How To: Painting Valve Cover

[Equinox]

NOTICE:
DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS ON YOUR VEHICLE BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT YOUR VALVE COVER GASKET IS REUSABLE. OTHERWISE YOU WILL NEED TO GET ONE BEFORE STARTING.

Here is your normal stock valve cover, use it if you forget where some wires go when trying this.

http://www.mazdamp3.com/members/Equinox/valvecover/valve01.jpg

Now first thing you need to do is take off the valve cover. This might take a second, but make sure to keep track of things as you go, so you can put it all back together.

I cataloged each bolt when taking them out, I found that all the bolts on the outermost part of the cover along the edges are gold and 3cm long.

There are about two 5 cm gold bolts in the center area of the cover, one 1cm gold bolt holding a clip near the oil cap. Another four black bolts hold the spark coil mounts on the middle of the valve cover.

Next you will need to unhook two sensor harnesses on the passengerside of the valvecover, they are two little grey sensor clips that need to be unhooked. Also a wire bundle crosses over the cover, and clips into it in two places, this bundle happens to lead to the sensors you should have just unhooked. You can easily pull the two anchors out holding the wire with just a pull, and it snaps out, not to mention back in later.

Next there is a little black wire that leads to the middle of the valve cover, it easily pulls out, so you can place it to the side.
Also it is time to pull each spark wire inserts out from the center of the covers, make sure to number each one with a pen on the bottom-side of them, 1-2-3 and 4, to remember where to put them back, it sometimes can get confusing with all the wires. After numbering, just put them over the strut bar, out of the way.

Next on the farthest-most driverside of the valve cover on the SIDE, there should be a wire leading to it, just pull this off, this should be the breather that comes from your intake.

Now you should be ready to pull off the valve cover, where every bolt was, there is a small gold plate that serves as a grommet for all the wholes, watch these for some of them may be loose now, and when you pull off the valve cover they make fall off. Mine all stayed on until I flipped the cover over to see the underside and 2 came out. Just wait to take them out when you have the valve cover on a towel.

When you take the cover off, this is what you should see, your camshafts, valves, cam gears, and also notice where all the wires are now (spark wires etc.) that were on the valve cover. Make sure NOTHING gets into this area that is now uncovered. If you plan on having this uncovered for a long while, (overnight) put a garbage bag over it. Don't forget to close the hood!

http://www.mazdamp3.com/members/Equinox/valvecover/valve02.jpg
http://www.mazdamp3.com/members/Equinox/valvecover/valve03.jpg


Next step is to clean the valve cover. You must prep the cover to be painted. Best place to do this is in the garage on a towel.

****
The most important step on this project is the valve cover gasket, the gasket is a small rubber lining along the underside edges of the cover and along the spark plug holes. When I did this, my car had 12,500 miles on it and was 5 months old, and I found my gasket was as good as new. I also race a lot including autocross, and was surprised the gasket was in perfect condition, so I ended up having an extra gasket that I bought from the dealer beforehand - as when you install a gasket, you must wet it with oil a little to provide a seal, and seeing as my original was fine, and already oily, I just re-used it, but eve tho I'm going to re-use it, I still took it out, as shoudl you, it pulls out easily of the grooves of the underside of the cover and requires no tools.

Below is a picture of my original (and oily) gasket on the left, and my brand new dealer bought gasket on the right, bought it for $34.00.

http://www.mazdamp3.com/members/Equinox/valvecover/valve04.jpg


You will need to unscrew a small sensor bolted to the side of the cover, the sensor sticks into the camgear housing. The sensor is pictured above in the bottom left.

Also you will need to remove all the little gold plate grommets that are left over from every bolt you removed, notice the holes where the two long 5cm screws where, there are matching long grommets.

Once the above is done, you will need to remove the large rubber grommet left over from the hose that hooked into the center of the cover on the side that was closest to the dash. I had to put a screwdriver between the black rubber cylinder and the valve cover sides, and scoop it out, shooting it directly into my face.

Next remove the oil cap - duh.

