Hi everyone!

Is this a real issue when that happens to your breathers? Or valve covers?

I don't know why that's happened to a low mileage car. Do they sell these "new"? Is it necessary? Does this get worse? Why is this happening?
Would love to hear your opinion!

 

I guess you're going to have stop using that acid engine wash!

 

Try a scoth brite pad and see if it evens it out.

 

But at least it made the rest of the engine look brand new 😂😂😂
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Good tip, will try. Thank you sir! This "bubble" for lack of better terms is left over from the previous owner and I don't know what caused it as the car only had 25,000 miles on it when I purchased it. And the rest was immaculate inside and outside.

 

The previous owner/idiot painted the breather portion of the valve cover with low temp silver paint, resulting in the cracks/bubbles. Anytime someone paints any portion of an engine must use high temp (500 Degrees) for the painting of any engine part. You need to remove ALL of that paint, down to the bare metal and repaint it with high temp paint.
Option #2 is to take the car back to the original owner and request a full refund....
Dennis
DTMenace

 

Good opportunity to remove the breather covers to paint and re-seal them with a good RTV, they all start leaking eventually

 

Are we sure these are painted? I have looked at other Engine bays and the breather covers/valve covers look identical? If it was painted and the paint would not be removed, I doubt it would have much of an impact? If anything I'd imagine it starts peeling? Looking at both sides I just don't see how they are painted....Of course I'm probably wrong but what gives you the impression they are painted (besides the bubbles of course) LOL

 

Nick
The breather portion of the valve cover is a lighter silver than the actual valve cover (per your picture). The blistering of the paint (Your word bubbling) indicates a heat issue from the wrong type of paint used to do a poor job of repainting the breather. That low temp paint should NEVER have been used on any engine part.
It's obvious to a trained eye and knowing the poor decision to use a non-engine paint. It has nothing to do with the integrity or fatigue of the metal, it's a visual defect from the wrong paint.
Dennis
DTMenace

 

the valve covers are a magnesium alloy, not an aluminum alloy. magnesium corrodes from water. the blistering shown in your picture will worsen until it eats all the way through. we are seeing it starting on most crossfires/mercedes now, there is no repairing it. you can see if it will outlast the vehicle or replace the cover with a new one before they are discontinued. that will eventually be the death of these engines. we started seeing this about 10 years ago, at which time we stopped refinishing used valve covers as all the used ones came in with pitting/blistering. i have a pile of dead valve covers here all with the same issue.

 

Here's a possible solution posted on the Fiat Dino forum: Magnesium valve covers protection and finish (2.0 l engine ) - Fiat Dino Forum (FDF)!

 

Rob
What about those valve covers you've sold that were powder coated, will they self-destruct as well over a period of time? I've painted my valve covers 6+ years ago with high temp VHT paint with NO signs of blistering such as seen in the picture in this thread. Before I painted the valve covers, I had them sand blasted, applied VHT primer before the VHT Red paint was applied. I doubt if my covers will disappear into dust.
Regards,
Dennis
DTMenace

 

all the corrosion i have seen is from the outside of uncoated covers. the insides are coated with oil so that seems to prevent it there. If the cover was painted/coated that seems to protect the outside from the water/moisture if it was painted/coated before the corrosion got hold of it.

 

So I really don't think they are painted. I am going to take s fine grit sandpaper and see if I can rough it up a little. If not, I'm sure these can still be found brand new online. They made hundreds of thousands of SLKs and I'm sure the breather covers are still around.
Maybe even purchase a used one and have the breathers and valve covers coated so this won't happen. That's a great tip.

I just didn't feel like re-sealing as the SRT w/25,000 miles doesn't have any oil leak issues.

My 130,000 mile NA Coupe had no imperfections on the covers. But I guess it can happen and it is just old age.

 

When you first posted about the breather covers I took a quick look at FCP Euro ... They show the covers are available - kind of pricey though at $217/side.


By the way, your pics make me think the covers have already been off and resealed. The fasteners sure look to have had a wrench on them!

 

i agree that your covers do not look like they have been painted. i fear sanding them will only make it worse as you will remove more material and get closer to a hole through it.

yes new covers are still available, the pair would be $416
https://www.needswings.com/replaceme...s-32l-mercedes

 

I have worked in the die casting business for a while and have seen similar patterns where the metal has not cooled enough before the the core and cavity were opened or that area of the mold was not cooled sufficiently enough.
This left the surface molten for a second or so

 

A thread that growing out of control for a crazy, simple fix.
It’s a super easy elementary fix. The repair starts with a degree of confidence in one’s own ability.
But
for some, it will always be out of reach.

-If you can’t do it!
or
-Don’t want to do it!
just open the wallet and it will be magically corrected.

pretty simple solution

no need to further pontificate

let us know when it’s done.

or not, that works too!
Happy Sunday all

 

What made you have such a bad Sunday that you felt the need to come in here and blow off steam?

Why not help other members of the same car club you are a member of out and give good advice like everyone else in here did? Are you still mad that I called out your comment about someone asking how to avoid sun damage/exposure to the elements as their car was parked outside all year round and your suggestion was to just park it the garage?

Not sure what it is with you but why not get over yourself and just be productive and help each other out if it's easily fixable? Share it with the community...or not that works, too.
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Show us a post where you’ve actually done something. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one.

I think I’ve done a thing or two. I also believe I’ve added to the collective wisdom here

Rather than driving the do nothing bitter bus, perhaps when you try something you’ll have something to contribute too.

Maybe it’s the humidity that makes you nuts.

And yes I still have a garage for my car. Work hard and you could have one too.

have an awesome day.