How To Clean Aluminum Pistons

Internal combustion engines mainly depend on the firing of the gasoline in the existence of oxygen and spark made by the spark plug to produce the energy needed to make the vehicle move. However, what is price does the engine pay for getting this energy produced?

When firing, the gasoline forms some carbon powder residues in the piston head and on the valves of the engine. In time carbon powder residues will turn into sludge. This is due to the oil vapor generated by having the oil heated to a certain temperature. It can also be caused by using low-quality engine oil. This is one of the major problems that can cause the engine to break down.

How to clean pistons

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The carbon residues on the piston head and valves may cause problems to the engine. Some of these problems are reduced engine power, higher engine sound than the normal, up to normal fuel consumption. This may then affect the engine's efficiency and working life.

How to Clean Pistons Without Removing Step by Step Guide

In this guide, we are going to show you how to remove carbon buildup on pistons. We shall also guide you on how to clean pistons without removing anything, such as valves and other internal parts of your engine.

Step 1: Turn Off the Engine

Make sure that your engine is turned off and you are parked in a well-ventilated area. Disconnect the air intake duct from the throttle body by use of Air Intake, Valve & Combustion Chamber Cleaner. This is the best formula for removing carbon. You can use this by spraying through the throttle body.

In this step, you are going to take out the carbon residues that formed on the throttle body and the intake manifold. These additives are the best way to dissolve carbon deposits that will help you in your cleaning process.

how to remove carbon buildup on pistons — Photo: https://www.supercheapauto.co.nz

Step 2: Clean the Fuel Rail

When the engine is off, clean the fuel rail and anything in the fuel stream inside the engine. You can go through this process by using Fuel Injection & Combustion Chamber Cleaner and injection pressure apparatus. This step provides highly effective cleaning for the entire fuel system.

To make this job done, you need first to disconnect the fuel rail coming from the fuel tank to the injection rail. After that, connect the injection pressure apparatus and then put the cleaning substance inside. Turn on the car and leave it in an idle state until it turns off by itself when the substance is complete.

Step 3: Use Gasoline Enhancer

Gasoline quality is an essential factor in our formula. Therefore, the next step of cleaning the fuel system is by the use of a gasoline enhancer substance. Inconsistent gasoline quality and variance in the gas pump quality result in carbon residues building up, poor power output, and inefficient ignition.

High output engines and engines with turbochargers are susceptible to fuel quality, and their efficiency will get affected by any residues building up on pistons, fuel injectors, intake ports, intake valves, and combustion chambers.

It is quite easy to use gasoline enhancers, but you need to have at least your fuel tank filled halfway. Once the tank is half full fill the other part with a and then put the whole can of gasoline.

Step 4: Clean Engine Oil Circulation

The other way of cleaning the pistons and engine internal parts from combustion residues and sludge buildup is by cleaning the engine oil circulation. When driving your vehicle, the engine oil heats to a high temperature.

This causes some vapors to come out of the oil. When the vapors meet the powder carbon residues, it forms a substance called oil sludge. The oil sludge mainly forms on pistons, piston rings, and cylinder heads. This phenomenon may cause damage to the engine, which could be quite expensive to repair.

The best way on how to clean piston rings without removing them is by the use of engine performance restoration products. These products soften, emulsifiers, and dissolves effectively even on stubborn clogged sludge. It is quite easy to use this additive. Just add the substance to the current oil and start the car. Leave it for about 30 minutes. After that stop, the engine drains the oil and adds the new oil.

Step 5: Increase Engine Oil

Increasing engine oil is the last step of the process of cleaning pistons for reuse. Increasing engine oil makes the sludge harder to form. This will mostly happen between a long drain interval of between10,000 to 25000 miles. High-grade synthetic oils will also degrade eventually.

The only way to achieve it is by using oil enhancer products. These products fortify oil, which enhances protection against heat. Premature and hard-to-remove deposits will form on many engine components.

You can prevent all this by using the enhancer products since they contain potent detergency and antioxidant system in their formula. Add the oil enhancers products, right after changing the engine oil. With that, you will be sure that the engine oil is well protected.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. Does WD 40 Remove Carbon?

Yes, WD 40 does remove carbon. It is better to use some specialized products for this purpose. WD-40 is a general degreaser and rust remover, so it contains substances that harm the internal parts of the engine, such as plastics or rubber materials.

WD-40 is, therefore, likely to cause damage. When you use a non-suitable product on seals and gaskets, it may cause them to be parched and lose their ability to seal the blanks between parts. This will finally result in engine breakdown.

Q. Does Carburetor Cleaner Remove Carbon?

Yes, carburetor cleaners are used to remove carbon. Most modern cars use injectors to control fuel flow, but older models still use carburetors. When it gets dirty, the fuel control system will fail to achieve its goal. In this case, you can use carburetor cleaners that contain very strong Aerosols. These are the best solvents for removing carbon out of the carburetors and maintaining them in good condition.

Q. How Do You Clean Carbon Off Engine Parts?

You clean carbon from engine parts by using an intake system cleaner. The cleaner is sprayed into the throttle body while the engine is running. Some other cleaners may require you to spray into the intake manifold directly. In this case, pour the cleaner slowly into the hose while the engine is running. You will probably need a small funnel for this.

Start the engine at 1000 to 1500 RPM while spraying the cleaner into the manifold of the intake. The process may take 10 to 20 minutes. The time it takes is dependent on how dirty the valves are and the effectiveness of the cleaning substance to remove the carbon residues. This process could be repeated more than once to reach the maximum cleaning level

In case the process fails, try a more direct cleaning approach. You need to have enough experience to go through this process. This is because you will be needed to take away the intake manifold for you to apply the cleaner directly to the valves. You may need to seek expert advice or go through a factory service manual for detailed intake manifold removal steps.

Q. What Will Dissolve Soot?

Soot is the accumulation of carbon-based material that results from the burning or combustion process. There are some, dissolvers that made especially for this purpose. It can most likely be dissolved by xylene or hot toluene.

Q. Does Carbon Dissolve?

Yes, carbon can be dissolved in water. The amount of carbon dissolved in water will depend on the water's temperatures. Coldwater can dissolve more carbon than hot water.

Final Words:

At this point, we have discussed how to clean pistons without removing them. This is an easy process that will save your engine parts from damage. If you do not know how to do it, then it would be essential to consult an expert. Take your time and use the right substances during the cleaning process. Remember that using the wrong equipment or products may cause much more damage to the engine in the long run.

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