How to clean the piston while in the engine
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 383
Likes: 6
From: California
How to clean the piston while in the engine
Hi guys I had a few questions. First my block is in the car the heads are off and I'm wondering if I can clean the top of the piston. There is also some "stuff" on the top of the block in the area where the lifters are how can I clean it. Can I pour engine oil over this stuff before I tighten the heads and intake manifold. I was basically trying to find out what cleaners and cleaning techiniques are ok for an assembled bottom end? Thanks guys I hope you could help me cause I was supposed to have install them today but it looked too dirty.
New User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
How to clean the piston while in the engine
You've probably solved the problem by now. But yeah, you can clean the piston tops while they're still installed in the car.
Crank the piston to the top of the cylinder. Wind some cord around the edge of the piston, to keep junk away from the top ring. Use carburetor cleaner on the piston top to soften the carbon. Carefully use a scraper and a rag to remove the carbon from the piston. Be careful not to get too close to the cylinder wall with the scraper tool - don't gouge the cylinder wall.
This is just a de carbonning mind you, and assumes the ring grooves are not too crudded up. If they are, and the engine has a whole lotta miles on it, you might as well pull the oil pan, unbolt the rod, and remove the piston out the top of the cylinder. You might as well change rings and hone the cylinders if you get this far (i.e. an in car overhaul).
Crank the piston to the top of the cylinder. Wind some cord around the edge of the piston, to keep junk away from the top ring. Use carburetor cleaner on the piston top to soften the carbon. Carefully use a scraper and a rag to remove the carbon from the piston. Be careful not to get too close to the cylinder wall with the scraper tool - don't gouge the cylinder wall.
This is just a de carbonning mind you, and assumes the ring grooves are not too crudded up. If they are, and the engine has a whole lotta miles on it, you might as well pull the oil pan, unbolt the rod, and remove the piston out the top of the cylinder. You might as well change rings and hone the cylinders if you get this far (i.e. an in car overhaul).
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 383
Likes: 6
From: California
How to clean the piston while in the engine
So you were right that the problem has been remedied since but thank you for the response it is likely to help someone else down the line. I especially like the tip on using cord or thin rope to bloc crud form falling down into the rings. I found a shop-vac with a narrow diameter nozzle that can be made or bought works well to ensure no particules slip by you this can also be facilitated with some carb cleaner or just engine oil and then suck the liquid and suspended particles out. Again thanks for the response.
