GReeser

I'm replacing the head gasket & redoing header on my SOHC VTEC D16Y8. Already have header cleaned, resurfaced, seats & valves cut/grinded and replaced valve stem seals. It was leaking bad & now has a bunch of buildup on top of pistons. Was thinking of cleaning them (top of pistons) up. Any suggestions on the preferred method while pistons are still in. Don't want to remove them or any buildup/debri that can cause any harm to cylinder walls or create any oil bypass past rings (which would cause me to have to rebuild bottom end).

Sorry, if I'm "beating a dead horse" on this thread. Been searching for hours/days to find a good answer with some steps/method/supplies/tools from someone who sounds like they know what their talking about. Your responses are greatly appreciated. I need to get this thing back together ASAP so help me out.

GReeser

all_motor_mike

wire wheel and a die grinder.


mike

1998GsRIntegra

I would leave them well enough alone if still in the engine. The chances of a piece of carbon getting somewhere you don't want it to are pretty high...

TheShodan

iTrader: (14)

Only clean them if taking them out. Otherwise, leave them alone.

mdb4879

While in the car I'd probably just take a flat blade screw driver and knock off what ever carbon is on there. That'd be good enough (well actually doing nothing is good enough, but eh). Probably have a shop-vac on while your doing it to suck up the debris. But as was said, you really don't want to get anything in unwanted places. Especially in anything oil related. It shouldn't hurt anything to leave them alone.

Hey, look at it this way. Free compression bump

GReeser

Finally, some responses... I started cleaning my valve cover to paint while while waiting. lol

Well, while I am concerned about getting any debris on the rings (which is why I won't die grind them. OK, unless I was sending them to AMM) I still think they could use some cleaning. I don't want the glow pre-ignite problem I heard about (may try to figure out how to post pix).

Although, die grinding (don't worry, don't have one) with a shop vac to suck up debris or pressured air to blow it out could work don't u think?

GReeser

Here are some pix of the long block with the pistons still in. Now you can see why I prefer to clean before reinstalling head. Very dirty!