cleaning alloy cam cover

[Philip Chidlow]

What's the best way to clean off old, flaking paint and stuff from a 16v alloy cam cover? And then, what paint to use to refurbish it?

[BXrunner]

What's the best way to clean off old, flaking paint and stuff from a 16v alloy cam cover? And then, what paint to use to refurbish it?

I'd use a good engine cleaner first to remove the gunge then get a paint stripper suitable for alloy that's the easy way if you want you could get a light wet and dry to remove it around 800/1000 grit but paint stripper is safer. You can get a cam cover paint from the local car parts place I have seen hammerite being used on Range Rover Classics but the paint must be heat proof I'd check halfords at first then see if your local parts store does it cheaper

[docchevron]

You can rub it back with almost anything you like really, wire wool, nitromers, wet and dry, hedgehog, makes little difference.

As for paint VHT exhaust paint works rather well I find, and gives a nice finish too.