got an engine torn apart to replace a head gasket and figured i would get things cleaned up while im in there. What do you guys use?


Thanks

Brake clean.

Carb cleaner does a decent job at cleaning stuff up, but nothing really dissolves carbon, or at least nothing I have found yet. Use a blunt plastic scraper to help break it up. Make sure you dont get any pieces of carbon on the sides of the pistons because it will score the hell out of the bore. Add a little bit of MMO to the cylinder walls and allow it to seep down to the rings because the carb cleaner will dissolve any remaining oil on the walls.


Just my .02

Jim

I have always used a wire wheel on carbon deposits with great sucess , followed by cleaning with a carb or brake cleaner

A can of GM top engine cleaner is the best I have ever used.

if you are not removing the pistons I'd just leave the carbon alone. It's gunna come back either way, and you run a serious risk of fawkin up your walls if you're not uber carefull. When you run it again just run some sea foam through it to clean it up.

No risk if the pistons are TDC

if you are not removing the pistons I'd just leave the carbon alone. It's gunna come back either way, and you run a serious risk of fawkin up your walls if you're not uber carefull. When you run it again just run some sea foam through it to clean it up.

Nice reading and comprehension!:flipoff2:

got an engine torn apart to replace a head gasket and figured i would get things cleaned up while im in there. What do you guys use?


Thanks

Nice reading and comprehension!:flipoff2:
I assumed he has the upper half torn down.. didn't say he pulled the engine nor the crank.

I assumed he has the upper half torn down.. didn't say he pulled the engine nor the crank.
Removing the heads doesn't mean torn apart to me! :flipoff2:

last time I replaced a head gasket I tried easy-off oven cleaner...with a little elbow grease it cut right thru the carbon deposits