The most cracked head you've run?

[4x4_Welder]

The problems continue on the Hatch. Apparently, when you use a rag stuffed down the intake port while you weld a nut onto a broken bolt, a nice ball of hot metal can still get through, and eventually into the cylinder. So, pulled the head, just a bunch of pock-marks all over the head and piston, but no actual damage. I've run cars with worse. My real concern thoguh is after cleaning the head, I found cracks between both pairs of valves, and on one side the crack extends down to the casting line, halfway to the valve on the intake side. It didn't burn any coolant, but I'm not ruling out a leak stop having been used. The head isn't warped at all, so should I be actually concerned with this crack? What's the worst you've seen without coolant leakage, and can I expect at least a bit more service from this head? Or should i just block the EGR and use my spare left side head? I really don't like the thought of running a cracked head, knowing it could go at any time. But then, I suppose it could give a few thousand miles yet, I don't expect this engine to be needed past another 4k or so.

[GeneralDisorder]

Cracks between the valves are extremely common. So common that subaru issued a service bullitin to ignore them unless they actually extend into the coolant passage. If you can't get a fingernail inside the crack, it's fine. Some have peened them shut only to have them come back anyway. Don't worry about it.

 

GD

[bgd73]

that means the heads are happy.

I found the same cracks on v8 gm.. if it has got them, it is a happy head. most likely content. I found some that intentional grooved between valves, later year heads. Some designers knew it was inevitable.