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Registered
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 580
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Cleaning pistons
What's the best method in getting the pistons nice and clean again. I've jused regular engine cleaning spray which took away all of the carbon stuff and made a pretty fine result overall. But it took me hours to get one done. I know it's doesn't have to be extremly clean but is there a better way to get the pistons nice and tidy so then can start build-up carbon again?
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08-31-2004, 03:29 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Frederick, MD
Posts: 379
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I wonder if you could use Naval Jelly. (phosphoric acid I believe)
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944 NA 5-spd, Red, 1987 - 2005 May She Rest in Peace 944 Turbo 5-spd, Black, 1987-present 70k miles |
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08-31-2004, 04:12 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
Posts: 1,990
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I used carb cleaner with a green scrubby pad....got tired of how long it was taking....buffed smooth by hand after that.
I would probably second the oven cleaner thing in retrospect. Chopper guys use it on engines and parts all the time...works great and is cheap.
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83 944 white w/Boxster wheels Planned mods- custom leather interior, 968 antenna, soundsystem, 968 style rockers, clear sidemarkers
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08-31-2004, 05:26 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: dallas tx
Posts: 87
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find a machine shop or an turbine overhaul shop and talk them into letting you use their walnut shell blast cabinet. will strip off the carbon but will not harm the underlying material in any way.
Rob |
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08-31-2004, 08:49 PM
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Location: The Netherlands
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Hmm, some nice and never heard of suggestions. As far as i'm concerned: i would like to keep the design of the pistons as much as possbile (structure of the pistons surface etc). But, on some places some hard particles really scratched the piston. I'm affraid that when i use scrubby pads or buffing the piston i will do more harm to pistons than good.
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09-01-2004, 02:02 AM
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Parrothead member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Monmouth county, NJ USA
Posts: 13,886
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All the above methods will work, the main concern when you clean them is not to damage the ring grooves. If you can soak the pistons in mineral spirits overnite , that will help loosen any carbon deposits. Oven cleaner works great. use a soft brass wire brush on the piston dome. if you have any of the old rings , break a piece off and use that to clean the ring grooves. A light scuffing on the sides and skirt of the piston wont hurt it, just dont remove any material. If you can for a final cleaning run them thhrough a cycle in a dishwasher. It gives them a great cleaning. we put one in our shop just for that purpose.
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Vinny Red '86 944, 05 Ford Super Duty Dually '02 Ram 3500 Diesel 4x4 Dually, '07Jeep Wrangler '62 Mercury Meteor '90 Harley 1200 XL "Live your Life in such a way that the Westboro Baptist Church will want to picket your funeral." |
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09-01-2004, 04:52 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
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For me, mine were still in the head so I just filled each cylinder with carb cleaner about 1/4 inch. left overnight... scrubbed in the morning.
very, very little in the way of scratches. I even had to use a brass brush on a few spots. that is were I followed up with the green scrubby then light sandpaper. turned out great. dont sweat it too much with the tops...they are meant to withstand much more than a green scrubby.
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83 944 white w/Boxster wheels Planned mods- custom leather interior, 968 antenna, soundsystem, 968 style rockers, clear sidemarkers
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09-01-2004, 08:29 AM
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