Removing Carbon Build Up From Piston

[Dan767]

I have a 3W-80xi that has some minor Carbon buildup on the piston head. What's the best way to remove it? Scrape, scotchbrite or chemicals....?

[JimC-MD]

GM Top engine cleaner. Put a little in a pan and soak the piston in it. May follow up by spraying off with gum cutter or B101 Berkible.

I have often wondered how these engines would react to a little Techron or 44K mixed into the fuel to keep things cleaned up. I would mostly worry about the effect on carb gaskets and seals and the effect on the covering.........

[toprudder]

	Quote: Originally Posted by JimC-MD
	GM Top engine cleaner. Put a little in a pan and soak the piston in it. May follow up by spraying off with gum cutter or B101 Berkible.

Best sources??

[JimC-MD]

	Quote: Originally Posted by toprudder
	Best sources??

Chevy dealer for the GM Top engine cleaner. Used in years past to free rings on diesel engines. More recently specified to be diluted and used for fuel injector cleaning under controlled conditions.

B101 is sold by most good quality parts stores or anyone that carries Berkible products. I have used lots of "carb cleaners" and that is just one that usually performs well.

hth

[Jaybird]

When I used to play with hot rod outboards we would use a 2 or 3 inch scotchbrite rol-loc pad on a die grinder to de-carbon the piston tops. Of course it was much easier on an outboard, you could yank both heads in about 2 minutes with an impact.
Brian

[Temptation]

	Quote: Originally Posted by JimC-MD
	Chevy dealer for the GM Top engine cleaner. Used in years past to free rings on diesel engines. More recently specified to be diluted and used for fuel injector cleaning under controlled conditions. B101 is sold by most good quality parts stores or anyone that carries Berkible products. I have used lots of "carb cleaners" and that is just one that usually performs well. hth

GM Top engine cleaner can be some fun stuff to play with. After putting it in the fuel system, you need to get out on the road right away. The first guy that tailgates you, just floor it. In seconds you won't be able to see his car due to the amount of smoke. Fun stuff. I miss those days.

Mike Darr

[toprudder]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Temptation
	GM Top engine cleaner can be some fun stuff to play with. After putting it in the fuel system, you need to get out on the road right away. The first guy that tailgates you, just floor it. In seconds you won't be able to see his car due to the amount of smoke. Fun stuff. I miss those days.

I can't imagine it would be much good for the catalytic converter on today's cars.

Bob R.

.

[Neogenesis]

Just be careful with the NorthStar engine.....they don't like top engine cleaner. It will puddle in the intake and the first time you romp on it....ka pow.....that's all she wrote. It doesn't happen every time.....but it can. That was one very expensive bill the shop had to eat to replace it. And yes...this was a Chevy garage that it happened in.


Neo

[Dan767]

Thanks for the replies. I ended up using mineral spirits and a plastic scraper.

[Shawn Berkheimer]

Dan, just for giggles, what oil and ratio were you using on that engine and how much time do you have on it?

Shawn

[Andy540T]

Has anyone ever used Easy-Off oven cleaner for this? I have used it on other stuff and it works pretty good.

[Dan767]

Shawn,
Sorry for the late reply, don't know how I missed it. I was using Lawn Boy Ashless mixed at 30:1. I have probably six gallons through the engine. I'm sure that I was running it too rich. I'm switching to Bel-Ray MC1. I have used Bel Ray in my other engines and not had any problems.