So I'm wanting to clean the carbon much off my pistons ready for new rings etc but the local motor factors and supercheap etc only seem to sell carb cleaner in aerosols.

I want a 4 litre tin of the stuff so I can soak the pistons overnight as soaking works far better than using the aerosols.

So anyone got any idea where I can get a non-aerosol amount of carb cleaner?

Ta

Contact some of the industrial solvent manufacturers and they may give you a supplier. Is there a manufacturer name on the aerosols?

Solchem.chetwynd st loganholme hes got everything.

I shall see what Solchem say and then have a look for local chemical manufacturers.

Thanks so far peps

The active ingredient in some carb cleaners e.g. Nulon is:

1. Toluene 30-60%
2. Acetone 10-30%
3. Methanol 10-30%

All nasty stuff. I assess MSDS for a living so all of the ingredients are listed on the specific MSDS. Bad for your health, read the instructions and wear a proper cartridge mask not a paper mask if you are going to work with it for a while.

Others have xylene in them instead of toluene. Xylene and Acetone I know you can get from Bunnnings. I'd try that first without the methanol and see how you go.

Solchem are distributed via these guys in Queensland.
http://www.auschem.com.au/ 

Note these are all Dangerous Goods and cannot be posted. You will have to pick them up.

But again, I would try the solvents ex Bunnings first,

permatex sell a 5 or 10 l tin

Yes. Just add together. No reaction or big boom boom.

But check out Birdman's lead as well. But I guess it might not be cheap in those quantities.

The chemical that I've used before on seized motors on old cast iron blocks was called Butyl Cellosolve. This is not easy to get in non commercial quantities however.

I think the Samba suggested something called Berrymans Chemi Dip but I don't think that's available here and can't be shipped.

Whatever you use keep an eye on it as you can never be totally sure what your metal exactly is but these solvents should be ok.

Mix a 50/50 of ATF (auto trans fluid) and Acetone -- It is the world's best penetrating agent -- -- It will dissolve and loosen anything and far better than .. .. well .. anything else

And since we can't get good parts cleaner here in California anymore, I've found that diesel starter fluid (ether) is great for those oily/dirty messes -- I buy it by the case -- -- please use in a well ventilated area LOL

My son-in-law dropped his rusty extractors in a tub of molasses mixed (I think) 10 or 5:1.
Utterly amazing! Cleaned back to shiny steel! Put a lid over the top though, jeez it stinks. Maybe that would work for cleaning cases too?

Fiatdude thanks for the reminder of ATF and Acetone, I'm rifling out cases this week, I was going to use carb clean spray, but that mix is cheap and cheerful, I might give it a go.

The molasses or vinegar or citric acid or phosphoric acid is good for iron! It removes the rust really well. However pistons are not steel. The active ingredient of lots of alloy mag wheel cleaner is an acid.

I would be wary of any acidic material near my Pistons or Al or Mg alloy blocks/cases. These react with the metal. The solvent only dissolves carbon gunk muck.

However for derusting any steel I soak parts in citric acid solution. Citric acid can be bought from home brewing places and it doesn't stink like molasses.

I believe the action of the molasses isn't the molasses itself but probably the vinegar(acetic acid)that it ferments to.

Oh and any acid will probably do for derusting.Even pool acid (hydrochloric acid) when diluted will be good for brushing onto steel( not soaking in it). Just remember to watch it and flush well afterwards and watch the flash rust. Wear gloves when touching recently refused by acid steel.

Don't use it on cast iron like master cylinders as it likes to remove too much of the surface. Go on ask me how I know all these things😀