The Rover-Landers of BC

Wondering if anyone out there has some success stories with cleaning carbon from piston tops. I’ve always had luck just with a gentle scrub and some WD-40 or something.

I can’t put it back together looking like this and I’m not keen on pulling pistons and rebuilding the bottom end.

I’m not after shiny new looking pistons but they’re pretty bad. Sure doesn’t look like I’ve burnt 94 octane for the most part of 100000kms. I wasn’t losing much oil so I don’t think that’s a result of valve seals.

I use BNAC Gom 1221.
Call Chris at BNAC Better natural alternative chemistry in coquitlam .

+1 877-566-2622

Tell him Scott sent you.
I use this stuff to decarb VW diesel manifolds and it works wonders.

Appreciate that Scott 👌

I've bought off-shelf decarbonizing solvent, and it didn't work very well. It took lots of elbow grease, and either red or green scotchbrite. I expect your pistons are alloy, so I'd be careful on what to scrub them with.

On cast iron cylinder heads faces, I've cleaned them up the same way, and have read the tip of using a piece of aluminum scraper, which won't marr iron or steel.

Chlorinated brake cleaner and a scotch bright for me. Respirator and lots of fresh air a definite requirement.

Reading your post again, it DOES look like you ran 94 or 97 octane for the last 100K or so. High-test gasoline often contains little or no ethanol. Ethanol fuel, once and awhile, can help to clean out deposits on old engines. I ensure I never use ethanol-containing fuel on small engines though, especially two stroke, and opt for high-test then, which usually omits the ethanol.

Something to think about after you have it cleaned up and back together.