My car is going to be painted in a couple days, I was thinking of having the valve cover sprayed with the same paint as the exterior. For those of you who have done this, have you noticed any dicolorization or any abnormalties due to engine heat. Please let me know, it would get painted red, and the body shop guy said it might discolor to an orange color due to the heat.
I painted mine, but I used Dupli-Color High-Temp Engine Paint. I'm sure normal paint would have complications, but I'd recommend what I used, because I've had it on my valve cover for more than 6 months now, with any discoloration or bubbling or anything!
I used regular old metallic paint on my valve cover and it's held up fine for over 4 years. I don't think high temp is necessary at all with the proper prep work. I do notice spots that weren't sanded/prepped as well peeling, but the rest is fine. The valve cover really never gets THAT hot.
Also, I did use high temp primer under the color coat, that might have helped as well.
You definitely want to take out the valve cover to paint it. It's too hard to get the entire area covered if you leave it on the engine, plus it'd take forever to dry!
First take it off, and then wash it with some engine degreaser or cleaner solution. DO NOT Use Dish Soap or hand soap - you'll regret it later (It will cause bubbles and the paint won't stick right).
Some might tell you to sand a little, but I didn't because I figure it's just plastic and there's nothing on it already. So I just put on some primer - a couple coats maybe 3, then used the Duplicolor MetalCast Adonized paint - about 3-4 coats, then I suppose you could do clear, but I didn't. I'm not sure what the clear would do, unless it was high temp.
But yeah, that's what I did, from what I can remember.
Originally posted by fixati0n
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For those who've done this, what prep work did you do? Did you spray it inside the engine bay or take it out and spray?
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Take it out!!!
As for prep...what I did was wash, dry, a little sanding with fine grit, then wash and dry again. Then a couple coats of primer, a little fine grit wet sanding, rinse and let dry. Then just paint and clear coat and you're good to go.
It's all about taking your time and following directions on the can. It will come out as good as you want it to if you are patient. :
I know when you get to the point where you're going to the color coat, you're going to want to use heavy coats cuz you're anxious to see what the color looks like, but BE PATIENT! USE LIGHT COATS!!! It's better to use light and numerous coats than heavy and crappy!
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Painted Valve Cover Question
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