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!

08-18-2021, 08:15 AM	#1
Larry Hill Live Reporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hickory, Ky Posts: 10,629 Likes: 1,922 Liked 10,681 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: 3,043 Likes: 712 Liked 1,577 Times in 581 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: 522 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: 1,922 Liked 10,681 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