What can I use to remove carbon buildup?

[36tudordeluxe]

I've removed heads and valves, what takes the carbon deposits off?

[J Franklin]

Try a putty knife.

[fortyfords]

Put the heads back on and pour water down the carburetor while the engine is running, it will be clean when you take it back apart.

[Mike51Merc]

wire wheel, wire brush, carburetor cleaner & rags.

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by fortyfords

Put the heads back on and pour water down the carburetor while the engine is running, it will be clean when you take it back apart.

Any specific details on doing this? Would a spray bottle work as good or maybe better than than just pouring water in the carb? Tap water? How many applications? How much water total? Engine at idle or faster than idle?

[Vic Piano]

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I run top oilers on my two '39's, occasionally I'll mix a little water with the MMO to attack carbon build up... Might be an old mechanics tale but…

[51 MERC-CT]

Originally Posted by JM 35 Sedan

Any specific details on doing this? Would a spray bottle work as good or maybe better than than just pouring water in the carb? Tap water? How many applications? How much water total? Engine at idle or faster than idle?

Go to local church and pick up a bottle of 'Holy water'

[36tudordeluxe]

Thanks for the ideas guys, was hoping there was some liquid solution I could soak them in. Maybe EASY OFF oven cleaner?

[Tinker]

If it were me I'd do what Mike51Merc suggested. Carb cleaner works fairly well. Carbon is hard to remove. For me I probably would only use a putty knife or razor blade instead of a wire brush. I'd be worried a wire off the brush might break off and work it's way into the engine. Here again that might be just me.

I don't know if I would use easy off oven cleaner. I've used it to degrease engines but I don't know if it'll work well in this situation, maybe it will. If your going to buy it, go to a dollar store and get oven cleaner. Even if you buy 2 cans it'll only be a couple dollars.

Clean best you can and bolt it up, then you could use water as suggested to clean the rest.

Just my opinion.

[V12Bill]

I have used a cup of water in the carb at a fast idle to clean carbon out of engine. The H2O mixes with the C to = CO & H2O

[aonemarine]

go to a chrysler dealer and see if you can get a can of combustion chamber conditioner.
It worked very well back in the day, not sure if dealers still stock it....

[A bones]

Originally Posted by JM 35 Sedan

Any specific details on doing this? Would a spray bottle work as good or maybe better than than just pouring water in the carb? Tap water? How many applications? How much water total? Engine at idle or faster than idle?

Hi John, You forgot to use an Imogee (maybe silly face).

Back in the '70s (when we had pollution control with carburetion), I was using this on everything that would run-on, after key off. One day this pretty girl showed up with a Lincoln 430 ci. I couldn't wait to solve her troubles. With hose in one hand throttle in the other something went wrong. When the motor died I knew it could not be good. I took it for a test drive and found it wouldn't diesel, however, it also would not deliver the promise of a 430. Hydraulic lock bent something somewhere. My solution was another gas station on another highway

[scooder]

Drizzle or spray bottle of water, you don't want to be pouring it in, fastish idle, some times goosing it to make some combustion heat. You'd get some stumbling, don't let it kill the engine though.
Its more of a regular maintenance thing, to save you from "de cokeing" , and if done enough it will keep it clean in there. Like the piston and valves on the chamber that's leaking at the head gasket or from a crack.
If the head is already off, carb cleaner, elbow grease, brass wire brush, patients. I only go putty knife or the like on flat top pistons, razor blade or Stanley Knife blade on flat iron. Dome top ally piston need a bit more love.
Martin.

[dude]

Sea Foam.

[Ross F-1]

My high school shop class teacher told me when he was in Motor Pool in the Army, he saw a redneck mechanic revving a jeep engine and throwing rice down the carb. He asked why he was doing that, the mechanic said it was to clean carbon out. Teacher asked why would you think that would help? The mechanic scoffed at his ignorance, "Just look how dirty it is coming out!"

[39topless]

This stuff works well. Spray or soak.
https://www.bing.com/search?q=aircra...rcraft%20paint

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by A bones

Hi John, You forgot to use an Imogee (maybe silly face).

Back in the '70s (when we had pollution control with carburetion), I was using this on everything that would run-on, after key off. One day this pretty girl showed up with a Lincoln 430 ci. I couldn't wait to solve her troubles. With hose in one hand throttle in the other something went wrong. When the motor died I knew it could not be good. I took it for a test drive and found it wouldn't diesel, however, it also would not deliver the promise of a 430. Hydraulic lock bent something somewhere. My solution was another gas station on another highway

A bones, thanks for the reminder on using an Imogee. Normally, to confuse others, and myself as well if I ever come back to read one of my old posts, I only use Imogee's on my most serious posts, and no Imogee's whatsoever when I am just being silly.

[Mike51Merc]

You could add fuel injector cleaner in your gas tank, even though you have no fuel injection that stuff is made to dissolve carbon buildup.

As far as the water trick, I suppose you could do that but I'd be really careful about it. I had a head gasket leak that thoroughly washed the piston, but it also sent a lot of coolant past the rings and into the crankcase oil.

[fordy_nine]

I am a believer in the water spray treatment during very fast idle (~2000 rpm) followed by an Italian tune-up; that is, give it a high-speed, high load run for a few miles.....Bob L

[deuce_roadster]

51-Merc-CT-- you can make your own Holy Water--just boil the Hell out of it.