valve colver???

**spre23** · 12-11-2008 01:18 PM

this weekend i am going to change my valve cover gasket and hopefully paint it black.
However, i know that there will be some black carbon deposits on the inside of the valve cover. How can i clean this and do the carbon deposits affect anything?

Thanks

**AP-Specialties** · 12-11-2008 01:29 PM

409

**Seerlah** · 12-11-2008 01:31 PM

I did the same thing a couple months back. I had a leak, and decided to paint the valve cover while at it. I used black paint found at Autozone that can handle high temps (I forget the brand name). What I did was use engine degreser to clean the valve cover, wipe it dry (or rinse with water and dry), and then simply spray painted it black. Just make sure to tape over where you ground the ignition coil harness before painting. You need it to touch metal. I did not think about it at first and used paint thinner to remove the paint that already dried.

To answer your initial question, just use engine degreaser. Gets all the deposits off for a clean spray.

**spre23** · 12-11-2008 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by Seerlah

I did the same thing a couple months back. I had a leak, and decided to paint the valve cover while at it. I used black paint found at Autozone that can handle high temps (I forget the brand name). What I did was use engine degreser to clean the valve cover, wipe it dry (or rinse with water and dry), and then simply spray painted it black. Just make sure to tape over where you ground the ignition coil harness before painting. You need it to touch metal. I did not think about it at first and used paint thinner to remove the paint that already dried.

To answer your initial question, just use engine degreaser. Gets all the deposits off for a clean spray.

so its ok to use engine degreaser on the INSIDE of the valve cover where the cams touch the valve cover, cuz iam not really conserned with the outside of the valve cover cuz iam just painting it.

**Seerlah** · 12-11-2008 03:11 PM

I was talking about the carbon build up on the outside. What would it matter on the other side? I just left it as is. But I don't see why engine degreaser can not be used on the other side. Just make sure you get the chemical compound completely rinsed off and completely dried before replacing. I have no idea how the engine would react if it were to mix with the oil.