Inside of the valve cover is painted??

[k9medic]

We pulled one of the valve/rocker covers off to replace the seal and found the inside of the valve cover painted. This is on an IO-470VO.

Seeing this has me stumped. I have never come across paint on the inside of a cover. Then again, this is the first Continental that I have opened up.

In my mind this is a horrible design and it can't possibly be like this from the factory. The paint was bubbling in a couple of places and it appeared that it was just a matter of time before some of the paint came off and entered into the engine itself.

I double checked with 2 different A&P/IA's and both agreed that they have never seen something like this.

Any thoughts?

 

[Checkout_my_Six]

Nope….not common.

 

[Bell206]

Any thoughts?

Sounds like a PoA hangar fairy job.

 

[Checkout_my_Six]

Sounds like a PoA hangar fairy job.

Yup….you could take them all off…bead blast them. Then primer and repaint the outsides. There is no need for internal paint.

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

I'm concerned about what you'll find when you remove all the paint, from all six.

 

[Albany Tom]

I'm thinking that if none of the paint came off, you caught that part in time. But next I'd be wondering who rebuilt the engine, and what else goofy they did. Maybe just that one thing. Or maybe a previous owner did it on their own?

 

[Magman]

Owner had Mattituck o/h engine which included test cell run.

Upon delivery;it was noted that one of the Rocker Covers was damaged in shipping.

Removal showed rust forming on the inside.

Since the covers were bead blasted I did not find it really unusual.

Rocker Covers often have a lot of moisture within.

Fresh blasted steel surfaces generally begin to show signs of rust within hours

if not protected. Fuselages will do the same just from humidity.

Protection of some sort Is needed but paint IN a cover would not be my choice.

Oiling the inside of the cover may protect until engine oil takes over the task.

 

[FORANE]

If it's for an experimental, there's a solution:
http://www.sdsefi.com/sdsaero.htm

 

[Lon Stratton]

If it's for an experimental, there's a solution:
http://www.sdsefi.com/sdsaero.htm

Looking through those parts makes me wish mine was experimental......

 

[k9medic]

No concern for rust as these are aluminum. Unfortunately this is not on an experimental aircraft.

 

[Wagondriver]

most continentals I have seen have aluminum rocker covers
I would switch to aluminum, if not, I'd have the rocker covers cad plated.