im about to paint my valve cover and i was wonderin if you HAVE to replace the gasket after you take it off or can u reuse it?

 

It's always a good idea, but you don't have to. You only have to replace it if it leaks after you put it back together. Understand that if you clean the head off with most degreasers or any kind of carb cleaner that the whole effort of painting your valve cover will be for shit.

Polish it, or powdercoat it. Paint = überghetto.

 

don't have to, when you remove it check the condition of it, if it looks good no need for replacement.

 

I'd say just replace it. It was only $10 when I went to get it at the dealer.

 

It's a valve cover set. It's not just the outer gasket. There are 4 grommets, 4 large 0-rings, a distributor o-ring and the outer gasket seal. The whole set is $40 wholesale where I worked.

 

Paint isn't ghetto . If you're good with a paint can it can look pretty decent.

 

Just replace is i mean you got the valve cover off and its only like 35 bucks for the valve cover gasket kit so y the hell not change it you can get it at "your local dealer" or a shop can order it for you.

 

Paint is a quick fix. Oil or abbrasion will make the paint flake. Once that starts, that's what's ghetto. It's not the paint itself that's ghetto. It's what it looks like after 20k miles or so that's ghetto.

Powdercoating will be nearly indestructable, will stay pretty over time, and most shops will do the powdercoating for about what the valve cover gasket costs. If you're going to spend money on a gasket, and the time to pull it and clean it up so paint will stick to it... I'm just saying make that effort once. I've painted a valve cover before, and scratched it putting it back on (was pissed).