Now that the valve cover is generaly one big piece of metal, I washed it in my bathtub with regular old soap, then high pressure washed it with degreaser at a local wash-it-yourself quarter fed drive up carwash place. It was somewhat clean, but not enough, so I sanded it down with 250 grit paper, to a nice chrome shine - I only did about half an hour of sanding tho, not much of a sander - I mostly concentrated on making the letters shine - so when I sand off the paint where the letters are, they will shine. I then washed all the sandpaper dust off, and dried the cover - time for painting.

I found there is actualy no need to mask off any valve cover holes, just make sure not to concentrate paint near any of the holes, and also NEVER paint from directly above, always paint at an angle.

The paint I used was 1200 degree high heat paint - I chose red. You don't need 1200 degree paint, 500 degree paint will do, bought at your local auto part store, or hardware store. Choose your color and start to painting. I painted the cover with a spray can, and with the first coat, don't get to compulsive trying to get everything the color you want, just get a general covering of paint on the cover, otherwise if you concentrate trying to paint all the silver metal you may get too much on it. Just sweep over the valve cover with about 3 passes, 3 seconds long each. Make sure also to paint the cover from differing angles so as not to miss a spot. I ended up giving the cover about 10 coats, waiting about 10 minutes in between each coat. When I was done, I waited only an hour for it to fully dry, though I suggest you wait longer.

http://www.mazdamp3.com/members/Equinox/valvecover/valve05.jpg

WHen I was done painting, all I put back in the original valve cover gasket, pushing it into the underside grooves with my fingers, and then put it back on my engine - replaced all sensors grommets, bolts, etc etc.

[quikmp5]

Cant wait to see the finished product. I was just asking my younger brother if I should try this out and then I see your wonderful post. Thanks for taking the time to give us as much detail as you did. I'm not sure if I trust myself doing all that, but you made it seem pretty simple.

This is what makes this forum such a big help.

Keep it coming!

[BK's black P5]

Cooool. I like it.

[Equinox]

Here is the finished product, I used a block sander (rubber pad which sand paper can be attached) that cost me like
$4.00 at a local hardware store to sand off the paint on the lettering. Make sure not to sand off the lettering until after 24 hours has passed for the paint to dry. You can drive while it is drying tho, it will help it cure right.

http://www.mazdamp3.com/members/Equinox/valvecover/valve06.jpg

[OurP5]

http://members.fortunecity.com/chalia/pics/valve06.jpg

Damn, Equinox.

That looks really nice man. Thanks for the idea. I see a trip to the store in my future for some of the brightest yellow paint I can find!

[derrick1623]

nice job equinox, not only on the painting itself, but also the write-up.!

[311Mazda]

Very nice, this is exactly how a thread should look whenever anyone dose a nifty thing like this to there car. Pics, full write up and follow up. Good job! :D BTW this is interesting to see because I did the oppisite of what you did, I just painted the mazda 16 valve part in red high temp paint and left the valve cover on. hehe Now I'm starting to think I should of done it the other way around.

[MP5s Make Ready]

GREAT JOB DAMMIT!!!!(thumb)

[Equinox]

Just found out - most automotive part stores also have high heat clear coat paint as well, and if they don't I'm sure if you asked they would get it. I wish I knew this cause boy does it make it look so much better - I already get people askign if my valve cover is stock - if it had a shine, maybe they would just assume.

[low_psi]

definately a great mod! i've seen equinox's valve cover in person and its quite nice. the pictures don't do justice to reality.

[AcoupDetat]

That looks good.. i painted my black...it feels like the honda valve covers cause i used truck liner paint. but red looks good.

[jaje]

I'm curious on how it's holding up...i'm thinking of doing mine too but concerned that it'll peel or flake easily quickly

fyi: another site with diy valve cover painting...http://www.geocities.com/mysihb/HowTo.html

i read along time ago that you can annodize the valve cover b/c it's aluminum...i can't find the post that had it...you'd have to basically cook the valve cover in acid with dye and using a 12volt batter for 15 minutes to do it right

[Equinox]

holding up perfectly fine, good as new, but I need to wash it with high pressure wash like I have before with success. As for anodizing it, if you anadize this for 15 minutes with red ... you'll end up with a barely pink valve cover - I've tried anodizing, after four hours, it will still be pink. it sucks.

