbon. So I decided to share my experience with the LTx community…. Here is my best method of cleaning carbon off pistons.
1: Run out to your local auto parts store and pick up 5 (10 if you plan to do 8 at once) cans of Berrymans B-12 Chemtool in non aerosol bottles. They are about the same size as a can of SeaFoam. 3 cans of brakleen. Also pick up a plastic scraper and a soft bristled brush. Mine came in a pack with 3 other metal brushes. This would also be a good time to purchase some high ply Nitrile gloves. This is a nasty chemical and it will dry your hands out. But you could always go about cleaning bare back. Your skin will grow back eventually.
6130
2: Visit your local supermarket and get 2, 5lb loaf pans. (get 4 pans to do all 8 at once) Make sure they can fit your pistons. 2 for $5.00 at WinDixe :D
6131
3: Remove the piston rings and place pistons top side down into the pans. Then fill up until the level is just over the wrist pin. Then let soak for about 30 minuets or 3 beers.
6128
4: Remove pistons, and scrape any heavily built up carbon into the trash or a rag. At this point most of the carbon should be gone. If not, let soak another 5-15 minuets, and then scrape/brush any remaining carbon off.
After 30min:
6133
After scraping and quick brushing:
6134
5: Right about now would be a good time to take your brush and brush out the ring landings. This could take a little time but you avoid the risk of removing piston material with a groove cleaner or old ring.
6: After all the carbon is gone (well most, you wont get every little bit of discoloration) use a small pipe cleaner or carefully use the approiet size drill bit to clean the oil holes.
7: Next take your piston and wash it off with some brakleen. Then coat the connecting rod and wrist pin with some WD-40 or equivalent to prevent rust.
Place them in a dry, dust free location until they are ready to be installed.
I did not want to use any abrasives on my pistons because I did not want to harm the surface. (generator motors at work could care less about surface quality) Bead blasting can leave particles in the soft piston only to be released when it reaches operating temperature. Wire wheeling removes any coatings and creates craters or scratches in which more carbon can easily attach to. The other methods are much too harsh or just don’t work all that well.
I recently decided to try soaking my OE pistons in Berrymans B-12 Chemtool. This stuff is AMAZING!! I have never seen anything eat carbon like this stuff. After about 30 mins of soaking, you can scrape, rinse or brush off %75 of the carbon. So I decided to share my experience with the LTx community…. Here is my best method of cleaning carbon off pistons.
1: Run out to your local auto parts store and pick up 5 (10 if you plan to do 8 at once) cans of Berrymans B-12 Chemtool in non aerosol bottles. They are about the same size as a can of SeaFoam. 3 cans of brakleen. Also pick up a plastic scraper and a soft bristled brush. Mine came in a pack with 3 other metal brushes. This would also be a good time to purchase some high ply Nitrile gloves. This is a nasty chemical and it will dry your hands out. But you could always go about cleaning bare back. Your skin will grow back eventually.
6130
2: Visit your local supermarket and get 2, 5lb loaf pans. (get 4 pans to do all 8 at once) Make sure they can fit your pistons. 2 for $5.00 at WinDixe :D
6131
3: Remove the piston rings and place pistons top side down into the pans. Then fill up until the level is just over the wrist pin. Then let soak for about 30 minuets or 3 beers.
6128
4: Remove pistons, and scrape any heavily built up carbon into the trash or a rag. At this point most of the carbon should be gone. If not, let soak another 5-15 minuets, and then scrape/brush any remaining carbon off.
After 30min:
6133
After scraping and quick brushing:
6134
5: Right about now would be a good time to take your brush and brush out the ring landings. This could take a little time but you avoid the risk of removing piston material with a groove cleaner or old ring.
6: After all the carbon is gone (well most, you wont get every little bit of discoloration) use a small pipe cleaner or carefully use the approiet size drill bit to clean the oil holes.
7: Next take your piston and wash it off with some brakleen. Then coat the connecting rod and wrist pin with some WD-40 or equivalent to prevent rust.
Place them in a dry, dust free location until they are ready to be installed.