Can I use oven cleaner (composition: 5-15% aliphatic compounds, 2-aminoethanol, butane and propane...) to clean the carbon off the cylinders and pistons of my BMW R80GS 1991 Motorbike (without damaging it)? I believe they are Nikasil coated, the rest aluminium?
Also, what other household utensils can be used? Brass brush too hard? Toothbrush, steel wool?
Why chance it when some carb cleaner will do the trick for you. It should take carbon off of the piston without any worry of damage to the piston. Use an old, broken piston ring to clean out the ring lands.
Dude spend the extra 3 bucks and buy a proper engine cleaner. Spraying sodium hydroxide on aluminum is a bad idea.
I would use a nylon brush drill bit to clean off carbon.
Although it's technically not an automotive product, I use CLP to clean gunk and carbon off automotive parts. It's great stuff IMO.
