PointedThree - 280ge valvecover..painted from factory ?

Welcome Guest. ( logon | register )

FAQ

Member List

Albums

Today's Posts

PointedThree : Vans, Trucks, SUVs and Other Forums : G-Class : 280ge valvecover..painted from factory ?

Page 1 of 1

280ge valvecover..painted from factory ?

Topic Tools

Message Format

Author

Posted 9/5/2006 5:02 PM

DesertStar
Expert

Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Vehicle(s): 85-280GE/95-G320/08-G500
Posts: 2156
2000

280ge valvecover..painted from factory ?

In my pursuit of keeping a clean engine bay, there are 2 things that need tending to. One is repainting my brake booster for it has the ugly rustlike color tone to the top side. and two is the valvecover.

It seems that the valve cover has a coating of some sort. Does anyone know if it is some sort of paint or can it just be "buffed" out. I am not looking for the chromed out bling appeal, just a clean presence like my shiny cover on my diesel 300SD.

Mike

(DSCF0029.JPG)

Attachments
----------------

DSCF0029.JPG (149KB - 8 downloads)

#43146

Author

Posted 9/5/2006 5:57 PM

GDog

Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):

Re: 280ge valvecover..painted from factory ?

Please don't take this the wrong way, but before you paint anything... you might want to renew that brake fluid.

Edited by GDog 9/5/2006 5:58 PM

#43155 - in reply to #43146

Author

Posted 9/5/2006 6:41 PM

DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger

Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
5000

RE: 280ge valvecover..painted from factory ?

DesertStar - 9/5/2006 5:02 PM

It seems that the valve cover has a coating of some sort. Does anyone know if it is some sort of paint or can it just be "buffed" out. I am not looking for the chromed out bling appeal, just a clean presence like my shiny cover on my diesel 300SD.

Mike

It's an aluminum casting. No coating, other than the "skin" lof the casting itself. Buffing it will leave it prone to much faster discoloration due to oxidation.

And agreed on the brake fluid comment. It should be crystal clear.

#43161 - in reply to #43146

Author

Posted 9/5/2006 8:17 PM

Inkblotz
Expert

Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Georgia
Vehicle(s): 90 300GD "Thundering Turtle II", w/ 603A turbo
Posts: 3186
2000

RE: 280ge valvecover..painted from factory ?

With all my old Benzes past and present I generally like to polish the aluminum with a product called Simichrome polish or any mag aluminum wheel polish. Even the standard Turtle wax polishing compound will do. Usually after adjusting the valves The cover is off so I take it down to my work bench and use a polishing wheel. Afterward I generally coat it with a touch of wax to protect it for the long haul. Old habits are hard to break, but I have just always liked the look of the aluminum polished not oxidized.

Mark

A note: In the 80's the factory did put some kind of coating on all aluminum parts to keep them looking pristeen. You may still see signs of a yellow greenish coating on some of the linkages, I have no idea what that stuff was.

Edited by Inkblotz 9/5/2006 8:23 PM

#43179 - in reply to #43146

Author

Posted 9/6/2006 12:50 AM

dai
Expert

Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Oregon USA
Vehicle(s): 300GD 300TD BMW R100RS Landini 80F
Posts: 2110
2000

Re: 280ge valvecover..painted from factory ?

It can be powdercoated to an aluminum silver color as well. I think Dave did something like that with his? I know an awsome powdercoater that is super reasonable. He just did a couple of alloy BMW airhead valve covers in semigloss black for me that were $20 each. This included the bead/sand blast prep. Be happy to help you if you have no local shop.

Hard annodizing might be a possibility as well.

If you do the polish thing you could clear coat it to fix the shine.

I like Seymour MRO high solids flat black paint in the rattlecan for the booster paint fix. It will require a lot of carefull masking but the finish will be right methinks. The stuff is fantastic.

-Dai

#43239 - in reply to #43146

Author

Posted 9/6/2006 3:40 AM

DesertStar
Expert

Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Vehicle(s): 85-280GE/95-G320/08-G500
Posts: 2156
2000

RE: 280ge valvecover..painted from factory ?

Thanks guys for your comments and suggestions. I now am leaning on the 'wait till after fall for the valve adjustment and clean it up then. I am not after bling just something clean and easy to keep as such like my 617. I too Mark have used the mag aluminum polish with good results but I had a good start with a cover that want as bad as this on my 280g...more elbow grease may be the cure.

And yes, the brakes are due for a flush as my last maintenance related items to tend to since purchase is brake fluid, tranny filter/fluid and fuel filter. I have only put on 3000 miles since purchase and am working my way to everything.
I would never take any comments relating to safety or improving my G the
"wrong way". Thanks for the consideration.

On a side note, my records from the previous owner show the brakes/rotors and fluid all serviced almost a year ago today with only 5000 miles from then till now.

Mike

Edited by DesertStar 9/6/2006 3:43 AM

(DSCF0005.JPG)

Attachments
----------------

DSCF0005.JPG (86KB - 7 downloads)

#43247 - in reply to #43146

Author

Posted 9/6/2006 10:24 AM

dai
Expert

Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Oregon USA
Vehicle(s): 300GD 300TD BMW R100RS Landini 80F
Posts: 2110
2000

RE: 280ge valvecover..painted from factory ?

So Mike is this your tow it to the show, Pebble Beach, Concourse Diesel?

Do you actually drive this car? Looks fantastic.

I doubt if the previous owner flushed out the brake fluid properly. Mine is still amber after a year in this climate and you are much drier than where we are. I find it takes at least a pint to a quart of brakefluid to really exchange the old for new. I pull as much of the fluid out of the master cylinder reservoir as I can and fill it with clean fluid and then connect the pressure bleeder. I start with the longest line and work to the shortest. I like Castrol LMA DOT 4 fluid, I think it is pretty easy on the internal rubber parts.

-Dai

#43287 - in reply to #43247

Author

Posted 9/6/2006 3:34 PM

DesertStar
Expert

Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Vehicle(s): 85-280GE/95-G320/08-G500
Posts: 2156
2000

RE: 280ge valvecover..painted from factory ?

Dai, my G was more of a coastal vehicle before its time in the desert. My guess is that you are right about PO mechanic...probably refilled reservoir and said it was good.
As far as the diesel goes, I drive it most everyday as it has 168k on the clock, my Dodge Cummins underhood looks very much the same with 278k. A lot of this comes from when I was a kid I worked for two wealthy people, one a rancher and the other a businessman both very anal about their vehicles and equipment for which I had to tend to and keep clean. Like Mark said, old habits are hard to break.
Mike

#43312 - in reply to #43146

Author

Posted 9/18/2006 3:12 AM

DesertStar
Expert

Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Vehicle(s): 85-280GE/95-G320/08-G500
Posts: 2156
2000

RE: 280ge valvecover..painted from factory ?

Kind of a before and after followup. Spent a little time with a paintbrush and elbow grease and cleaned up a bit. Nothing crazy, just made it sanitary under the hood which always makes it easier to work on somehow....kind of like how a wax job makes your car go faster.

Mike