[Groza187]

nicely done

[melicha8]

I just did mine today and it looks f*&%in' awesome...well from what I could tell since it was dark by the time I was finished. I went to kragen for a can of Dupicolor Gloss Black engine enamel. The stuff sprayed on smooth as silk. I put cotton in the holes of the oil cap and oil distributor to prevent overspray. After three coats I took it to the oven and let the stuff cure in the oven for about 10 minutes at 300 degrees. After it cooled the stuff was hard as rock. To make the letters stand out instead of sanding it down I painted over it with my silver touch up paint. Let me tell you what a difference. Oh one more thing I did was sand the aluminum down with 220 grit sandpaper to make it even smoother. Took me all day but it was worth it and it looks factory. Pictures? don't know when but within a week or two

[PR5hokie]

I PM'd Equinox and then I realized that this ? may benefit all.

Regarding the metal washer/bracket things on the underside of the valve cover....do they come out easily (i.e. is there a good posibility of them falling into the engine block)? I'm thinking of working on mine tomorrow and thought I'd ask. Thanks.

Matt

[PR5hokie]

I figured out my question....I thought the grommets were underneath the valve cover but they are visible when looking at it. No real chance of grommet falling into block. In fact I had to use a screwdriver and pry them out a bit. Can't wait till' I'm done with this project.

Matt

[kidkorrupt]

are the pictures down only tonight or have they been gone for awhile?

[Equinox]

Give me a day to get them back up, my hosting site killed them

[Equinox]

pictures should all work now, thanks for the notice on them dying

[scootzpr5]

just a quick question about the bolts on the valve cover.....I heard that they have to be torqued down to a certain spec. is this true? If so does anyone know what it is? sorry if it sounds like a dumb question...

[Witchdoktor]

had a seen it before I did mine it would have saved me some headaches:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid47/pee5c422cbb720396871d881d5540af10/fcc4fd25.jpg

[twizyours]

Vave cover bolts - 60.8 - 86.7 in-lbs

Their is also a tightning order. Also the probe manual lists the same specs as shop manual for torque specs and the engine stuff is pretty much the same. Incase your in a jam and need info that manual might help.

[BadAsheP5]

looks great! i was wondering...what brand/specific shade of the red color paint did you get?? in the pic it matches really well...??

[BadAsheP5]

and 1 more thing...sorry...this girl knows hardly anything when it comes to this stuff...lol
how do you know if your valve cover gasket is reusable or not ???

[Equinox]

I'm gonan actually suggest you get a new gasket no matter if you think it is reusable or not. Truthfully I only suggest reusing the gasket if it has under 500 miles. Don't do what I did. :D

Don't know what brand of paint I used, since I just went to the local autoparts store and bought high heat paint.

[Coqui258]

Ouch... painting his valve cover RIGHT on top of a church paper... OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[jersey_emt]

I have a MSP, and it has a matte black plastic cover over the valve cover. What should I use to paint this?

[Equinox]

Originally posted by jersey_emt
I have a MSP, and it has a matte black plastic cover over the valve cover. What should I use to paint this?

just prep the black plastic first by washing it thouroughly and then going back over it with rubbing alcohol or the same thing called "plastick prep", it's all rubbing alky tho. Then just paint it with high temp paint like normal, but the lowest degree you can find so it cures right =)

[p5sundevil]

i would also sand it before the primer coat..so wash with an abrasive soap or abrasive pad and then sand it with 400 grit or more and then wash once more for the sanding dust before the primer.

[MSP Chris]

Does the p5 valve cover transfer over? I don't see why it would'nt just trying to see if anyone has 100% positive answer.

Guys when your sanding these valve covers, I would start with a half hour of 250 grit and then about 500 grit for another 30 so you don't have any imperfections. Then even spray a coat of sandable primer and sand that with 500. Then spray it with some high temp paint.

