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I went and got a spray can of Permatex Gasket Cleaner to help ease the cleaning of the block deck surface. When I was wiping everything off, I noticed all the burnt oil on the pistons just wiped off like grease. This stuff just totally dissolves the carbon into a easy to wipe off goo.
Here is before and after pics. No scraper or brush was used on the pistons. Just a paper towel.
Another thing that works great (with or without the heads on the car) is Mopar Combustion Chamber Cleaner.
After hearing praises about it from so many people back in the day, I decided to try it out on a car of mine that had a seeping headgasket before I yanked the head off. The car had 158K on it, but after the MCCC, when I yanked the head, the pistons looked like your "after" pictures.
It also works great with the heads off if you soak them overnight.
The nice thing about using it while the car is running (before tear-down) is that it hits the backs of the valves where you typically get carbon buildup as well. You can clean them with it once their off (fill the ports) but I'm always leery of what it will do to valve seals if they're just sitting in it.
I found that permatex stuff a few years ago when I rebuilt a SBC and I agree 100% that it works mint for dissolving carbon and stuff. However I'm sure that is very caustic so make sure not to get it on your hands or in your eyes!
I found that permatex stuff a few years ago when I rebuilt a SBC and I agree 100% that it works mint for dissolving carbon and stuff. However I'm sure that is very caustic so make sure not to get it on your hands or in your eyes!
I agree.. I would also put a nice film of oil on the walls of each cycl. and change the oil after..
-=Rick