Hey everyone. I've got a 1992 accord coupe. The engine is in good shape but doesn't look the greatest. I don't know a whole lot about engine mechanics. This car will be the first I really explore it. Because it's the first car I've owned that I'm interested in fixing up and making run and look nice.



I was curious if I could paint the valve cover. It's really worn looking and appears to be chipping or tearing (see image).
If so what type of paint do you recommend. Obviously something with a high heat resistence.

Also any other recommendations of things I should change out. It's all stock right now.

 

I recommend not painting the valve cover. If it is your first car I recommend making it run great before making it look great.

Looks like it has some rust or salty road corrosion, unless my eyes are decieving me. I can see it has ABS, manual transmission and an original radiator. Check for leaks, check the quality of the hoses and belts. Not just the two large radiator hoses but all the bypass hoses as well. Check the motor mounts. If the brake fluid is nasty change it out. How many miles on it? Do you have a maintinence record?

 

yea, it is all just appearance...but if you do change it, id suggest buying another crap cover and painting it with your favorite color and also changeing the lower spark plug tube seals, valve cover gasket and setting the valves.

 

Yeah everything seems to run great in the car, the only things that don't work are:
1. A/C (which I don't know if it just needs a recharge or fixing).
2. ABS light is constantly on.
3. Check Engine Light is constantly on.

But it runs great. It's a very fun car. It's got 152k miles on it. It's not my first car, just my first honda. I just figured painting the valve cover would be a cheap and easy fix up. I don't have the money right now to switch anything else out. Maybe in a week.

So you recommend not painting the valve cover? Is there any particular reason for this?

 

I would concentrate on getting the codes pulled from the ECU.

Not painting the valve cover is a perosnal preference type deal. DIfferent strokes for different folks. I did a timing belt on a car once that had a home painted valve cover. I had to put the thing in the parts washer because of all the crap built up on the inside. WHen it came out, half of his paint was gone. I laughed. After the job was done, he said he wanted to take the valve cover back off so he could paint it again. I laughed again, this time silently to myself. If you do decide to paint it, don't just use some krylon crap that comes off like this.