dirty pistons

[zimmy]

i happen to know that my piston heads have alot of carbon etc. built up on them......
IF i took the head off to clean them, what do
i need to get it all back together and running
again? gaskets etc.....and im not sure but i dont think
i need rings yet as my car doesnt smoke(or leak,yes its true)at all. just trying to clean up without rebuilding
it all right now......

 

[kennypinkerton]

leave it together and run some seafoam through the carb.

 

[jlaird]

As long as it is running ok, do not teardown untill you are ready to rebuild, considering the age even a valve job could creat biger probs.

 

[zimmy]

seafoam?...im in arkansas theres no ocean hear! ; )

 

[kennypinkerton]

No some of this stuff - it'll disolve all that carbon build-up and clean out the whole thing...

https://www.seafoamsales.com/motorTuneUp.htm

They sell it a Advance auto parts, and several other local auto parts places. Works like a charm. Pour, no dribble it into the carb(s) while the engine is running. The exhaust will smoke horribly while all the carbon is disolving and being blown out, but you'll have a much better running car after that.

Pour a bit in your gas tank and it'll clean the rest of the fuel system over time.

And, unlike most fuel additives/cleaners this stuff actually does work!

 

[tony barnhill]

[ QUOTE ]
i happen to know that my piston heads have alot of carbon etc. built up on them

[/ QUOTE ]

What makes you think that?

If she's running fine, do as Kenny said - pour a can of Seafoam in the oil & another in the gas tank & drive her hard for a bit...then change the oil

 

[zimmy]

tony
i can see all the nastiness down the plug holes with a flashlight...not pretty
i will try seafoam but i cant drive yet as i need tires and clutch....workin on the free/cheap stuff this week...ltr..z

 

[tony barnhill]

Well, you might be just looking at what's noramlly there after a car's been driven an long as that one has....don't open her up unless there's a reason

 

[zimmy]

just thinking thered be more room for gas etc. without all that crud in the way..theres a skid mark of it on my carport from first starting, kinda like a baby pic ; )
dont worry i wont operate!
dont wanna let the smoke out, as they say in electronics!
should i clean up the motor or wait till it starts leaking something? ; ).......z

 

[tony barnhill]

I'd run some SeaFoam through it...smoke on initial startup points to valve stem seal...I can replace those on an MGB without removing head - not sure about a Midget though

does it smoke if you start it, get it to normaal temp, turn it off, wait a short time & restart? Or is it just when the engine's cold?

 

[zimmy]

i havent seen any smoke to speak of....maybe on first startup....havent noticed nothing out of the normal...
ps..never look into your plug holes with a flashlight...just have a friend do it and tell you it looks great!....guess its a phobia, i dont like my pistons dirty ; ) ill b ok!

 

[zimmy]

oh and when i mentioned "first startup" in the previous post,i meant first time starting the car since owning it...dont know how long it sat till then....i dont think it smokes at all but ill keep an eye out on future starts....thanks tony

 

[kennypinkerton]

Run a bit of Seafoam through the carb anyway... It'll clean things up a bit. and it won't hurt anything. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif