Pushing back the boundaries of science

[Rusty's Uncle]

Sorting through my mountain of Fiat 500 & 126 bits I was checking out some used 500 pistons and cylinders. Having cleaned and prepared a few pistons before to take new rings which involves much scraping & wire brushing I wondered if there was an easier way to remove the carbon build up.
Did the obvious web search but only found suggestions about extremely hazardous and probably unobtainable substances . So the experiment began by dumping the piston tops in normal thick bleach for a soak. Result !! , the carbon started to dissolve quite quickly then after an hour or two I washed the pistons off with boiling water thjen gave them a scrub with a toothbrush and they came up fine. Had to use my wife's toothbrush  but I noticed her teeth are much shinier now 

[andyzeetec]

Sorting through my mountain of Fiat 500 & 126 bits I was checking out some used 500 pistons and cylinders. Having cleaned and prepared a few pistons before to take new rings which involves much scraping & wire brushing I wondered if there was an easier way to remove the carbon build up.
Did the obvious web search but only found suggestions about extremely hazardous and probably unobtainable substances . So the experiment began by dumping the piston tops in normal thick bleach for a soak. Result !! , the carbon started to dissolve quite quickly then after an hour or two I washed the pistons off with boiling water thjen gave them a scrub with a toothbrush and they came up fine. Had to use my wife's toothbrush  but I noticed her teeth are much shinier now 

Handy to know, 

Talking toothbrushes reminds me of a story one of the guys at work told me a while back.. went out boozing with his mates one night, got in rarther late, grabed the toothpaste, cleaned his teeth and felt an acute stinging sensation only to find his wife had swapped it with anusol.