Crashmurray1985

So I was taking my engine apart to replace the head gasket and took the valve cover off an it was black (like exhaust black) then when I got down to the head an underneath where the raisers are it was that black and crusted on there any ideas on what to do I sprayed alittle wd40 on a rag and tried to wipe alittle off and it's on there solid any advice would be great thanks by the way it's a 89 jeep cherokee original motor and everything

mooseman5

theyre just carbon deposits, try spraying it down with some brake cleaner and it should rub off

gms0623

X2 but carb cleaner won't be as harsh on the metal and the fumes won't choke you to death quite as much

holycaveman

If you are replacing the head gasket because it was leaking. I would not put it back together without having it re surfaced. Any good machine shop will clean it up spotless for you.

Head gaskets don't just "blow". Metal expands from heat allowing the gasket to not hold. Most every time the head is warped.

Crashmurray1985

Yeah I checked that thismorning the head isn't warped at all just saved it I guess thanks for the help guys I really mean it