the bent pushrods beat up those holes in the head gasket. they dont do anything though but let the pushrod through. so if you are gonna pull the head just to change the gasket, save yourself the trouble if your new pushrods wont touch the beat up holes in the gasket on there now.

 

Ok, so this will not affect anything? I would think this would allow fluids to ix with the size of the holes, or do no fluids get pushed through this area?

 

lol... no!

 

If you have anything besides oil all over that area..then you have bigger problems.

Oil comes through the Pushrod and flows back down through that area..if anything it will help the flowback..lol

As long as the Head isn't beat up..you are good.

Put it this way..if you can visibly see the Gasket surface in any area of the Engine with it fully assembled..then that area probably isn't essential..