Piston Cleaning - Carbon and Heavy Build-up Removal Tips Needed

[Gordon02]

I've got some pistons that I want to keep, but the ring grooves are heavily encrusted with carbon deposits. The 2nd ring of every piston was stuck and each one had to be broken and removed using a pick. The pistons don't have any scratches or skuffing so I'd like to hang onto them.

Before taking a broken ring to each groove, I tried soaking them in my 20 year-old Berryman's carburetor cleaner (smells bad enough to dissolve anything, right), then took them to my ultrasonic cleaner. Nothing...

I'm on the fence about bead-blasting, but this may be the only answer. I wanted to ask you guys that do this all of the time - what do you use to get your pistons ready for new rings? If blasting is the answer, what pressure and what media?

Thanks, Gordon

[mrichartz]

Soda blasting...I dont do it all the time so.

[mach351]

Try soaking in engine tuner. I put it in the ultrasonic - usually will loosen anything up when you turn the heat up

[keefallan]

Soda blasting will work fine. I have used Berryman, but it needs to be brand new and at least overnight. I also found a surprise krud cutter some weeks ago. I took the inspection covers off my crossflow motor and the heads too. I sprayed Kroil everywhere and spun the motor by hand. I did this three times in that day. At the end of the day, I had this black sludge sitting underneath the motor. I was pleasantly surprised. But I wasn't doing it for that. I was just using it as an oil to lube the pistons. I was gonna tear the motor down in a few days.

If you've never heard of Kroil, its probably the best rust buster on the planet...........blows away PB blaster. I just happened to stumble on it at work. Oh yeah it works............it works great and for more than just loosening rusted parts.

[Motv18]

You can soak it in acetone. Or ultra sonic in acetone if the container is acetone safe. Brake clean will work sometimes. As will gas.

Ocassionaly you you just gotta blast and scrape.

[Jay Smith]

I use a very fine grade of glass bead media that works for me in my bead blaster ....I haven’t ever had any adverse results with the ultra fine glass media...
Jay

[Steve G]

Don't blast. It will micro pit the ring lands and and ruin the piston. The rings need to have a smooth ring land to seal on. Use the old fashion cold parts/carb. cleaner if you can find some.

[Dave S]

Old hacksaw blade.......gets the bottom clean.... then a broken ring.....

[Gordon02]

I'll add some photos tomorrow, but I will say that the Kroil penetrate is working! I picked-up an 8 oz squeeze can yesterday and after 24 hours of submersion in the Kroil - the lands are almost spotless! Even before using a broken ring, the lands are almost entirely free of carbon.

I'm doing 1 piston at a time to conserve the Kroil. I found a plastic squeeze bottle with a diameter just slightly larger than the piston, I then cut the bottle to give me a "cup" of about 3" total depth and with only 1-2 ounces of Kroil, the lands and underside of the piston are submerged - slower, but I'm in no rush......Gordon

[Whaaaaat]

Power tune and electric toothbrush. But it sounds like you got it.