Td5 Block Deck

New AMC head is assembled. I finished cleaning the block deck with acetone and a 3M Bristle Disc. There are still quite a few small pores on the block deck after all of this. I don’t see how this could get any cleaner without removing the entire engine and having the deck machined.

For those that have done this, are these surface pores on the block deck acceptable / within spec? Or am I just asking for another Oil - to - Coolant Leak? Thanks.

Well, I’m gonna answer my own question. Just refitted a brand new AMC Head with Elring gasket and new AMC head bolts. It still has a leak - oil to coolant and Cooalnt to Oil. It Really sucks and is depressing. But live and learn. If you engine block deck looks like the fotos above. I’d pull the engine and get it machined.

oil cooler ?

@EeEk , at this point, I feel that I’m chasing my tail. Very well may be the oil cooler. Gonna source all new gaskets, O-rings, and seals for the oil cooler prior to throwing in the towel. I’m pretty spent at this point, emotionally and financially. But worth one last shot.

Oil to coolant is very rarely head gasket on any engine. If it is it can only be from the supply gallery up to the head. The oil has to be pressurized more than the coolant so it has to be pumped oil.

@EeEk , Thanks for that.. Still a little worn out after scrubbing everything down and flushing the system. I'm trying to be positive. So If I understand correctly, you are saying, the "triangles" and "ovals" on the block deck all carry oil, and there is little chance oil is passing into the coolant system from the block deck area?

I can't rule out the oil cooler. But, I did replace the oil cooler 3 years ago with a Chinese Ebay knock-off 3 years ago. I doubt that that oil cooler itself cracked, but maybe the 0-ring seals that bolt up to the oil cooler housing were less than OE quality or the unit itself was less than true. Still really scratching my head on this.

I will tackle the Oil Cooler and replace everything again there, prior to removing the head. I'm up for any additional input. Thanks!

In your first pic top right...the small hole next to the head bolt hole will be where pumped oil gets to the cylinder head. Oil in coolant would have to be from here as its under pressure greater than the coolant. All the other strange shaped holes are either coolant {pressurized when hot) or oil returns no pressure. Coolant could pass to the sump but oil cannot pass to coolant via these holes.

It'll also take many flushes to get rid of oil from coolant, we added washing powder to the coolant and drive it until hot, flush repeat...until you get fed up or run out of washing powder....no big deal if there is traces of oil left.

It could be cracked head. cracked block but its 99% more likely to be the oil cooler

I'll put the new oil cooler parts on order this week. Fingers Crossed!
Thanks again, EeEk!