Best way to clean a cylinder head?

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

Non of the liquids suggested will work.
Either get it vapor blasted if the deposits are very bad, or don't bother.
The most important thing to do while you have the head off is to replace the valve stem seals (even if they aren't leaking), check/replace the valve guides and re-seat the valves - you can buy kits which include the paste and a lapping tool (wooden thing with a suction cup either end)...it's fun at first, but gets a bit boring after a while.
Wash any paste off with paraffin.

[Acheron]

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

Non of the liquids suggested will work.
Either get it vapor blasted if the deposits are very bad, or don't bother.
The most important thing to do while you have the head off is to replace the valve stem seals (even if they aren't leaking), check/replace the valve guides and re-seat the valves - you can buy kits which include the paste and a lapping tool (wooden thing with a suction cup either end)...it's fun at first, but gets a bit boring after a while.
Wash any paste off with paraffin.

The two exhaust valves on #1 and #2 are slightly raised whereas the valves on 3 and 4 are fine. All the inlet valves are flush. Is this going to cause a problem?

[Dog Star]

vrooom said:

that head look like it has been sprayed silver.... do it with wire brush.

It does - but it hasn't.

[Dog Star]

vrooom said:

that head look like it has been sprayed silver.... do it with wire brush.

It does - but it hasn't.

[The Black Flash]

Acheron said:

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

Non of the liquids suggested will work.
Either get it vapor blasted if the deposits are very bad, or don't bother.
The most important thing to do while you have the head off is to replace the valve stem seals (even if they aren't leaking), check/replace the valve guides and re-seat the valves - you can buy kits which include the paste and a lapping tool (wooden thing with a suction cup either end)...it's fun at first, but gets a bit boring after a while.
Wash any paste off with paraffin.

The two exhaust valves on #1 and #2 are slightly raised whereas the valves on 3 and 4 are fine. All the inlet valves are flush. Is this going to cause a problem?

I'd be pretty worried if valves were not seating properly. It's not the cam just pushing them in a bit is it?

[NHK244V]

Valves i stick in a drill and clean the crud off with emery paper or a chisel if real bad, do not clean the seat areas ! (the angled bit on the oubtside that seals into the head).

[deadvalentine]

You lot are butchers! Screw drivers, stanley blades, wire brushes! Not to mention the salt and other chemicals in the dishwasher!! Also vapour blasting.. still a little too harsh for me and you still have to degrease before hand.

My preferred method is soda blasting using bicarbonate of soda cryatals. Has the same visual result as vapour blasting only difference is it doesnt take any metal away, you can leave valve stem seals in, leave valves in and even do engine internals without even rinsing it afterwards. It degreases as it goes and is so gentle you can even take paint off a car door to bare metal without taking the trim or glass off.

The idea is jot using anything harder than the metal your trying to clean. Now steel is harder than aluminium I.e. screwdrivers, stanley blades etc! Wire brushes unless you use brass but they never last that long.