Just pulled the head of a 2.0, what a joy that was!! Once I had it off, I noticed that there is some carbon buildup on the pistons. It doesn't look to bad but is this a sign that the engine life is short? And would it be a good idea to scrap off what I can prior to installing the head?

Thanks for any help, Kerwin

 

you can scrub it off with a brass bristol brush but you will need to cover up you water jackets on the top of your block and oil in lets and after you are done putting it back together change your oil in case anything would drop into any the holes or down the cylinders

 

Carbon build up on top the pistons is normal. I would not worry about it unless it is thick. If it is thick and oily on one piston look for a problem in that particular cylinder. If it is thin and looks uniform, don't worry. If you really want it off just get a simple misting type spray bottle. Fill the bottle with water and lightly mist the top of the pistons and let it sit for about 24 hours and the carbon will get "fluffy" and soft and you can wipe it off with a rag.