Cleaning piston in the engine

[Arith2]

I have the head pulled off for cams and would like to remove the crap on the pistons because they're literally right there. How have you guys cleaned the pistons, if at all, and prevent debris from cleaning the head surface from going into the engine and cylinders too much?

[digger]

Unless it’s absolutely caked on from oil consumption issue and loose it’s a waste of time removing it all except the stuff that comes of easily with carby cleaner and elbow grease. Suck it out with vacuum

[Anri]

I have the head pulled off for cams and would like to remove the crap on the pistons because they're literally right there. How have you guys cleaned the pistons, if at all, and prevent debris from cleaning the head surface from going into the engine and cylinders too much?

Follow your Sig.

"Do it right once or do it twice"

Pull the motor from the car, take it apart and clean the piston ring land as well....
then the "Domino Game Starts"...with the "while there might as well......"

Regards,
Anri

[Tbonem3]

LITFA

[digger]

Pull the motor to change cams lol

[Syfon]

Crc gasket stripper, let it sit, agitate with an old toothbrush

[Slideways]

Enjoy

[maupineda]

You wont gain anything. Leave it alone. In fact the slight build up raises compression. Unless you have a problem you may end up causing trouble to yourself

[tlow98]

You wont gain anything. Leave it alone. In fact the slight build up raises compression. Unless you have a problem you may end up causing trouble to yourself

I fall into this camp. Unless you’re prepared to go all the way I’d not touch it. It’s very unlikely that you end up with a scored cylinder wall but if you do you’ll be in for new pistons and the whole motor rebuild.

the bummer is you won’t even be able to stay with a stock rebuild at that point. So lots of questions and territory that is less predictable than where you started.

[digger]

You wont gain anything. Leave it alone. In fact the slight build up raises compression. Unless you have a problem you may end up causing trouble to yourself

It depends what they look like, too much in the way of deposits can cause hotspots, a thin film will be back soon so not much use wasting time removing it.

[Arith2]

Follow your Sig.

"Do it right once or do it twice"

Pull the motor from the car, take it apart and clean the piston ring land as well....
then the "Domino Game Starts"...with the "while there might as well......"

Regards,
Anri

I'm doing cams so why would I remove the engine? My primary goal is to change the cams, not clean my pistons. I am following the BMW repair instructions through ISTA and AIR so I will do it right the first time.

You wont gain anything. Leave it alone. In fact the slight build up raises compression. Unless you have a problem you may end up causing trouble to yourself

Carbon creates hot spots and over time will cause pre-detonation. I just wanted to see what products people used and their process. There's nothing to lose with cleaning pistons. The loss of a minute amount of compression is worth avoiding damaging the engine.

[tlow98]

I'm doing cams so why would I remove the engine? My primary goal is to change the cams, not clean my pistons. I am following the BMW repair instructions through ISTA and AIR so I will do it right the first time.



Carbon creates hot spots and over time will cause pre-detonation. I just wanted to see what products people used and their process. There's nothing to lose with cleaning pistons. The loss of a minute amount of compression is worth avoiding damaging the engine.

Are hot spots often causing pre-detonation on these cars? Not seen any posts related to that even with highly tuned high mileage motors.

You should definitely do what you feel is right, but after rebuilding my motor I’d touch as little as possible to reduce variables when it goes back together.

[Arith2]

Are hot spots often causing pre-detonation on these cars? Not seen any posts related to that even with highly tuned high mileage motors.

You should definitely do what you feel is right, but after rebuilding my motor I’d touch as little as possible to reduce variables when it goes back together.

It will be fine. I'm also not rebuilding my engine. The block is just hanging out in the car and will not be rebuilt because hone looks great. I just pulled the head is all.

[maupineda]

Carbon creates hot spots and over time will cause pre-detonation. I just wanted to see what products people used and their process. There's nothing to lose with cleaning pistons. The loss of a minute amount of compression is worth avoiding damaging the engine.

For carbon to be there again by the next traffic light. Is like cleaning your toilet drain, the first dump you flush will go faster, then what? Use good quality fuel, change oil regularly and it will be fine.