Didn't happen to see a DIY on how to paint engine covers, so I thought I'd make one to help out anyone who wanted to do the same thing.

Disclaimer: mod at your own risk. I am not responsible for any messed up engine covers.

Step 1: Go to your local Home Depot, Lowe's, Pepboys, etc and pick up 300-500 grit sand paper and 1-2 cans of high temp paint spray (# of cans is dependent on how many pieces you're going to be painting).



Step 2a: Take off the covers that you want to paint. The cover that sits right on top of the engine has little plastic pins that have clips behind them. I chose not the paint those, so I took them off. Just remove the clips, and the pins come right out.



Step 2b: Wash them down. I just used soap, water, a large brush, and a toothbrush for the small "nooks." Hose them down and dry them off.

Step 3: Take the sandpaper and start sanding down the covers. You don't need to put a lot of pressure when sanding. Just a light scuffing will do. The point of lightly scuffing the covers is to give it a better texture for the paint to bind to.

1/2 sanded:

fully sanded:

Step 4: Wipe down the covers with a wet towel, degreaser, or alcohol. I chose alcohol because it dried much faster.



Step 5: Shake up your paint can and start spraying! Stay about 5-8" away from the covers and give it a light coat. You should still see some black after the 1st coat.



Step 6: Give the 1st coat a few minutes to dry before putting on the next few layers. I gave it about 3-4 coats before leaving the covers to dry for 24 hours. If you wish to stop here, I would add 2-3 more coats to give it a deeper gloss/look, then skip to Step 10

Steps 7-9 are not necessary, but in my opinion, give the paint a much nicer finish.

Step 7: Take your newly painted covers and resand them! I used the same 400 grit paper just to give the paint a light very light scuff.

Step 8: Wipe down the covers again using water or rubbing alcohol. (I left out degreaser here b/c I wasn't sure if it would strip the paint).

Step 9: Respray the covers again. I put a good 3-5 coats this time around. Let dry as per directed on the spray can. My directions said 1 hour, but I let it dry for another 24 hours. I also left the covers in the sun to let the paint cure faster.



Step 10: Snap the engine covers back on, and admire your work.




Hope this helps!

 

Nice job. Maybe others can post their pics. Not sure what color to go with. I would like to compare.

 

nice job.. any reason you chose that color?

 

Thanks!

Well, I didn't want to match the body color because I thought it would look boring, so I opted for a brighter color.

My 1st thought was to go red, but it just stood out WAY to much against the black. I settled on the bronze/gold scheme because I've always been a fan of bronze/gold on black.

 

Nice diy and looks real good

 

Not bad.

I would sand more than just "scuffing" for the prep. It makes the finished paint look smooth and shiny. I sanded mine down until it was smooth to the touch, then primed, wet sanded and painted them.

If you knock your finish down with wet 1000 grit and spray on a clear coat it would look even better.

 

thats looks really good bro! Great DIY and great job, this should help alot of guys looking to do this mod.

 

Great work and write up!

 

damn,...i've been contemplating this ever since I got the TL. I'm just not sure what color to use. I was able to paint the covers in my Audi but, it seems like a brain teaser with a black car.

maybe a dark blue or something

that bronze is gorgeous looking!!!!!!!

 

it must be the reflection in the pic.. i thought your car was that dark green...

 

^ trees reflecting off fender makes it look green.

very clean btw. and shiny!

 

oh i know. I just got lazy towards the end HAHAH. Eventually i'll wet sand it with a higher grit and get that clear coat on.

Thanks for all the complements!

 

overkill for me but nice quality. ill paint just the engine cover

 

Well done Lax! I want to do this too-I have to decide what color to do the pieces in.

 

Good job bro, I was planning to do this during my free time this week. Will use your thread all the way

 

Very nice! I saw this thread today and decided I'd finally found a use for the spare can of silver engine enamel I had lying around. Will post pics when I'm done for the silver covers on SSM look

 

Awesome DIY. Makes me want to do this mod.

 

Well as long as you keep your hood closed its fine lol.

 

^ lol the way I figure, if I hate it when I'm done I don't have to look at it all the time anyways But if it's an awesome effect, I'll pop the thing @ every opportunity

 

This might be a bit off topic, but does anyone know the best way to prep the intake manifold cover for painting? I can't get a clear idea from searching... Is it really necessary to use paint remover or is sanding necessary? Is primer a good idea too?

 

how many can of spray paint do you need for just the engine cover about 3-5 coats...also after sanding did you just spray paint it? and what kind of clear coat can you buy at stores for this mod?

 

Very impressive !

 

1 is more than enough for just the engine cover doing 3-5 coats. I used 2 cans to do the pieces in my pictures. And this was with about 6-7 coats each.

After sanding, I just sprayed it. Some people prefer to use a primer. I didn't feel it was necessary.

I would suggest a high temperature resistant clear coat. Also, you would have to sand the painted cover with about 1500-2000 grit before clear coating.

 

Dang that looks great!

I've been planning on doing this for a while but never got around to it. This is a great example of DIY

 

^so after the 5th coat of paint spray sand it down with 1500-2000 grit then spray clear coat? and if i did get that right, how many coats of clear coat?

 

How come you all dont take off that side part thats black also and paint it so it matches all the way up?

And I mean the part to the right of the battery and left of the wiper fluid...

 

after your last coat of spray paint, let it cure 1st. I'd say to be safe, about 24 hour later, i'd wet sand it w/ 1000-1500 grit. Then wipe down before clear coating it. However many coats of clear coat is entirely up to you. I'd say no less than 2, but probably no need for more than 4-5.

I was going to do those parts too. I just got lazy. I will eventually get to them.

 

Very good write up. I've done this in the past on my car.

Now with the IM spacer mod AND using the engine cover (my custom way) - it is situated to close to the hood = hot paint melting.

New covers on order.

 

Thanks for the post, I was planning to buy covers already painted but this will do, thanks again.

 

Thanks for the DIY, car looks great btw

 

Gonna try this out. Hope I don't mess it up! lol

 

Basically the same thing here, was lazy at the time to do the small black pieces on the sides

Old picture


After about an 3-4 hours time

 

That looks awesome!

Great job =)

 

thanks, that shade of silver matched pretty well too

 

I was planning on cleaning under the hood this weekend and this looks like something I could handle. What color do you guys think would look good with AM?

 

Nice work Dan. I did the same thing-I made my engine cover red.


2011 National AcuraZine Meet-Kansas City-June 12, 2011-Details Here!


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great DYI! will be getting to this soon time! great job guys!!!

 

The original posters car looks as much like ass as anything I've seen lately (just color, not quality), but that silver matching your car isn't near as bad. I prefer nicely painted black, but again, not too bad......

 

^ nice lookin engine bays up

 

I broke my toe friday night and will be outta work for a while so I might just take on this lil diy project and see how it works out wish me luck lol any advice on what color I have a wdp type s and a red aem cai what colors should I do my bay