Author Topic: Cleaning carbon crud from pistons / piston ring grooves  (Read 2103 times)

July 28, 2008, 07:34:27 pm

captainpartytime

  • User+

  • Offline
  • *

  • 39
Cleaning carbon crud from pistons / piston ring grooves
« on: July 28, 2008, 07:34:27 pm »
What is the best way to clean the carbon crud off of my pistons and piston ring grooves?
-Kerry

1982 Diesel Westfalia Vanagon
1989 Wolfsburg 7-Passenger Vanagon

Reply #1July 28, 2008, 09:24:00 pm

Vincent Waldon

  • Global Moderator
  • Veteran

  • Offline
  • ***

  • 3255
    • My collection of HOWTOs
Cleaning carbon crud from pistons / piston ring grooves
« Reply #1 on: July 28, 2008, 09:24:00 pm »
A carbide piston ring groove cleaner  with the right size cutter is the safe way to do the ring grooves.... it's a sealing surface and so needs to be cleaned very accurately.

For the face of the piston... I actually cheat and use a wire brush... but I'm very careful to get nowhere near the edge where I might scrape a groove in the side.
Vince

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
2001 silver TDI Jetta Malone Stage 1.5 , 2001 blue TDI Jetta SBIII 216s Malone Stage 3, 1970 Bay Window bus

Gone but not forgotten: 1969/1971 Beetles, 1969/1974 Westies, 1979 Rabbit, 1986 TD Jetta, 1992 gas Jetta, 1994 TD Jetta

Reply #2July 29, 2008, 07:45:50 pm

vanagonturbo

  • Veteran

  • Offline
  • ***

  • 639
    • Fine Tuning
Cleaning carbon crud from pistons / piston ring grooves
« Reply #2 on: July 29, 2008, 07:45:50 pm »
I have used the old rings to clean the ring grooves. You will need to file/grind and edge to be able to pick at it to get the crud off. If you did it right, you will have numerous cuts on your thumb :)

Reply #3July 30, 2008, 08:04:58 am

fastvicar

  • Junior

  • Offline
  • **

  • 154
Cleaning carbon crud from pistons / piston ring grooves
« Reply #3 on: July 30, 2008, 08:04:58 am »
I must have done it very right.  :(
1981 Rabbit 1.6L TURBO!!  "The Whistle Pig"