I want to polish my valve cover, but it may take me a few days. So I figured I would just work on it a little bit at a time.

But in the mean time I need to drive my car. I was going to just keep adding oil to my car and just clean the engine bay once the cover was back on. How much oil could it loose. As long as I don't hit the brakes fast it shouldn't spill out of the top of the motor, right?
I have an oil temp gauge so I think I should be able to keep an eye on it.

Has anyone ever done this?

Any recommendations for polishing valve covers?

Thanks tons.

WTF No you can't run w/out a valve cover! You'll shoot all the oil out of the head so quick you won't make it down the road! Just believe me, and don't drive the car, or start it w/out a valve cover on. End of story, Period.

project_tsi said:

WTF No you can't run w/out a valve cover! You'll shoot all the oil out of the head so quick you won't make it down the road! Just believe me, and don't drive the car, or start it w/out a valve cover on. End of story, Period.

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Even if I keep pouring oil in the motor and stuff?

NO NO NO NO NO! Don't do it!

I'm sorry to say this, but w/ you saying something like this, it makes me think you shouldn't even be driving a DSM. Do you even do your own oil changes? Seriously, think before you say something stupid.

Bad bad idea. Besides the oil thing, which would be a ridiculous mess, what if some chunk of something falls in there and wedges a cam or something? You want to risk all of your valves and pistons to take your time polishing your cover? Pull an all nighter or wait for the weekend.

project_tsi said:

NO NO NO NO NO! Don't do it!

I'm sorry to say this, but w/ you saying something like this, it makes me think you shouldn't even be driving a DSM. Do you even do your own oil changes? Seriously, think before you say something stupid.

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Yeah, I actually built the motor and put new oil in it. But that was the only time i've changed my own oil. I always just add extra.

Why don't you think I should own one? It's a great car to own.

weith1111 said:

Bad bad idea. Besides the oil thing, which would be a ridiculous mess, what if some chunk of something falls in there and wedges a cam or something? You want to risk all of your valves and pistons to take your time polishing your cover? Pull an all nighter or wait for the weekend.

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What if I put a garbage bag over the motor? That would solve a lot. Keep oil in and keep chunks of falling things (did this happen to you?) out.

This has to be a joke...

Please, for the sake of mankind, get rid of that car and start walking! How many miles are on your engine? Youv'e never actually changed the oil, or filter? GOD!

And no, putting a garbage bad over the engine will not solve anything. It'l probably end up getting sucked into the cams or cam gears and kill your engine, Or wait. On second though, Yeah, Go ahead, put a big 55 gallon garbage bag over your engine and valves and shit and go for a run!

95eclipseGST008 said:

This has to be a joke...

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God I hope so, I'm about ready to have a mental breakdown this guy is messing w/ us so bad.

Just buy a spare VC for like $50 bones, and have it stripped and then polish the damn thing while you still drive your car.
I've read some of your other shit.... but this tops them all.

project_tsi said:

Please, for the sake of mankind, get rid of that car and start walking! How many miles are on your engine? Youv'e never actually changed the oil, or filter? GOD!

And no, putting a garbage bad over the engine will not solve anything. It'l probably end up getting sucked into the cams or cam gears and kill your engine, Or wait. On second though, Yeah, Go ahead, put a big 55 gallon garbage bag over your engine and valves and shit and go for a run!

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When I rebuilt the engine I ran an oil filter relocator kit but instead of relocating the filter I routed it to the oil pan. Stuff shouldn't get in there anyways. It's an engine. Oil filters where proved wrong on mythbusters.

Strm Trpr said:

Just buy a spare VC for like $50 bones, and have it stripped and then polish the damn thing while you still drive your car.
I've read some of your other shit.... but this tops them all.

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Look Donald Trump. $50 is $50. I don't have that kind of cash floating around in my cup holder.

AW4G63 said:

When I rebuilt the engine I ran an oil filter relocator kit but instead of relocating the filter I routed it to the oil pan. Stuff shouldn't get in there anyways. It's an engine. Oil filters where proved wrong on mythbusters.

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So you Dont have any Oil Filter??? What the hell dude? Ever think about metal shavings and shit like that from normal engine wear? Thats what oil filters protect against, and they DO WORK! And you gotta change the oil because of it breaking down over time, you can't just keep adding it when you burn it off or blow seals, DAMN!

