I just had my valve cover powder coated. The shop that did the work used aluminum oxide to sand blast it. I just picked it up brought it home and realized there is a ton of sand blasting media allover the inside of the valve cover. I blew a ton of it out with an air compressor and a garden hose. I now don't feel comfortable using it because im afraid their is more sand in the baffles of the valve cover. What do I do? Am I over reacting? I'm really upset about it.

 

would not use it as is...
suggest grind the rivets of and remove inside baffle plate.
drill and tap holes and screw it back after cleaning and using a Loctite on screws or maybe another method to fix the screws so they don't come loose.
Not sure if I have read it might be possible to leave the plate out completely ??

 

you get what u pay for. Most good shops will make sure its all clean.

 

Yeah do not use it, there are 2 toasted engines that I have heard of recently from the same thing.

 

Valve covers should not be media blasted. That is pure insanity. Use a paint stripper next time.

 

As said, more than one engine has recently been destroyed from this. I recall one of the threads poster said he meticulously cleaned the inside of cover and was a bit paranoid about media causing any problems, so went over the top trying to clean it. Yet it wasn't enough and engine was destroyed.

Don't use it! Don't try to clean it and use it!

Either remove baffle as stated to clean it, or make it a wall ornament.

 

Too many stories of engine damage from "media" remaining in the valve cover. This may be God's punishment for painted it a different color?

-- Chuck

 

Ow! $200+ lesson.

 

+1 on all the other posts about the media grenading a few engines on here.

You need to call the shop, or better yet go back in-person, and talk to them about this. Not to chew them out, but if it's ignorance, they need to be educated so they'll stop doing this in the future for other customers (and get yourself a refund). Pay it forward.

 

Thanks for the replies. I just ordered a new one. No way am I going to risk running the one that was full of media from sand blasting.