what to use to clean pistons in block.
 

I bough a used block from a guy and the engine was running rich, so there's all this black stuff on it and I was wondering if anyone would know what to use to clean the pistons and side walls with with out damaging anything. anything will help, thanks.

Re: what to use to clean pistons in block.
 

if you have access to a hot tank they work wonderfully

Re: what to use to clean pistons in block.
 

no I dont, I was thinking about using s razor blade and slowly cut it, but dont want to damage the pistons.

Re: what to use to clean pistons in block.
 

if you do that be really careful not to gouge them or scratch them. carb cleaner and plastic scrapers might work to be on the safe side

Re: what to use to clean pistons in block.
 

A screwdriver and then a wire wheel on a drill. Just put some grease around the edges to catch the gunk then wipe it off when you're done. It's not that easy to scuff the pistons, with all the heat and abuse they take, they're not exactly soft.

Re: what to use to clean pistons in block.
 

Thermite.

Re: what to use to clean pistons in block.
 

+1 on the wire wheel and brake cleaner

Re: what to use to clean pistons in block.
 

Soak them in gas, and a wire wheel.

Re: what to use to clean pistons in block.
 

thanks for all your replys, I guess ill grease it up and wire wheel it. thanks again everyone.

Re: what to use to clean pistons in block.
 

I first went across them lightly with a gasket scraper to get the carbon thinner, then I just sprayed brake cleaner on mine and let it soak a while and then wiped em off. They looked like brand new.

Re: what to use to clean pistons in block.
 

I actually hear that, atleast on a running car, to drain the oil out, pour in like 3 quarts of auto trans fluid, and 1 qt oil, run the car a few mins, then drain, fill with oil. ever see dirty gears in a tranny?

Re: what to use to clean pistons in block.
 

^Ya, I have heard that too. I even think there was something on vfaq about doing that for lifters if I remember right. When I worked at oreillys, I heard of some shops even doing that on the down low once in a while too. They were always kind of hush hush about it though.

I never had the cojones to try that. Maybe worth a shot on a car that is going to be rebuilt soon, just to see if it works.

The wire wheel and brake cleaner are what I would be going for.

Re: what to use to clean pistons in block.
 

Hmm just the thread i was looking for! I have a question relatively the same....What about if the head is still on and you cant take the head of anytime soon is there anything that can be done. My Pistons are still pretty BLACK AND WET SINCE OF A SERIOUS RUNNING RICH ISSUE!! People told me carb cleaner and it should burn of but idk want to do anything stupid.

Re: what to use to clean pistons in block.
 

Tranny fluid in the oil is a decades old trick, I actually just used that again recently with a light lifter tick sound, cleared it right up. Hydraulic fluid actually has cleansing properties hence the cleaning, but it won't do anything for dirty piston tops. Actually running ethanol fuels for the last couple of years has kept my tops perfectly clean, but simply leaning out your AF ratio for optimum power does almost the same thing. Piston tops get corroded from running rich like the factory tune.