Can you clear coat Chrome?

[Brian O Conner]

Sounds dumb as can be but I painted my valve cover chrome then decided to use engine temp clear coat and the color lost its chrome and became a gray. I put the clear coat a day after I painted my valve cover. Do you have to let it cure for a week to have that mirror glisten? Do you have to heat treat the valve cover in a oven to get the mirror glisten?

 

[okm12346]

even if you let it cure for a week it will still turn grey.

 

[FIBA M - EC17PSE]

Im not sure on painted chrome but you can clear coat polished chrome! Maserati do the same to there calipers so it should work, maybe try a really good clear coat as the cheap stuff never works well

 

[WES_393]

Its the properties of the chrome paint. Either the engine heat or the clear coat is messing with the paint. My guess would be the heat.

Why not actually polish the metal? No need for clear coat after that.

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[FIBA M - EC17PSE]

Its the properties of the chrome paint. Either the engine heat or the clear coat is messing with the paint. My guess would be the heat.

Why not actually polish the metal? No need for clear coat after that.

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He can use hi temp clear coat, ive got it on my valve cover and its perfect, although my paint is red under it but its not gone a different color and as I said maserati clear coat there calipers and they seem ok so hi temp clear should work well for the op's application

 

[WES_393]

I'm not doubting high temp clear. My valve cover was sprayed purple metallic and then cleared over and has held up great. I'm saying its possible the ghetto spray chrome is affected by the high temp clear which could make it look grey instead of shiny. There are many solvents in paint, and even more in spray can paint, that don't always play nice with each other.

However, if you want a shiny valve cover, why not skip the ghetto chrome paint and actually polish the valve cover? Maintenance free and won't fade or crack over the years.

 

[DSM Jeff]

You're best bet is to polish it. Almost chrome spray paint will not take a clear. Also some silver spray paints will changed with a clear coat. Almost Chrome powder coat, I would not do either, as I have it on my car. If you get fluid on it, it'll change color or stain and you can not fix it. It'll grey over time. My brother had a shaved valve cover that was fully polished. It held up great and he would use some Mothers aluminum polish on it every now and then along with his radiator.

 

[FIBA M - EC17PSE]

I'm not doubting high temp clear. My valve cover was sprayed purple metallic and then cleared over and has held up great. I'm saying its possible the ghetto spray chrome is affected by the high temp clear which could make it look grey instead of shiny. There are many solvents in paint, and even more in spray can paint, that don't always play nice with each other.

However, if you want a shiny valve cover, why not skip the ghetto chrome paint and actually polish the valve cover? Maintenance free and won't fade or crack over the years.

Oh I agree why paint chrome when polishing it is much nicer and better looking, I dont agree with maintenance free it still needs a buff every now and then to maintain it and keep it from contaminating.

 

[okm12346]

You're best bet is to polish it. Almost chrome spray paint will not take a clear. Also some silver spray paints will changed with a clear coat. Almost Chrome powder coat, I would not do either, as I have it on my car. If you get fluid on it, it'll change color or stain and you can not fix it. It'll grey over time. My brother had a shaved valve cover that was fully polished. It held up great and he would use some Mothers aluminum polish on it every now and then along with his radiator.

The chrome powder isnt UV, heat, stain resistant. Thats why it fades over time. Its needs clear powder coat to protect it.