whats a good way to clean the crap buildup off pistons. theyre turbo pistons so theyre dished. I just want to avoid scratching and stuff.

 

sand ..
no ..I don't really know, I'd say gas and a nylon brush, but that's just a guess

 

Danno just posted the other day on the email list that he uses E-Z Off oven cleaner. Handy guy to know, that Danno...

You might ask him to give you some details on his technique, as I am sure you don't want to just spray it on and leave it.

Regards,

 

oven cleaner, that's a good idea
that stuff does damage to baked on stuff!

 

Yup, E-Z Off and a fine Scotchbrite pad. Don't go to town on it and remove material, just clean it up.

 

Yeah, I'd get Danno to explain this a bit more.

I used E-Z Off on an aluminum broiler pan and let it sit on for a day or so. It really attacked the aluminum base metal and left it sort of "sticky". Not sticky like a glue but sticky as in it wouldn't slide over another surface smoothly. Which wouldn't be so good for pistons in the ring grooves or skirt.

Maybe if you squirt it on for 5 minutes and quick scrub with a blue ScotchBrite you will be OK but I would want some testing done. Those pistons are expensive to replace. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

 

All the times I have used it, I did not let it sit. Shoot some onto a Scotchbrite pad and scrub off the mess. Wash with soap and water and you should be fine.

 

I used brake cleaner (dries quickly without leaving a funky residue) and a brass brush. The brash won't scratch but is stiff enough to remove the deposits. It took about 10 minutes per piston to get it completely clean. If you use brake cleaner douse each piston to flood it a tiny bit with fluid...then use a shop vac to scoop up the liquid/funk that gets trapped between the top of the pistons and the rings. Also, a thin coat of oil on the cylinder walls will help when your done....brake cleaner removes all the oil and leaves it dry...which could cause some minor damage when starting it the first time.

 

When rebuilding my motor I used alot of Oil Eater. Found it at costco. My pistons were pretty dirty and the rings where fused inside. I soaked the piston in the stuff full strength and after about 1 hour most of the junk was loose to the touch. I then used a toothbrush to get the rest off. Then of course was the water wash off and coating with assembly lube before re installing them.