Valve Covers

What are valve covers? Why buy them?

Valve covers are the pieces that cover the valves in your engine. They are a popular thing to customize because they are very visible in most cars when you open the hood, and you can completely change the look of your engine by simply changing out the valve covers. They are extremely easy to install in most if not all cases, as they are normally sitting right at the top of the engine bay and are unfastened from the engine block with simply hand tools.

Why To Buy?:

If you're installing a valvetrain that's larger than stock, you'll need to pick up a set of tall aftermarket valve covers to keep a lid on things. Keep in mind that you might need to stick with a set of low-profile valve covers to keep clear of alternator and/or air-conditioning brackets on a street vehicle, and be sure to get valve covers with PCV, oil filler, and/or breather holes should you need them. Note that you should always run a PCV valve and breather, but some enthusiasts prefer to run them on the side or rear of the valve covers instead of on the top for a cleaner look.

Did You Know?:

Many car nuts install custom valve covers to simply dress up their engine compartments, and while that's a completely valid and worthwhile reason, there are other benefits to swapping them out. Aluminum valve covers can cost a premium when compared to steel valve covers, but they are thicker and more rigid and therefore typically maintain a tighter seal. Aluminum covers also dissipate heat better and helps reduce valve noise due to their thicker construction. That being said, stamped steel valve covers are usually trouble-free and a very popular choice for hot rodders - after all, most factory valve covers have traditionally been stamped steel.