Piston Cleaning
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,354
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From: Jackassville
Piston Cleaning
Hey there Im making slow but steady progres on my 352 build up. Im ready to install the pistions bacck into the block. But thre is a large amount of carbon/oil crud on the tops of the pistions. Should I clean them or does it matter? I know you have to be carfuel with pistions and not scratch them, but its loooks very hard to clean. Can I use some Carb cleaner on them to clean them?
Thank you
Thank you
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,231
Likes: 1
From: Near Fresno, California
Of course you have to clean them - including the groves. The extra carbon on the tops will cause hot spots to form and then pre-ignition. I scrape them with a putty knife, even polish them with a wire brush.
There is a $20 tool for cleaning the groves, but a broken ring (break one of the old rings!) also works.
There is a $20 tool for cleaning the groves, but a broken ring (break one of the old rings!) also works.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
From: Eastern Virginia
My personal favorite is the NAPA carb/parts cleaner in the gallon can. It will clean anything. It is a bit expensive, though. But I usually strain it and re-use it until it is really dirty. Just soak the pistons in it for about an hour and hose the crud off. Some stubborn spots may require wiping with a rag.
