Cleaning an aluminum head

Larry Hill · 08-18-2021, 08:15 AM

What is the best way to remove carbon buildup. The wire brushes I used on the iron heads are too aggressive for the aluminum heads.
Thanks

Ronnie Hamlin · 08-18-2021, 08:36 AM

3M makes plastic Roloc discs for cleaning aluminum parts. I think they call them bristle discs and are available in different amount of aggressive according to the color. I tend to use the yellow ones

SSDiv6 · 08-18-2021, 10:05 AM

Oven cleaner, Super Clean, Brake cleaner, 100 grit 3M Pro-Pad Hand Sanding Sponge and lots of elbow grease.

Greg West · 08-18-2021, 10:15 AM

We used Snap-On (Bluepoint) p/n AC16C wire brushes in our test labs. These brushes would not damage aluminum heads or blocks. The wire diameter is .006" so they are quite soft.

FED 387 · 08-18-2021, 11:06 AM

Larry--- you might look into using Berrymans Chem Dip-# 0996 carb cleaner--dont soak parts for more than 30-45 minutes at a time and "lightly" brush the carbon with a parts cleaning brush ---then take a shop towel and "dry and rub the carbon" it will come off just takes time depends on how bad it is may have to repeat the procedure multiple times--- Dick

Larry Hill · 08-18-2021, 12:36 PM

I got some Dremel tool wire brushes the steel wire ones last longer than the brass ones. And have some ss steel tooth brushes to use in the runners with brakeclean.

Thanks for all the good ideas.
Common sense in abundance is genius!

pmrphil · 08-18-2021, 01:21 PM

Carb clean will dissolve the carbon way better than the brake cleaner.

Jack Zimmerman · 08-18-2021, 02:45 PM

On my iron heads, bead blasting them in my blast cabinet with walnut shell media works pretty well in the exhaust ports and the other nooks and crannies, etc. as long as the heads are completely disassembled such that you can wash out all of the media with a garden hose and compressed air when you're done. And I've cleaned other aluminum parts with walnut shells as well and they don't change the surface finish at all so I'm guessing that they would work well and be OK on a cylinder head. But you should probably try it on a non-critical area first and start with a relatively low pressure. And if you are not aware, Harbor Freight has the walnut shell media if you need some.

Larry Hill · 08-18-2021, 03:29 PM

I will shell out some dollars for some shells and some carb cleaner and give it a try.

We have black walnut trees in the yard and to crack the shells it takes a big hammer and safety glasses.

Jim Wahl · 08-18-2021, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Hill

I will shell out some dollars for some shells and some carb cleaner and give it a try.

We have black walnut trees in the yard and to crack the shells it takes a big hammer and safety glasses.

I just spit sweet tea outa my nose! Thanks Larry. Jim

.

08-18-2021, 08:15 AM	#1
Larry Hill Live Reporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hickory, Ky Posts: 10,629 Likes: 1,919 Liked 10,679 Times in 2,222 Posts	Cleaning an aluminum head What is the best way to remove carbon buildup. The wire brushes I used on the iron heads are too aggressive for the aluminum heads. Thanks __________________ IHM Used Parts https://ihmusedparts.com 888-821-1817

08-18-2021, 08:36 AM	#2
Ronnie Hamlin Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Chalybeate Springs, N.C. Posts: 131 Likes: 18 Liked 29 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Cleaning an aluminum head 3M makes plastic Roloc discs for cleaning aluminum parts. I think they call them bristle discs and are available in different amount of aggressive according to the color. I tend to use the yellow ones

08-18-2021, 10:05 AM	#3
SSDiv6 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 3,040 Likes: 712 Liked 1,568 Times in 579 Posts	Re: Cleaning an aluminum head Oven cleaner, Super Clean, Brake cleaner, 100 grit 3M Pro-Pad Hand Sanding Sponge and lots of elbow grease.

08-18-2021, 10:15 AM	#4
Greg West Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 63 Likes: 26 Liked 52 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Cleaning an aluminum head We used Snap-On (Bluepoint) p/n AC16C wire brushes in our test labs. These brushes would not damage aluminum heads or blocks. The wire diameter is .006" so they are quite soft.

08-18-2021, 11:06 AM	#5
FED 387 VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,416 Likes: 521 Liked 330 Times in 178 Posts	Re: Cleaning an aluminum head Larry--- you might look into using Berrymans Chem Dip-# 0996 carb cleaner--dont soak parts for more than 30-45 minutes at a time and "lightly" brush the carbon with a parts cleaning brush ---then take a shop towel and "dry and rub the carbon" it will come off just takes time depends on how bad it is may have to repeat the procedure multiple times--- Dick Last edited by FED 387; 08-18-2021 at 11:07 AM. Reason: spelling

08-18-2021, 12:36 PM	#6
Larry Hill Live Reporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hickory, Ky Posts: 10,629 Likes: 1,919 Liked 10,679 Times in 2,222 Posts	Re: Cleaning an aluminum head I got some Dremel tool wire brushes the steel wire ones last longer than the brass ones. And have some ss steel tooth brushes to use in the runners with brakeclean. Thanks for all the good ideas. Common sense in abundance is genius! __________________ IHM Used Parts https://ihmusedparts.com 888-821-1817

08-18-2021, 01:21 PM	#7
pmrphil Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: CT Posts: 456 Likes: 1,794 Liked 346 Times in 150 Posts	Re: Cleaning an aluminum head Carb clean will dissolve the carbon way better than the brake cleaner. __________________ Phil Molski PMR Performance S/C 1623

08-18-2021, 02:45 PM	#8
Jack Zimmerman Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Clemmons, NC Posts: 35 Likes: 0 Liked 11 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Cleaning an aluminum head On my iron heads, bead blasting them in my blast cabinet with walnut shell media works pretty well in the exhaust ports and the other nooks and crannies, etc. as long as the heads are completely disassembled such that you can wash out all of the media with a garden hose and compressed air when you're done. And I've cleaned other aluminum parts with walnut shells as well and they don't change the surface finish at all so I'm guessing that they would work well and be OK on a cylinder head. But you should probably try it on a non-critical area first and start with a relatively low pressure. And if you are not aware, Harbor Freight has the walnut shell media if you need some.

08-18-2021, 03:29 PM	#9
Larry Hill Live Reporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hickory, Ky Posts: 10,629 Likes: 1,919 Liked 10,679 Times in 2,222 Posts	Re: Cleaning an aluminum head I will shell out some dollars for some shells and some carb cleaner and give it a try. We have black walnut trees in the yard and to crack the shells it takes a big hammer and safety glasses. __________________ IHM Used Parts https://ihmusedparts.com 888-821-1817 Last edited by Larry Hill; 08-18-2021 at 03:32 PM.