Painting the valve covers

First and formost pressure wash and clean the crap out of the top of the engine. Inbetween each valvecover, down around the cylinder head, I mean everywhere!!!

Unbolt everyone and mind the gaskets, check them for cracks and plyability. With the gaskets off to the side, prep the covers and paint them your favorite color. After they dry be very careful the gaskets stay tight to the cover, and there is no debris on or around the mating surface. Set each one on carefully, and tighten the bolts just a smidge over finger tight.

Or to make the paint last longer Power coat them ?

I would but I don't have the money to and I already bought everything to do it. And I just have to take the cover off correct? Nothing else?

Just the 1 bolt for each cover. Wouldn't hurt to run the valve lash while it's open. And definitely clean things first, lots of crapola gets caught around the covers.

Warlock bud when are you gonna post up a little build thread !!?

One bolt for each cover and I took a wire wheel to mine and then got high heat primer and paint


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What color are you going to paint them? Powder Coat is not that much

cumminsrollcoal said:

One bolt for each cover and I took a wire wheel to mine and then got high heat primer and paint


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There is no reason for high temp paint on a valve cover. The engine itself does not get that hot. Yes, the exhaust manifold and turbo need high temp coatings but the rest of the motor will do just fine with normal car paint applied.

As far as powder coating things goes I remain unconvinced it is a great upgrade. I had some metal poles that were supposed to have been powder coated. The paint came off. Good quality paint dopes well enough as far as I can tell.

country_hick said:

There is no reason for high temp paint on a valve cover. The engine itself does not get that hot. Yes, the exhaust manifold and turbo need high temp coatings but the rest of the motor will do just fine with normal car paint applied.

As far as powder coating things goes I remain unconvinced it is a great upgrade. I had some metal poles that were supposed to have been powder coated. The paint came off. Good quality paint dopes well enough as far as I can tell.

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I used it just to be safe. Do it right the first time and you won't have to worry about it gain. That paint holds up a lot better anyways


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So when you take off the valve covers do you need to power wash them? And do I need to put something on the valves since they have been wet? I'm thinking of the doing the same.. What's the best paint to use?


Kyle McLeod
92 w250 2wd

I think he means power wash the top of the engine BEFORE you pull the valve covers, so you dont get any junk down into all those moving parts that the valve cover protects.

Ok thank you for clearing that up! So he said that you could use regular car paint for this?


Kyle McLeod
92 w250 2wd

Yes. The valve covers are not going to get hot enough for you to need high temp paint. the exhaust manifold and turbo are a whole nuther story.

You can use regular paint, just make sure you add a protective clear coat, gloss or matte your preference, and let it cure under a heat source. A heat lamp over night would be plenty.

Dont just slap some paint on them and head on down the road, you wont be pleased with the results.

Thanks I appreciate it! Is there anything I should do while I have the covers off?


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Valve Adjustment. B Series Valve Adjustment