What can i use to polish my valve cover? Im dying to take off that plastic cover... I know mothers has these new powerballs that you can hook up to an electric drill and use their power metal stuff... anyone think this would work? If not what can i try?

 

I'd like to know to, my valve cover seems to have a lot of discoloration on it that i want to polish or brush out, i tried using a wire brush but it didnt even scratch the surface really

 

There are articles in here about polishing aluminum. A search should provide you with it. I polished my valve cover and had excellent results.

Start by completely removing it. Don't try to do it while its on the engine. This obviously means that you will want to give yourself plently of time where you won't need to use the car, or get an extra valve cover that you can work on as time allows (that's what I'd suggest).

Clean it well, but don't remove the gasket. It will be fine. Start with a regular corded drill and use Nylox brushes in different shapes, like wheels and cups. You can get Nylox from any hardware and tool store. Use can also use brass, but that's more expensive and uneccesary. Don't use steel wire. Brush the hell out of the thing. This will already make it look a lot better.

Then you go to the rouge. Rouge is a paste that comes in 3 grits by color code. Black is course, red is medium, white is fine. You also get rouge from hardware stores. I know Home Depot has it. You rub it into a polishing wheel on your drill again and work the whole surface a grit at a time. Change wheels between grits. A Dremel is handy for the corners, otherwise you will have to work it by hand where the wheel can't get to. This is a time consuming process, be patient.

Mothers is a polish for stuff that has already been polished once before. It will not give a clean look to an unprepared surface.

 

would this work.. its a brass brush

http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS...gjn.0&MID=9876

 

what rouge did you use? im looking for a mirror polish look.. or should i just paint the valve cover red?

 

How long does it take to un-install the valve cover, is it any more difficult than just removing a few bolts? I'm 16 and i dont wanna f*** over my engine, but i'd like it to look good at the same time

 

http://gallery.genvibe.com/gallery/SEMA04Other/DSC01393

i want that look

 

Drool

 

Yes, you will achieve a mirror finish just like that picture. That's what I got. I don't know the brand of rouge, I just grabbed it off the hook. Taking your valve cover is easy, just keep things clean so as not to drop stuff into your cylinder head. Remove the air box (2 hose clamps, the PCV line, and a plastic pin). Remove the ignition module (electric plug, 4 bolts). Remove the cover. There a electrical bundle on the left side that just pulls off. The bolts on the cover all have gaskets on them. You can remove each bolt completely one at a time, but that means popping the gaskets out of the holes. You don't have to do that. Just loosen each bolt until you notice the gasket start to unseat, then move on to another bolt. You will go around twice with that method, and all the bolts will stay in their holes. Do the same in reverse when you reinstall it. Tighten finger tight all the way around twice, then torque. When you polish, you obviously will have to remove the bolts and gaskets for that.

By the way, if you would like, you can get a new valve cover from the parts counter for about $150, and used one if you can find it obviously much cheaper. A professional shop will charge about $150 to polish it for you.

 

Thanks, if i polish the cover the way i should, how long should it take?

How long can i expect my car to be unusable for?

 

It took me about 15 mins to remove mine if i was you i would take it to someone to polish they do really good and it will usually take you an super long time to do if you want to do an good job. If i were you while you got your valve cover off i would rerun some of the wires its makes it look much nicer it clened my bay up alot

 

Yeah Mothers Power Ball Works Good Or You Can Try ''flits'' Its Good Too, You Can Get It At "pepeboys"

 

You've tried it?

 

Try Getting The Valve Cover Of For Better Results

 

yeah i even tred it on my civic and it great and my civics valve cover was very nasty

 

im going to pick up a powerball and either mothers metal polish or flitz.. i'll let you guys know.. everyone says flitz works wonders, but i may have to settle for mothers if pepboys doesnt have it.