How can I tell if I’ve had a piston wash out?

Gotya, naturally the only thing you can do without breaking the seal is inspect the cylinder wall. Scopes like the one I linked often come with attachable mirrors that make it easier to see out the side.

Piston wash is a pattern you’ll find on the crown of a piston that gives an indication of how even the flow is between the ports as well as an indicator of where your jetting is at.

Here’s an example of piston wash pattern: