Question on Cleaning the Piston Tops and Cylinder of Combustion Products -190E 2.3-16
 

The head is done and will be picked up today (refer to thread http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=124424). I will have my sons remove the radiator to have it repaired at a local shop (new plastic water boxes and hopefully a better hose connection nipple), and get the engine ready to put the head back on. When we took the head off the tops of the pistons were pretty heavily covered with black ash-like stuff, most of which vacuumed out nicely. But there is still not metal showing everywhere. The cylinder bores are fine, except at the very top, for about an eighth of an inch or so, where there is a deposit of black stuff. Not thick, but a deposit.

The last time I did this kind of job it was on a Diesel and I just used some steel wool with some penetrating oil, like WD-40 to clean the guts out. There were no aluminum parts I was worried about that might be affected on that engine. What do you guys use?

Jim

Do not use ANYTHING steel to clean the piston tops. Any scratches provide an easy place for a crack to start. Scrape as much stuff off as you can with a hardwood stick. Once that is off, just wipe everything down with a solvent soaked rag.

BTW, you should be careful using a shop vac around the engine. If there are any gasoline fumes, the brushes in the vac make a great ignitor.

Good luck,

I agree with Larry.

Use a strong carb cleaner like Berryman B-12 and popcicle or paint mixing sticks. If it doesn't want to come right off, try letting it soak.

Tinker

Thanks for the advice. Will heed and take my time cleaning, avoid any scratches. Will post some photos next week. Jim

Once the engine is back in operation, it will just "grow" back. Why disturb it? It's happy the way it is.