Question about painting the Engine Cover

[Blue_dragon_192]

A couple of simple questions.

1) How long can I drive my car without the cover on?
Is it just a cosmetic item or does it protect the plug wires and everything there?
2) On the cover where the 4 screws hold the cover in place, the top two holes have Metal retainers with rubber grommets in them. How do you remove them, or is it ok to paint over them.

I am keeping with the Black and Red thread of my interior (BSP paint, Black interior, and RED LED's), with the engine cover (Red cover, Black lettering and Logo).

Let's see how this goes....

Blue.

[Jeemee]

I don't know if it actually protects anything, but I've had mine off since I've had the car which is over a year and never have had any problems. I have no idea how to remove the grommets, though I'm sure it's fine to paint them.

[Betrivent]

I guess it's there to protect the engine in the event your hood is up and there is precipitation or anything.

[lilredrocket]

I wash my engine with the hose and I don't have an engine cover on mine.

[Blue_dragon_192]

Thanks all.

Now on to getting it prepped and then painted.

[Blue_dragon_192]

1) How long can I drive my car without the cover on?
Is it just a cosmetic item or does it protect the plug wires and everything there?forever, just cosmetic...
2) On the cover where the 4 screws hold the cover in place, the top two holes have Metal retainers with rubber grommets in them. How do you remove them, or is it ok to paint over them. You can just pop them out, in the middle they have metal flange you can pry out with a screwdriver, then the rubber will flex and pop out...

Cheers

Thanks echo_hrs!

[Tamago]

be gentle with the red paint ;) keep it clean!

[Blue_dragon_192]

Tamago, I will be gentle.....It's going to be all red, and the logo and vvi in black.
If not, then sand and paint black again.....

[Blue_dragon_192]

On to my next questions.
I have sanded the cover and will use a tack cloth to clean it up.

On to the questions.
Where do you find the hi-heat primer and paint (paint I can find, but in black only).

Or can I paint it with regular paint and then use a high heat gloss (clear)?

[CTScott]

On to my next questions.
I have sanded the cover and will use a tack cloth to clean it up.

On to the questions.
Where do you find the hi-heat primer and paint (paint I can find, but in black only).

Or can I paint it with regular paint and then use a high heat gloss (clear)?

I painted mine with normal automotive paint. I've done a couple of multi-hour trips without any visible damage or discoloration.

[Blue_dragon_192]

I painted mine with normal automotive paint. I've done a couple of multi-hour trips without any visible damage or discoloration.

Thanks CTScott!!!!!

[Bob Dog]

You might condsider an engine or exhaust pait as they are sticky, heat resistant, and tolerant of petrochemicals