I was reading Car Craft today and I know their info isn't always accurate, but I read that if you polish the tips of your pistons it will help prevent carbon buildup which obviously leads to lost power. Does anyone know if this idea carries any merit?

 

now THAT is attention to detail.

 

Some. Its kinda like the porcelian coating, it not only reflects heat better but is so smooth it doesnt give much for the carbon to build up on. Its not perfect of course, but it does help a little bit. Carbon kinda sticks to everything after a while.
Heres a pic of polished combustion chambers, you can see what little it helped, about 10,000 miles on these heads

 

Another bonus when ploishing/taking all the sharp edges off the top of the piston is this helps prevent "hot spots" on the piston.


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ASE Mechanic/Machinist/Smog Tech

1999 NBM Trans Am, flowmaster,FRA,Pro Kit,BMR STB, polished calipers.
1986 Chevy 3/4 ton pick up,flowmasters,4.10s,
1981 corvette FOR SALE
1995 ZX6R,Yosh,D207s

GO #3

[This message has been edited by Engineboy (edited September 17, 2000).]

 

in the race car we do coatthe pistioons, both the skirts and the tops... for anti friction and heat control. i though the big thing was puttin dimples in the piston surface to creat better swirrl...

Steve