Piston Kleen, Removing carbon from pistons Options

[dknechtly]

I have my engine pulled apart for a rebuild. As expected the pistons were carboned up and I dreaded the chore of cleaning. I found this stuff called "Piston Kleen" and let them soak a couple of days. It took the carbon all off! Outside, underside, ring grooves. Some places I just wiped off a little bit. It did a great job. Saved a lot of work and potential piston damage. I just wanted to pass along the good info.
I couldn't find it retail anywhere. Just ordered from the web site. Free and fast shipping.

http://www.orisonmarketing.com/pistonkleen.html

Edited: I have plain old 1.7 original pistons. When I was researching this, I did see some of the cleaners harmed aluminum. This does not. Just gives you nice, clean, unscratched or scraped pistons.

[DBCooper]

I think you need to check those engines. I'm personally familiar with the Chevy 235 six. Earlier I don't know, but in the 50's it had aluminum pistons, both truck and car. Same with the Fords. I've seen or done every Ford engine since the early 50's flatheads, and all had aluminum pistons. It's not important, I just thought the references to non-aluminum pistons odd since I've never seen any myself, wondered where they'd been used.

Best piston cleaner I've used was a carburetor dip tank, but lots of things work. Lots of soaking in ATF, Marvel Mystery Oil, acetone, or even plain old paint thinner and then lots of scraping. My kids say oven cleaner. I've never used it but it seems logical thinking about what I've seen on the bottom of bad ovens. And for cheap a broken piston ring to scrape the grooves.