I hope this is just your idea of a sick joke, I really do.

project_tsi said:

So you Dont have any Oil Filter??? What the hell dude? Ever think about metal shavings and shit like that from normal engine wear? Thats what oil filters protect against, and they DO WORK! And you gotta change the oil because of it breaking down over time, you can't just keep adding it when you burn it off or blow seals, DAMN!

I hope this is just your idea of a sick joke, I really do.

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If you have metal shavings then there is something wrong. An engine bearing is a very soft metal, your crank and rod surface should not be able to "shave" or "scrape" off a shaving. If in proper spec it should flow smooth over those little zinc copper bearings.

Besides, a shaving will travel very far before getting into the oil pan, sucked up into the pick up, through the oil pump and into the filter.

It's done it's damage by then and besides, what caused that damage if you had a filter?

I'm going to buy an industrail tarp and use that as a cover for the time being. I will just add oil after school every day. I have a bucket of used oil too behind the garage.

On one hand, you're a complete idiot. And on the other, a bit of humor cuts through the daily boredom, much appreciated. Especially when people get pissed off like they HAVE to convince you to not do it. You had me for a minute.

I would suggest making a cover out of cereal boxes, waxy (sp?) side in so the oil falls back down. Duct tape that shit on.

"Please God, run my head over with a fleet of DSM's, so that I can think like the thread starter"

You cannot drive your car without a valve cover..... PERIOD!

But if you honestly plan to replace your valve cover with a tarp, then please, PLEASE sell it to someone that will take care of it.

Otherwise, you might as well replace your oil pan with empty ceral boxes while you're at it. Maybe a few precisionly crafted potatoes for pistons and you could make some temporary rods out of pop scicle sticks and glue.

Let us know how many miles you get before it blows up.

I can't wait to read the next thread.

My motor ate my tarp. Makes a weird ticking noise now.

Seriously a tarp, do you not comprehend the fact that the cams are in there flailing around at over 2000rpm at the least while driving it. What would happen if lets say the tarp gets hot and melts from the extreme heat under the engine bay and sags into the camshafts? I say go for it, but only if you're going to film the utter destruction and chaos that are about to ensue. At least take some pictures of the aftermath for god's sake.

OOH yeah, and make the crankshaft out of a nice big wheel of cheese!

mavisky said:

I can't wait to read the next thread.

My motor ate my tarp. Makes a weird ticking noise now.

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hahaha, I think I just pissed my pants!!!!

AW4G63, just ignore everyone and run without a VC. It will be fine. You have got to be the stupidist person I have ever seen. Wtf would give you the idea to run without a VC? You dont have $50 to buy a spare VC, but your going to need alot more then that when you whole motor takes a lovely crap. Just go do yourself and all of us here a favor and go read a freakin book! The VC is there for a reason. Just get rid of the car to someone who knows what they are doing and go buy a honda!

Your making me laugh! IDIOTS!

99gst_racer said:

"Please God, run my head over with a fleet of DSM's, so that I can think like the thread starter"

You cannot drive your car without a valve cover..... PERIOD!

But if you honestly plan to replace your valve cover with a tarp, then please, PLEASE sell it to someone that will take care of it.

Otherwise, you might as well replace your oil pan with empty ceral boxes while you're at it. Maybe a few precisionly crafted potatoes for pistons and you could make some temporary rods out of pop scicle sticks and glue.

Let us know how many miles you get before it blows up.

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Why would I sell the car? I want to polish the valve cover. Not get a new car.


As for the potatos and ceral boxes, stop being silly.

You can also use a carrot for your balance shaft, and some extra long hot dogs for cams.

mavisky said:

I can't wait to read the next thread.

My motor ate my tarp. Makes a weird ticking noise now.

Seriously a tarp, do you not comprehend the fact that the cams are in there flailing around at over 2000rpm at the least while driving it. What would happen if lets say the tarp gets hot and melts from the extreme heat under the engine bay and sags into the camshafts? I say go for it, but only if you're going to film the utter destruction and chaos that are about to ensue. At least take some pictures of the aftermath for god's sake.

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I did say "Industiral strength tarp. Not some flimsy junk. My brother paints and has a few.

Do whatever you want dude, obviously your not going to listen to everyone who has tried to help you and let you know to steer clear of your dumbass ideas, but NO, you don't listen. So what the hell, go ahead do whatever you want to your car, just don't come bitching to me when you #### it up.