Valve Cover Cleaning - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 03-04-2003, 07:51 AM

The condition of my valve covers is really dragging down the appearance of my engine. I have heard you can get these bead blasted. Has anyone tried this. I am not after a polished look just the dull grey they start off with. If I do get them clean is their anything I can put on them to keep them that way.

Also I have a sticker on one cover, with firing sequence and some other info, that is almost completely gone, anyone know if I can get a replacement.

ctaylor738 · #2 03-04-2003, 08:02 AM

I ended up using some DuPont rubbig compound which got the worst of the stains and tarnish off and.

#3 03-04-2003, 02:36 PM

Here is an example of mine which I sanded and then buffed out.

gmask · #4 03-04-2003, 03:58 PM

Yup I've been planning to do the same to mine..very nice... I got a couple of polishing wheels for my drill that came with compound.

1967250s · #5 03-04-2003, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gregg Bambo Jr
Here is an example of mine which I sanded and then buffed out.

What kind of "sanding" are we talking about?...As this "sanding" affected the details such as the firing numbers, logos etc...?
What cumpound did you use?
How many man/hours to complet?

Dan

gmask · #6 03-04-2003, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 1967250s
What kind of "sanding" are we talking about?...As this "sanding" affected the details such as the firing numbers, logos etc...?
What cumpound did you use?
How many man/hours to complet?

Dan

On mine I got these discs for my drill that are a little bit stiffer than a scrub pad you'd use on your pots and pans. You don't want anything too abrasive as to remove metal..IE rough sandpaper is not what you want to use..maybe something really fine.

I haven't polished mine yet but it only took like an hour to clean it with a drill and get it ready to be polished. Any polishing compound for aluminum will work but like I mentioned before I bought polishing discs for my drill that came with compound and they work great.. I have used them on other pieces of metal.

If you try to do this by hand alone I think you arm might fall off.. the drill makes pretty quick work of it. the ploishing pads are made from cloth and come with these sticks of compound that you apply to the edge of the disc and then you just clamp down the metal you are working on and run it back and forth over an are until it is shiney.

#7 03-05-2003, 03:54 AM

I had an almost overwhelming desire to get mine back to looking how it once may have.
I tried just about everything I could think of (that didn't cost much)
Here's a list (don't laugh!)
-oven cleaner (heard from someone it worked)
-brasso
-cloudy ammonia
-ajax
-every form of abrasive cleaner I have in the kitchen
-water rubbing compound
-swirl remover
-metasol

I'm sure there's more, but none of it worked.
Someone else suggested that a little bit of hydrochloric acid in water works wonders on aluminium and I almost did it - but I tried it on some other stuff first and let's just say it wasn't quite what I was looking for.
Not to mention worrying that it'd burn my bloody fingers and toes off!!!

So I'm still looking for something!!

300SDog · #8 03-05-2003, 04:40 AM

Best source for metal polishing products and heat resistant surface coatings? Probably the Harley Davidson dealership.

#9 03-05-2003, 08:37 AM

Those polished covers look great, it must have taken some time. That's not what I was after though, I just want the stock dull grey finish but clean. Is that what you get if you clean them with the pads but don't polish?

gmask · #10 03-05-2003, 12:57 PM

You can also use a fine steel wool to get the duller finish but still beable to clean it off.

davidg · #11 03-12-2003, 09:48 PM

try a scotchbrite pad with an oscillating/vibrating sander. W orks great where you can reach, you have to blend in by hand where you can't.