Is this carbon buildup

[swilliams]

I am changing the heads on my 86 C10 just got the first one off and saw what i think is carbon buildup. If it is should i use some emery cloth and remove it or leave it alone. Of course i don't want to damage the cylinder walls or piston top.

[bake74]

     That looks like carbon to me. 
     Inside the cylinders you should use a hone to clean it up.  The pistons can be cleaned up with emery cloth, you have to make sure it does not fall down inside the engine though.

[swilliams]

I was a little surprised that the piston stopped so far from the top of the cylinder. After i get it cleaned up and put back together is there any thing that i can do to help cut down on the carbon buildup?

[LTZ C20]

Use a better quality of fuel, say if you use regular unleaded then switch to mid grade or premium. Or, if you use whatever brand you come by, switch to a known good brand. Use a factory air filter, not one of those K&N garbo's. As long as your timing is good, you get a good, quality spark to each cylinder and use the right plug for the cylinder head. My heads recommended an Accell plug, cross reference that to an AC Delco plug,  the spark will be better and this ensures the plug gets down to the right place in the combustion chamber, a plug that doesn't get down to the proper level will not provide sufficient spark, and plug that's too deep goes past the combustion area and will be late or not burn at the proper rate and time, not to mention the valves or piston could smack into it. Getting the right plug will ensure that the portion of the plug that screws into the head will place the tip right in the middle of the burn area because it's the right length.

I used regular unleaded in my old crap motor but now I have fuel injection and an expensive engine, I now use premium.  I also use only Arco gas. I have never had an issue with the quality of the fuel. Cheap fuel will not help keep the internals clean and running good. A stock air filter has the smallest micron filtration,  benefit from this and use it. It will ensure that good clean air is sucked in. A "performance" filter allows more air because the filter itself has bigger holes, allowing tiny dirty and other debris to enter the engine. If you have smog or an EGR valve, ensure it too is working properly. All of this will help make sure the carbon is to a minimum.  You can't stop carbon, however you can help make sure is grows at its slowest rate. Also once in a while, say every oil change, dump some known good quality fuel treatment in your tank.

I work in the service department of a Chevy dealership,  I have seen what crap fuel and negligence will do to an engine. Look at it like this, if your going to spend your money, it's easier and more beneficial to be in the habit of ensuring you provide a steady, clean environment for you engine to operate. Meaning, clean air, clean fuel, good spark and a proper tuning.

[swilliams]

Thanks for the info. What do u think about that seafoam?

[thefarmboy21]

Yes that's a little carbon, but nothing more than normal in a high mileage motor in my opinion. Yes probably could have been better kept up to this point with better fuel, but now we're here. IF you're tearing it totally down then use a ridge reamer to clean it up and then hone it out.....if you're just doing a head swap, I'd do little to nothing otherwise you'll get stuff in your rings and scratch the cylinders. And IF you insist on cleaning it with the pistons run a shop vac and just scratch it off with a screwdriver and Emory cloth LIGHTLY! Then run a long flat diamond hone (knife sharpener) over your head gasket surface, clean with brake cleaner, then (how I do it) coat your new head gaskets with copper coat from a spray can and reinstall the heads.

[78BIG-TEN]

Use 44K in the gas that will clean it up

[swilliams]

I do want to clean it up. I think that with the build up there now since i am replacing the heads i can clean it and then put more importance in to fuel system maintenance. I have had several people tell about the spray copper coat on the head gaskets i think i will use it.

[LTZ C20]

Your welcome. As for the sea foam, it's ok, I've used it before. However, as 78BIG-TEN said, use 44K or Supercharge ll. That's what we use here at the dealership. When we do a fuel injection service, the flush the injectors and put the 44K in the tank at the time of service. We then provide a bottle of Supercharge ll for you to put in your tank at the next fill up. Both of which are from BG chemicals.

[swilliams]

That sounds good. I have always used 87 fuel thinking it's only 4 octane lower. Is it that big of a difference?


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[LTZ C20]

There's not a huge difference between 87 and 91. However there will be a big difference from a mom n pop 87 to say a Shell or Chevron 87. The gas is expensive for a reason, it's better. Back when the economy was good, my family ran only chevron. Then it tanked and we switch to arco. Never had a problem. My girlfriends family uses only 76 mid grade in their cars and 76 diesel in the truck. They too have never had a problem.

Carbon production is a chemical reaction. If you provide quality chemicals to feed that reaction, it will produce a better end result. That being burning cleaner, more powerful, fuel efficient and reliable. Especially if you are going from a cast iron head to an aluminum head.

My old engine was all cast iron. This new engine has an aluminum top end, heads and intake.

[swilliams]

That's good to know. We have an area known convenience store/gas station with many local stations but each one has a different gas supplier and i have never really paid attention to which ones i use. I will now pay more attention. I am going aluminum  heads   so i will go to the 91 from a known supplier.

[LTZ C20]

Good. It actually brought me relief knowing my gas is good, I don't have to worry. It's nice to rest easy knowing your doing the best for your investment.

[bake74]

     Carbon is a natural result of the combustion process.  In effect anything that burns fuel and needs air will produce carbon.  Some are worse than others when burnt, but all fuel that burn has a certain ratio of carbon that it will produce.
     Carbon essentially is the improper A/F ratio on any given flame, the more this is out of balance the more carbon it can produce.  Be it in the engine or exhaust.
     The standard for gas is 14.7:1.  14.7 parts air to 1 part gas (interestingly that is exactly how much air weighs at sea level if measured in a 1" square tube reaching 500 miles up to the edge of our atmosphere).
     So with the above information, if your device (carb or TBI or FI) is not adjusted properly it will produce more or less carbon.  (on the less side it will go only a short way then not burn at all).
     I deal with this almost everyday at work with a flue/gas analyzer we use on all kinds of machines.  I am also learning a lot right now with my Charger and custom tuning the A/F ratio's for HP/torque gains.
     Also I will add I have learned a lot about our gasoline that is sold in this country and the difference between summer and winter.  They have taken a lot of the lubricity's out of gasoline now to meet EPA standards, which means it is dryer than it used to be.  That means more wear on engine componets.  The additive that some gas companies ad helps, and some don't do anything.  It is interesting to learn all this stuff.

[LTZ C20]

That does sound interesting Bake. I'm interested.