ColonSlash Performance

ColonSlash Performance - Piston Soak

Piston Soak featuring Kano Labs Kreen

Engine using oil? Running a little rough?
In this article, Michael T. will show you how to use Kano Kreen to do a piston soak, which is said to be able to loosen stuck rings, and on the 1ZZ-FE, clean oil return holes in the pistons.
Often, Marvel Mystery Oil is used for such a thing, but Kano Kreen is said to work quite a bit faster.

First things first -- preparing for the piston soak.

Item Description Quantity Link to product

Kano Kreen Kano Engine Clean (for INTERNAL engine parts) 1 quart (you won't use all of it for this job) Kreen

Spark Plugs You'll be removing your spark plugs, might as well put new ones in Usually one per cylinder. For the 1ZZ-FE, it's definitely one per cylinder. Toyota Spark Plug Application Chart

One 10mm wrench For the coil packs (and the decorative engine cover) 1 NAPA, AutoZone, or similar

One 21mm (?) wrench For the PCV valve 1 NAPA, AutoZone, or similar

One 5/8" deep well socket and 6" extension For the spark plugs 1 NAPA, AutoZone, or similar

Anti-sieze compound SOME spark plugs (like NGK) don't need it! 1 small tube. NAPA or similar

Gunk Foaming Engine Cleaner Great for getting all the oil and grime away from what you're working on. 1 tall can NAPA, AutoZone, or similar

New PCV valve You needed one anyway One OEM ONLY! Go to your dealership parts counter

Item	Description	Quantity	Link to product
Kano Kreen	Kano Engine Clean (for INTERNAL engine parts)	1 quart (you won't use all of it for this job)	Kreen
Spark Plugs	You'll be removing your spark plugs, might as well put new ones in	Usually one per cylinder. For the 1ZZ-FE, it's definitely one per cylinder.	Toyota Spark Plug Application Chart
One 10mm wrench	For the coil packs (and the decorative engine cover)	1	NAPA, AutoZone, or similar
One 21mm (?) wrench	For the PCV valve	1	NAPA, AutoZone, or similar
One 5/8" deep well socket and 6" extension	For the spark plugs	1	NAPA, AutoZone, or similar
Anti-sieze compound	SOME spark plugs (like NGK) don't need it!	1 small tube.	NAPA or similar
Gunk Foaming Engine Cleaner	Great for getting all the oil and grime away from what you're working on.	1 tall can	NAPA, AutoZone, or similar
New PCV valve	You needed one anyway	One	OEM ONLY! Go to your dealership parts counter

The Gunk foaming engine cleaner is great, and resulted in a cleaner engine, making it more pleasant to work on.

Then remove the coil packs and the spark plugs.

Use a clean funnel and pour in a small amount of Kreen into each spark plug hole. Cover the spark plug holes with wadded paper towels and a sheet of cardboard, then crank the engine briefly. Pour some more Kreen back in, then let it stand overnight.

The next day (18-24hrs later), crank the engine (again, with towels and cardboard covering the spark plug tubes) to pump out any excess Kreen. Reinstall the *original* spark plugs, coil packs, and their electrical connectors, start the car, and watch the plumes of white fog pour out the tailpipe. Strangely, it smells pretty pleasant!

If you have a clear shot at a country road without other traffic, head there, and drive it hard. Cruise at 5000rpm and romp on the pedal periodically to get to redline. Keep it in a lower gear than normal and just let it rev high. This will force any broken up deposits to go out the tailpipe rather than settling back in somewhere. Otherwise, just sit in your driveway and keep reving it up. The fog dissipates fairly quickly.

After a 15-20 mile drive like this, do an oil change and THEN put in the new spark plugs. (The reason we waited to put the new ones in is that the spark plugs might be fouled by the post-Kreen "Italian Tune-Up".)