Cleaning pistons

[Toshima]

I took the head of today(420a) and was wondering what do you use to clean the pistons or do you even clean the pistons? Im not talking them out of the block I was just wondering if I should do some cleaning while I have the head off(replacing head gasket and timing belt). Also should I clean the valve tops off?

 

[VelocitàPaola]

You can run some SeaFoam through the engine. Do this when you've re-assembled everything, though. The procedure involves sucking the stuff in through a vacuum line, then running the engine hard for a while to blow all of the carbon deposits out. Some people go as far as pouring straight SeaFoam right onto the pistons through the sparkplug holes, later siphoning it out with a shop vac.

 

[WMD]

You dont really need to clean the carbon off. Personaly I clean it off durring a rebuild but otherwise its not a big deal. The carbon will just redeposit when you run the car.
but if theres chunks of stuff on there then you might as well.

 

[VelocitàPaola]

Yeah, I assumed he actually had a reason to clean it off.

If there's just a fine coating of it, there's no need to worry; all is as it should be.

 

[Toshima]

Well there is come dust type stuff on it not just the carbon build up. If i wanted to just clean the top of the piston off would I use rubing achool. Ill run some sea foam after I put it back togather.