If you are a car owner then naturally it can be said that you have engine washing experience. Washing the engine is not a difficult task but requires some skill.
We prefer to wash it in the garage for this than to wash it from outside professionals. This makes it possible to inspect the interior of the vehicle and determine if there are any internal problems.
When you install a new sealant or gasket in your car, you must also clean the valve cover of the car. However, many people do not know how to clean aluminum valve covers.
To clean an aluminum valve cover, you need to just follow some simple steps which are removing the valve cover, inspecting the leaking area, and at last using a gasket scraper to clean it.
Now, it’s time to know in detail about these steps, and how and when to do it. Also for your convenience, we will try to discuss some important points regarding valve cover cleaning. So let’s get started without delay.
How Does the Valve Cover Work?
Before cleaning the valve cover you should know how it works and why it is important to clean it.
When a car engine is started, oil is pumped to other parts of the engine. Some important parts of the engine are valves, valve springs, and camshafts. The valve cover provides a signal to the valve train assembly if the car engine needs any repairs.
The hot oil continuously spreads under the valve cover, which makes the gasket connecting the valve cover to the head of the cylinder worse. The valve cover is one of the primary sources of terrible oil leaks. You must understand that the valve cover is attached to the head of the cylinder using bolts and gaskets.
When the heat pressure in the car engine becomes too high, the gasket of the car starts to shrink or deform. This is especially true if your car clocks 30,000 miles or more on the odometer.
This is why any accident can happen if you do not keep the valve cover of your car clean. So it is important to clean the valve cover of the car in the right way.
Benefits of Cleaning the aluminum valve cover
The most important part of a car is the engine and the valve cover protects the engine. And for this, it is very important to clean the valve cover.
The main benefit of cleaning the valve cover is that it helps protect your engine and makes your car more lasting for a long time. For this, you must clean it after certain days.
When the tow truck is driven for a long time, it is seen that hot oil is sprinkled around the valve cover. This makes the gasket connecting the valve cover to the head of the cylinder worse.
In this case, if the valve cover is not cleaned quickly then there is a possibility of an accident. This is done to ensure the overall safety of the car engine.
Step by Step Guideline to Clean Valve Cover
To know how to clean the aluminum valve cover, you need to follow some steps. But before following them you should wear some protective gear so that you can be safe from any kinds of harm. Now, follow those steps properly.
Step 1: Remove the valve cover
To clean the valve cover, you must first remove it from the car. Some of the things you will need to do while doing this are ratchet, torque wrench, socket set, and flat head screwdriver.
First, park your car on flat and hard ground and open the hood to cool the engine there. Now you need to start the work by pressing the locking tab and pulling the connector from the coil.
Remove the mounting bolts with a ratchet. When doing this, be careful not to damage the coil. Now gently press the valve cover with a torque wrench or a rubber mallet to loosen.
You can use a flat-head screwdriver to open the valve cover, which will make the task easier.
Step 2: Inspect the area around the leak
If you find oil spilled around the engine after removing the valve cover, you should immediately clean the valve cover and install a new gasket.
In this case, if you do not clean the valve cover, the oil will start to accumulate in it which will later cause engine problems. Eventually, the gaskets will start to shrink as well as harden, and oil will leak.
Now remove the old RTV from the timing valve cover with a razor blade to clean the gasket. Just slip the blade in the middle and push a little. With this step, you can easily open the gasket in the R section and leave a little residue in the aluminum.
Now you can replace the spark plug before cleaning the valve cover. This will make the clean core more convenient for you. Since the aluminum valve cover has a new spark plug, unplug it, and then tap the valve cover with your tool. Again, it needs to be loosened enough to stop the engine by loosening the bolts.
You must be careful while peeling the RTV marks while completing this process. You need to use rags while doing this task.
Step 3: Clean the valve cover and install a new gasket
To properly clean the valve cover, first, remove the gasket components in the groove. And in this case, you can use a gasket scraper. This will make your work more convenient.
When cleaning, be sure to keep an eye on the spark plug tubes as well as why oil may be stuck there. In this case, it is important to clean the spark plug tubes well.
Now you need to clean the cylinder head. And for this, it is necessary to remove the sealant and gasket components on the head surface of the cylinder. You can do this with a rag. Then rub it thoroughly to remove oil residue from the surface with a brake cleaner.
When all these tasks are completed, install the new valve cover gasket. However, it is important to apply a thin layer of RVT sealant to the cylinder head. Now let’s do the valve cover again.
If the valve cover is in place, use a torque wrench to install the bolts until they are snug. Once it is turned on, return the ignition coil to the spark plug tubes, tighten its mounting bolts, and reinstall the connectors.
Are these steps too hard to follow? We don’t think, there are so tough for you. If you can properly follow our mentioned steps, you can surely clean the valve cover in your garage.
Can I Wash My Valve Cover?
Of course, you can clean the valve cover of your car yourself. We think hiring a specialist to clean the valve cover is nothing but a luxury.
Many people do not like to clean the valve cover. The main reason is that they do not know how to clean the valve cover in just a few steps. If they only knew the proper rules for cleaning it, they would never hire a professional.
In this article, we have already mentioned the easiest steps to clean the valve cover. Hopefully, if you can follow these steps then you can clean it yourself and save your money.
Can You Use Brake Cleaner to Clean a Valve Cover?
This question is very common among many people; they want to know if it is possible to use brake cleaner to clean the valve cover.
Simply say, the brake cleaner can be used to clean a valve cover. It can even make your task easier.
However, if you want to use it, you need to be a little careful. It can be harmful to your health if you take breathing while using it. Be sure to use a cleaner in a well-ventilated area, and wear gloves and safety goggles to protect your eyes and lungs.
Drawbacks of a Valve Cover
Although the valve cover protects a car’s engine and makes the car last longer, it also has some downsides.
Worst of all, oil leaks can occur if there is significant damage. If not checked, oil leaks can ruin your vehicle’s performance and contribute to extensive, costly repairs and replacements. Damage to the valve cover can cause premature wear on other parts of your vehicle.
Also, sometimes the bad smell of oil can come from the valve cover. These respirators may not filter very well, even considering that sometimes there may be a little more dirt in the engine.
Final Thought
You surely want to maintain the highest quality of your car. In this case, it is very important to look at its engine first. You need to monitor the oil around the engine and inspect any leaks.
If you see oil spilled around the engine, it is important to clean the car valve immediately. And for this, you should know how to clean the valve cover.
In this article, we have tried to highlight the step-by-step guideline for cleaning valve covers. We have also tried to answer some common questions about cleaning the valve cover.
We hope, our small effort will be very helpful for all of you. If you want to know more about cleaning valve covers, you can comment to us. We will surely try to answer. Thank you all.