I'll begin on mine if I can get a p5, I plan on using wrinkle paint though.

[azeli73]

I've got a 2002.5 P5 with about 25,000 miles on it. Think I'll need a valve cover gasket? I was thinking of doing this over the weekend or the next....

[Equinox]

yup, you will need one.

Also, yes a p5 valve cover will fit any 01+ protege type, and yes the mazdaspeed is a protege. Just the plastic cover on the MSP wont fit back on the protege5 cover =)

[MSP Chris]

I really dont care about it, I dont think it looks that good. Wonder if anyone in tampa would want to trade.

[N2OInferno]

Those of you that want an anodized look for your valve cover, check out DupliColor Metalcast paint. It's 500 degree paint so it should work and it comes in five colors. I think that's what I'm going to use. I just can't wait until it warms up. I can't paint anything when it's 16 degrees outside!

http://www.duplicolor.com/products/metalcast.html

Excellent write up. Thanks. :)

[Equinox]

Originally posted by N2OInferno
Those of you that want an anodized look for your valve cover, check out DupliColor Metalcast paint. It's 500 degree paint so it should work and it comes in five colors. I think that's what I'm going to use. I just can't wait until it warms up. I can't paint anything when it's 16 degrees outside!

http://www.duplicolor.com/products/metalcast.html

Excellent write up. Thanks. :)

let us know how it looks when yer done, I bet it will look supa awesome

[Matthew]

Originally posted by N2OInferno
Those of you that want an anodized look for your valve cover, check out DupliColor Metalcast paint. It's 500 degree paint so it should work and it comes in five colors. I think that's what I'm going to use. I just can't wait until it warms up. I can't paint anything when it's 16 degrees outside!

http://www.duplicolor.com/products/metalcast.html

Excellent write up. Thanks. :)

you could do what i did when i painted mine, and just take it off, bring it inside to sand it and all that and it will be warm enough to bring it outside real quick, spray it, then bring it back in. i put it on a crappy old towel while it was drying and kept the dogs out of that room :D

http://www.true-true.com/~matthew/Engine_Bay2.jpg

[MSP Chris]

How you like this?

[Matthew]

very nice :D

[Mr. Win]

http://www.duplicolor.com/gallery/gallery_images/metalcast_wheel_yellow.jpg

would this come off gold or yellow to you guys

[Matthew]

goldish yellow lol

[Mr. Win]

hah such a help

[N2OInferno]

I think it looks more yellow. Gold has a bit of orange to it. That's more like the color of piss.. if it were solidified and turned into a hubcap. :D

[NoahFex]

Here is my old one. I am doing my new one red:

http://www.squirrelsw.com/probe/bapoc2/P1010010.jpg

http://www.squirrelsw.com/probe/bapoc2/P1010008.jpg

[YelPro03]

Here is my old one. I am doing my new one red:

http://www.squirrelsw.com/probe/bapoc2/P1010010.jpg

http://www.squirrelsw.com/probe/bapoc2/P1010008.jpgSo what's with the Spam on the stut tower brace? Heating up lunch?

[Prodigy]

So what's with the Spam on the stut tower brace? Heating up lunch?


hahahaha.. it makes the car go faster!

[sidpro5]

Did my valve cover (black) and heat shield (chrome) tonight at work. Took my good ole time prepping, primering, and painting (even baked them between coats) and then finished them with high-temp clear. This is where the problem is.......the clear actually dulled the gloss and made the heat shield almost look sunlight silver! That, plus baking the parts made it damn near impossible to sand the paint off of the "16 VALVE DOHC" and "MAZDA" on the valve cover, so I had to paint over it again! Has anyone else had problems applying clear coat?

[sidpro5]

Upon further review, the valve cover doesn't look too bad, but the heat shield is dicolored at the bottom.
Sorry about the pic quality......

[PhatTrax]

what's next? painting the block how to?
http://www.g2usa.com/engine.shtml

[Mick]

holy crap, im gonna try this in white. Ill be sure to use a clear coat though so it looks like it came like that from the factory.

