Piston Head Cleaning

I have the heads off of my 96 Lumina and before I put them back on I want to clean the top of my pistons, there is a lot of carbon buildup on them, is there a good way to do this? Is it OK to use a solvent on these as long as you drain the oil pan after cleaning. my main concern is to not get all the carbon that I am removing get stuck in the rings. I am thinking a solvent would be beter than scraping the carbon off.
What would be the best way to go about this?

Thanks
steve

put her back together, and take her for a long freeway drive, best way to clear all that out. he he he

That is a nice looking babe, How do you keep the door dings out, this car looks beautiful.
anyway about the carbon builup on the piston heads there is a lot, almost to the point of flaking off when you touch them, if there wasn't that much carbon I wouldn't be worried, but so much being built up I think I should at least clean this up while I have the heads off, can't think of a better time to get this done than now.
Thanks for your reply and hope to hear from you again.

Steve

I don't think a solvent should be used. Carbon is very inert, there is almost nothing that will have any effect on it chemically. I talked to a guy at a chrome shop once while getting some motorcycle pipes redone, and he showed me ho even after hot acid tanking the carbon is completely untouched on the pipes!

If you attempt to scrub or scrape it, you may leave fine gouges on the piston heads that will hold heat and cause burning of the surface. Any carbon that might find it's way onto the area between the top of the piston and the first ring can cause trouble as well. Carbon is real hard too (remember, that's what diamonds are made of), and will scratch the hell outta metal if in the wrong place.

I think Blake's got the right idea. Your best bet might be to leave it alone, then give it a good induction cleaning after reassembly, followed by a strong, long highway run. Sustained high temps are the best way to get carbon moving.