16 replies to this topic

[rally1380]

Whilst my engine is apart, I want to fully clean and refurb my head and clean up the piston faces.

 

What's the best way to do this other than wire brush?  Is there any solution/chemical that will disolve the carbon deposits or is it just old fashioned elbow grease?

[bpirie1000]

Get the grease out......

[daytona 600]

mr muscle oven cleaner worked well when I had to clean the variable vanes on my mondeo's turbo

[jaydee]

Paint thinner and loads of old rags

[greenwheels]

Small wire brush in electric drill is good for Cylinder head combustion chambers.

[Guess-Works.com]

De-carbonising dip...

 

Be careful using oven cleaners on aluminium.... read the instructions and the do's and don'ts

[Minimoke8394]

Just in case anyone is interested, a good way of cleaning the engine internally while in situ is by sucking a pint of water through a vacuum while the engine is running. Instantly turns to steam and chucks all the crud out the exhaust. Did it on my Merc, created a hooge cloud on my driveway, and was impressed with how much better the engine felt/sounded.

Just make sure you don't suck it through too fast, and use a small diameter vacuum pipe if you can.

Edited by Minimoke8394, 13 March 2014 - 08:29 PM.

[Dusky]

Seems dangerous to me:o

[myredmini]

Alot of people do it on diesels, spray it as a mist through the air intake, look on youtube. Seems effective. not sure i would do it on my mini but would try it on a derv.

[rally1380]

My engine is apart guys...so the water 'trick' ain't gonna work.

 

WD40 and a soft brass wire brush seems to work on the pistons.

 

Tried Celulose thinners...didn't seem to do much.

 

Wondering if petrol would work....got a bit in the tank, and the electric fuel pump could soon have a jam jar full out!!!!

[jaydee]

Using petrol will take forever to decoke a head, try acetone

[IainNeon91]

I used a tub of petrol and a toilet brush to clean up my block/gearbox haha. Done the job nicely though!

[Minimoke8394]

Alot of people do it on diesels, spray it as a mist through the air intake, look on youtube. Seems effective. not sure i would do it on my mini but would try it on a derv.

 

I was doubtful before doing it on my old Merc, but it worked great. Basically gives the same symptoms to misfire when you're running it through so it's best to keep your hand on the throttle cable a bit and keep it around 2k. It'll evaporate almost instantly and flash the crud off the internals. Take it for a spin afterwards with a heavy right foot and it's all good. 

[Cooperman]

I have used oven cleaner on the pistons in the past and it works well. You can really use any good metal cleaner and finish off with a fine wet & dry with soapy water.

In the head chambers, just scrape the carbon off & finally clean with a wire brush in a power drill.

It is surprising how quickly it all gets 'black' again though.

With the engine running, it used to be considered good to pour Redex down the carb(s) with the engine at around 4000 rpm. That made it smoke a bit, but it got the muck out. We used to do this as part of every 'pre-rally' tune up.

[wile e coyote]

Using petrol will take forever to decoke a head, try acetone

+1 on this.... just make sure its the pure stuff....... and just in case you're impressed with its capabilities and inclined to use elsewhere keep it clear of plastics.........oddly fine on mock leather viynl but hard plastics a no no......

 

 

And per comment above redex is fun in a running engine.....best smelling exhaust ever and a bond style smokescreen guaranteed...your neighbours wont like you much though