[Prodigy]

white will get dirty before the day is over...

good luck with that.

[PhatTrax]

jeez, talk about waking up the dead.

[Tasty]

This looks like such a nice mod. I would love to find a color close to the laser blue, or just go red to match the strut tower brace. I would like to do this, but removing the valve cover makes me nervous. I guess as long as you don't drop anything in there you'd be fine.

[rednecks_r_us]

This looks like such a nice mod. I would love to find a color close to the laser blue, or just go red to match the strut tower brace. I would like to do this, but removing the valve cover makes me nervous. I guess as long as you don't drop anything in there you'd be fine.

Valve cover comes very easily and quickly. Duplicolor metal cast in the blue anodized is real close to laser blue and it with stands the heat. Mines painted black with a blue Mica.

[Tasty]

Mines painted black with a blue Mica.

As in the flake is a bluish tint? That might be cool.

[Kansei]

I ordered some black wrinkle coat from summitracing a couple weeks ago but it was out of stock so I have no idea when I'll get it. I can't wait to do it though. I have the new gasket ready and everything.

Does anyone know what I could do about a broken valve cover bolt though? I stupidly overtorqued the bottom right (near oil filler) bolt after installing my FS-ZE cam so there's some bolt stuck in the head. I wanted to try and get it fixed before I make the valve cover look all nice.

Along those same lines anyone know what the size and thread pitch is on the valve cover bolts? I don't really wanna go to Lowes and pop the hood and take a bolt out in the parking lot lol.

[rednecks_r_us]

As in the flake is a bluish tint? That might be cool.

Yes, its black with a blue metal flake. Its the same paint that I did my hood, roof & wing with. I also painted my rims and a stripe on the bottom of my car with this same black paint. It kind of all ties it all together.

[Tasty]

I ordered some black wrinkle coat from summitracing a couple weeks ago but it was out of stock so I have no idea when I'll get it. I can't wait to do it though. I have the new gasket ready and everything.

Does anyone know what I could do about a broken valve cover bolt though? I stupidly overtorqued the bottom right (near oil filler) bolt after installing my FS-ZE cam so there's some bolt stuck in the head. I wanted to try and get it fixed before I make the valve cover look all nice.

Along those same lines anyone know what the size and thread pitch is on the valve cover bolts? I don't really wanna go to Lowes and pop the hood and take a bolt out in the parking lot lol.

You need an EZ out set. Go to a good hardware/tool store.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=10417&group_ID=1254&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

[SHUEY33]

im goin to do mine now! this was a great thread.. just gotta be careful to make sure i put it back together right! lol! i was goin to pay someone to do this if i could find a custom paint shop around or somethin but... this is pretty simple... you just used regular spray paint right?

[Kansei]

Yeah it's really not hard, just be very careful when you are putting the bolts that hold the valve cover back on. They break without too much force (I was using a tiny 1/4" drive ratchet.

After finals I'm definitely doing this, assuming my VHT black wrinkle coat high heat paint is here by then.

Oh and Tasty, thanks for the tip. I hadn't seen your post for some reason.

[SHUEY33]

are you supposed to use a certain kind of paint? any help there so i can get some? maytbe show me all that i need to do this as far as paint and stuff?

[rednecks_r_us]

My valve cover paint is regular paint. Infact its the same paint that is on my hood, roof and rims.

[SHUEY33]

ok its regular paint. i didnt know if it was spray pain or actual car paint.
any suggestions on what brand and type to use? your car looks good so can you tell me what you used?

[rednecks_r_us]

Its actual car paint. But any automotive shop that mixes paint can mix you what ever color you want into a spray can. In AZ its like $40 for a pint of paint and two spray cans. Then you get more cans filled from what's left in the pint for $7 a can. I have gotten like 4 more cans from what's left in the pint.

As for my paint I used RM paint. I don't know what the clear coat was cause my painter ordered it and I paid him back. It was $130 for the clear to do everything on my car. And that was 6 coats of clear.

