You need to be very careful about selecting engine parts as you can affect the performance negatively if you choose something of poor quality. One of the engine parts you may need to purchase is valve covers which are also called rocker covers. The objectives of these covers are to protect the valve spring and rockers from debris and dust. There is also oil that is moving around inside when the engine is in operation. And the cover will contain this oil as well.
Traditionally, valve covers are made of stamped steel but they have varied in design and materials over time. If you are looking for a way of bringing a new look to your engine compartment, replacing the valve cover is a cost-effective solution. You can find custom covers from several manufacturers. Most people change covers to give a change to the appearance. When compared to what was available a few years back, now you have so many options for valve covers. Different materials and processes have come into use with newer valve covers.
The traditional stamped steel option is still used but now you will also see valve covers that are made out of cast aluminium, sheet metal fabricated by hand and billet aluminium. You will need taller than standard valve covers when you have performance valve train components. Newer valve covers tend to have coil-on-plug engine designs which is a big difference compared to traditional options. This way, you can mount the coils to the valve covers directly.
When it Comes to Stamped Steel Valve Covers
You need to make sure that you select a high quality design. Poorly designed valve covers will cause you to have difficulty with dealing it at the surface of the gasket. Stamped steel tends to be quite thin and when there is high bolt torque, there is a tendency for it to warp. This further contributes to poor sealing at the gasket. So if you happen to tighten this a little too much, oil can leak. However, these have the lowest cost so if you are selecting this; you need to expect the risk of it leaking.
Cast aluminum covers will cost you a little more compared to stamped steel and they also tend to be heavier which can be a negative point for some vehicle models. There are also many fabricated valve covers that come with high sealing ability. When you have airtight sealing, the engine is able to pull a bigger vacuum. This leads to a better ring seal and improved power.
It is easier for manufacturers to take in customer requests when they are fabricating valve covers. This way, a customer can request a cover that has additional or fewer fittings, custom heights and modifications that are not considered standard. Billet covers have a good appearance but these come with a high manufacturing cost. A CNC machine is used in its fabrication. The prices for different materials tend to change so you will need to check the prices from different manufacturers to get an idea of the available price range.
