Warning: When using a steam cleaner, wear protective clothing and safety glasses or a face shield. Hot steam
can cause serious personal injury.
Caution: Do not use the glass bead blast method to clean the pistons. The piston will be damaged by the
blast material embedded in the aluminum.
Steam clean the carbon from the pistons.
Caution: The cleaning solvent must be approved for aluminum to prevent damage to the pistons.
Use a kerosene emulsion-based solvent that can be heated to 95°C [200°F] and a cleaning tank that will
constantly mix and filter the solvent.
NOTE: Do not use a solvent that has a pH higher than 9.5 or a solvent that contains chlorinated hydrocarbons with
cresols, phenols, or cresylic components.
Put the pistons into the solvent and allow them to soak for a minimum of 30 minutes.
NOTE: Soak the pistons several hours or overnight for best results.
Caution: Do not use a metal brush to clean the pistons. The ring grooves will be damaged.
Use a non-metallic brush to clean the piston ring grooves.
Repeat the soaking and scrubbing process until the piston is cleaned thoroughly, and dry with compressed air.
