Did I damage my head cleaning carbon off of it? (pic attached)

[Spoolin4Ever]

I was scraping really hard carbon off of my valves, using a razor blade. I put a nick in the aluminum head. Is this gonna cause a problem sealing the head gasket?

Right next to the blade in the pic you can see the scratch.

 

[3kgt2nv]

I would get rid of any sharp bits on the edges and hope for the best unless you want to get it decked.

 

[97ebaygst]

Beening that's it.right off the combustion chamber you might have a problem.

 

[knochgoon24]

You should have just pulled the valves.

What kind of headgasket do you plan on using?

 

[Spoolin4Ever]

You should have just pulled the valves.

What kind of headgasket do you plan on using?

Stock oem

 

[brian9397gsx]

You will be fine use some copper spray to make you feel better. Stop with the scraper use some combustion chamber cleaner and let it set then use a scotch brite pad to clean it up.

You should take those valves out have the surface checked and with that amount of build up a lapping would do you some good.

 

[TexasTurbo]

I really would be surprised if that causes you problems. You're not fixin to make 1000hp are you? I'd make sure there's no sharp edge or any burr of metal sticking up on that and just install it provided that everything else is straight already.

 

[g4ebguy90]

That doesn't look bad at all. I would not worry about it.

 

[TSIfreek]

You will be fine Just get the surface real clean with cleaner and a razor blade. I woudnt worry about it.
If you have some spare cash bring it to a engine shop to have them go threw it and they can get it looking like brand new again for around 100$ ready to bolt on

 

[LKWTSI]

Depending on how deep that nick is on the cylinder edge, you might end up creating a flame track, that will eventually eat out the HG and may cause a blown gasket at some point.

I had a similar problem after I tore down an engine I had bought and found the shop had decked the block and the builder, put it back together and hoped nobody would find out. I, by chance, pulled the head off before I ran the engine and found the nick. I ended up getting my old block worked on and rebuilt the entire motor from scratch.

here's a pic of my nick, on the block. I had 2 extremely reliable experienced racing engine builders tell me to scrap the block and start fresh.

This is just my opinion, but more advice is better than none.

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

I would get it decked, Then stop using a steel blade to scrape it and use a plastic scraper. Aluminum is softer than steel so the steel will gouge the aluminum.

 

[Spoolin4Ever]

I would get it decked, Then stop using a steel blade to scrape it and use a plastic scraper. Aluminum is softer than steel so the steel will gouge the aluminum.

I was cleaning carbon off the valves, really hard carbon that was hard to get off. Scrapers are too big for that.

But I think I'm good now, I took it to a local shop and they said it should be fine, not very deep and not long enough to effect the gasket.

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

The best way to do that is to pull the valves and clean them while they are removed.

 

[DSMReviver]

Don't use a razor blade to clean your head and your block!