Non-"engine" paint on valve cover

RatLabGuy

RatLabGuy

You look like a monkey and smell like one too
Joined
May 18, 2005
Location
Churchville, MD
Replacing a valve cover gasket on my Mazda, figured, hey, while its off, might as well paint this crummy old thing.
Got it primered then realized... DOH! Just used regular old "automotive" primer.
Didn't think to use actual high-temp engine paint until it was too late.

To what extent does this really matter? I figure a valve cover (on a 2-liter Mazda) shouldn't get THAT hot...
Haven't done the real paint yet.
I was going to just use Rustoleum Hammered ... cause I have lots of it, and it dosn't have to be applied perfectly to look nice :D.
 
davidsTJ said:
worst case senario the paint will just get too hot and flake off
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Flaking I'm OK with, I was worried it might just soften and get sticky or bubble up.
 
It'll get scorching hot and catch fire, causing a massive burning crash!

It'll be fine. Think about how hot auto paint actually gets on the hood of a car in the middle of summer and just laughs it off. The valve cover surface temp isn't all that hotter.
 
I have had the cheep rattle can from Walmart on my 22re valve cover for about 3 years now, still looks great!......under all the dirt!
 
Should be just fine. We paint engine blocks and valve covers ( and cool side turbo housings, transmission cases, etc) with standard automotive base/clear all the time. Most normal paint is rated to around 275-300* F and if your valve cover gets that hot, you have bigger problems.
 
ponykilr said:
I am pretty sure I saw heat rated hammered finish at Autozone.
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I know there is such a thing, our local AZ dosn't have it though.
Plus I had already applied normal primer.

Rustoleum says 200 deg F for the primer and normal Hammered. Which is pretty hot, but given that the T-stat dosn't open until 190F, I'm just not sure what the surface temp is, or what actually happens when you are close. I wouldn't expect it to boil off or anything, just wouldn't want it to get sticky and become messy.
But I'll trust the real-life experiences above and move on w/ life.
 
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