Cleaning carbon from piston tops - any homebrew remedies?

[shoedoos]

I've just dipped a piston in sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) for the past two days and while it is slowly removing the carbon build up, I'd like to think there's a quicker solution.....does anybody have a homebrew mix I can use to remove the carbon buildup?

[Cogburn]

Ethylene glycol(green antifreeze) in a warm crock pot(outside) might be worth a try.

[shoedoos]

Any idea how long it will take to remove a full coat of carbon? I didn't realise antifreeze was caustic?

[needforspeed66gt]

Cleaning solution or solvent and some elbow grease with the brush and scotch brite pad.

[shoedoos]

Let's just say I've got five sets of pistons to do....so was hoping for some miracle concoction to limit the amount of elbow grease I'd have to exert....any other ideas? Is there a mild acid out there which is stronger than the bicarb but won't destroy the pistons if I leave them to soak?

[EthylCat]

I have used GM Top Engine Cleaner before with decent results.

[cs19]

Bad ass solvent, brush, scotch brite.

[ausbullet]

Either Mercury Marine product called Power Tune or a Sierra product called Carbon Free,
loosens the carbon real good.

[Forced_Firebird]

Formula 88. It's available at Home Depot in most areas, or Advance Auto Parts. Soak over night, and use a soft aluminum brush, they will look like this (these are 89k mile piston running rich for boost).
Before and after, pistons/rods from same engine...

[Cogburn]

Formula 88 is ethylene glycol monbutyl ether. It will work. Wear gloves and have good ventilation.

I use Purple Power in my parts washer and it works good. It also is ethylene glycol monbutyl ether.

[shoedoos]

Are these products 100-percent ethylene glycol monbutyl ether? Or are they a mix of this and some other ingredients?

[Unkl Ian]

Some common cleaners contain Lye, which will attack Aluminum.

[needforspeed66gt]

The only stronger chemical that I can think of is carb-dip, don't know if you can still buy that stuff off the shelf but it will turn the carbon into mush that just easily wipes off.

[wjnielsen]

Aircraft paint stripper is formulated to not attack aluminum.

Might be cheaper (and less smelly) ways to go, but it works well.

-bill

[shoedoos]

I found an outfit that makes a floor cleaning product with the ethylene glycol monobutyl ether as an ingredient so I rang to order some....however, they recommended using another of their prooducts which is an oven cleaner. Its main ingredient is sodium hydroxide.

Has anybody used a product with this as part of the mix before? I don't particularly want to be a guinea pig here....