To powder coat or not to powder coat

[Red Rider]

I'm ready to paint or powder coat the valve cover.

The pro's:
More durable
More heat resistant
Less chipping

The con's
Harder to do 2 colors
Risk of blasting media getting into baffles
Can't do it myself

If you have powder coated a valve cover,
Did you remove the baffle?
How did you re-attach it?
If you didn't remove the baffle, did you find abrasive?
Any problems months or years later?


One option is soda blasting and then powder coating as the soda can wash out.
HOWEVER
One powder coater I talked to today said don't do this, the residual oil will crystalize in the heat and be just as big a problem as media grit.

Anyone with significant experience on this?

Thanks

 

[USMCGSX]

I've had a couple covers soda blasted, cleaned, and coated with no negative effects noticed over a decade of use. I've also had a couple with the baffles removed, blasted, coated, and had new ones welded in without a problem as well.
It's the ones where they try to retain the baffles with screws or try to install 10AN fittings without removing the baffles that I would avoid.
If you aren't putting in AN fittings and just want to coat your VC, I don't see a problem with leaving the baffles in, soda blasting, and coating. Just make sure it gets a good cleaning/wash before coating.

 

[jdxnc]

The only paint that will last is proper automotive paint with proper prep. Rattle can stuff will eventually get tarnished or flake, mainly due to the fact that cast aluminum is very difficult to prep properly.

How long do you want it to last?

I powder coated my cover about 5 years ago, color matched to my car, it's had oil, coolant etc spilled all over, still looks like new.

 

[XC92]

FWIW I sprayed Duplicolor ceramic engine paint on my aluminum trans case after priming with Rustoleum high heat primer and it dried very fast and resulted in a fairly tough coating. It's heat rated up to 500F, so if you'd rather DIY, this is one option, lots cheaper. Not sure how well it holds up over time and heat.