As for my color for my valve cover its a custom mixed black with a blue mica then clear coated.

[SHUEY33]

ok i got the paint.. its 500 degrees resistant so im sure thats good enough.. i got my brake calliper kit so im gon get that done.. and i got some two tone paint for inside! cant wait for the weekend!!

[rednecks_r_us]

That will work. remember your paint will only look as good as your prep work. Make sure you are painting on a clean surface.

[SHUEY33]

i will do my best. any suggestions for what to use to clean it with?

[Kansei]

That will work. remember your paint will only look as good as your prep work. Make sure you are painting on a clean surface.

Hence why I'm using wrinkle paint. Hopefully I can just do rough sanding of the oxidation and stuff and then paint over that.

[KrayzieFox]

How hot do our valve covers get anyway? I've found a couple paints that withstand temps up to 500 degrees but they're really ugly in my opinion. On the other hand, I found another paint that will withstand temps up to 300 degrees and the color is exactly what I'm looking for.

Would it be a bad idea to paint the VC with 300 degree paint?

[SHUEY33]

i used 500 degree but... if you cant find the paint go to pep boys or auto zone they should have a kit especially for it.. thats where i got my interior paint.. my paint for under the hood and my brake paint set to!!

[Kansei]

I should go ahead and order some red wrinkle paint. I was going to go with black but then I realized that with my new hood (full carbon fiber Fiber Images evo-style vented hood) you'll likely be able to see the engine peeking through. The mitsubishi grille mesh is really open.

[2003newlyack]

I just want to take mine off to clean it, but will sanding it down ruin the look of it? I would like a factory clean look from it, because I will eventually get the magnecor wires (which are red) and I don't want to paint my cover red as well..

[Kansei]

yeah I gotta get rid of my old red wires before I paint mine red lol.

Sanding it will make it look a lot better.. hell you can spend years with sandpaper and polish it to a chrome look finish :D

[2003newlyack]

haha allright, thanks!

[rednecks_r_us]

yeah I gotta get rid of my old red wires before I paint mine red lol.

Sanding it will make it look a lot better.. hell you can spend years with sandpaper and polish it to a chrome look finish :D

Actually the polished ones look good. I thought about polishing mine before mine was painted. I might polish my spare valve cover.

[Kansei]

It would literally take years to get mine to the polished state though, and I'd have to file off the lettering to be able to polish all around that area. I figure the wrinkle paint (which is arriving today... to the house that I just started moving into) will mean much less prep work. :)

[2003newlyack]

way to take the easyyy way out, will definitley work though (rtfm)

[altspace]

what's next? painting the block how to?
http://www.g2usa.com/engine.shtml

Heh...I've already done it.

[Huascar82]

so I was thinking of painting my valve cover some type of silver. I got a Millenium Red protege, but got a Red CAI, and will be putting in a Jet-hot cotted header (silver). What do you guys think of doing it in silver? and maybe getting some of that engine dress up hoses, but not sure what color to get.

any help is greatly appreciated guys.

[rednecks_r_us]

so I was thinking of painting my valve cover some type of silver. I got a Millenium Red protege, but got a Red CAI, and will be putting in a Jet-hot cotted header (silver). What do you guys think of doing it in silver? and maybe getting some of that engine dress up hoses, but not sure what color to get.

any help is greatly appreciated guys.


Jet hot will coat your valve cover too

[Huascar82]

yeah, I know, but thats going a little on the expensive side. I'm hoping to keep costs down.

[amsgator]

NOTICE:
DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS ON YOUR VEHICLE BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT YOUR VALVE COVER GASKET IS REUSABLE. OTHERWISE YOU WILL NEED TO GET ONE BEFORE STARTING.

how to tell if it's reusable w/o taking the valve cover off?

[south9border]

silver would look awesome. My P5 is silver I'm bout to do this haha thats why I think it would look awesome

[Protege03ak46]

i have a question.
do i have to take it off or can i just mask it up in the bay? if so what should i do different?