what do you use to clean up the top of the pistons to knock off all that carbon off

[itlkick]

No, it does not block heat, it absorbs heat. And worse, if the carbon buildup gets heavy enough, it acts just like a diesel glowplug, causing preignition of the a/f mixture. Anyone who has experienced dieseling (run-on after shutting down) in an older carbed vehicle has experienced this problem!

Carbon is an insulator, it will not hold heat.

If you get too much you will raise the compression ratio of the vehicle and cause more heat during the combustion process which can cause detonation but the detonation is NOT CAUSED by the carbon.

[speedytang]

When you coat the pistons using your example, it is a even coating that allows equal temperature across the top of the piston. Carbon is not a good thing and should never be allowed to build-up on a piston(s).

[itlkick]

When you coat the pistons using your example, it is a even coating that allows equal temperature across the top of the piston. Carbon is not a good thing and should never be allowed to build-up on a piston(s).

That depends on your definition of "build-up". If you are talking about caked on sludge from excessive oil burning then yes. If you are talking about normal carbon build-up from a properly running engine then no - you are wasting your time removing it.