Original intake/valve cover paint color
09-10-2006, 09:31 AM
#1
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Original intake/valve cover paint color
The intake and valve covers on my '87 S4 seem to be an off white. I thought that they were normally painted silver and have seen that in old magazine pictures. Is there a proper original color or are there many varieties?
09-10-2006, 10:28 AM
#4
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by John Veninger
They turn color with age.
Rixter, is that green? They look very nice.
09-10-2006, 10:05 PM
#5
Chronic Tool Dropper
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
They started off silver, but it's an interesting 'silver'. The under-color is somehat yellow, so the finished silver has a hint of gold to it.
Unfortunately, the original paint is not resistant to anything north of water on a soft cloth. Even mild carwash detergents will dull the finish. Simple Green spots it nicely by removing the silver layer. Try soem engine cleaner, and you'll find it a good way to strip off the silver layer completely.
And that's how many intakes have become white, and sometimes yellow. The silver layer is completely gone, exposing the undercolor. Take that away, and you get down to a dark grey or white, depending on who finished the manifolds and for what year they were made.
There are some images around of the engine out of the car, showing the silver intakes. The cutaway illustration in the owner's manual for my S4 clearly shows them with a gold tone to them. Meanwhile, I have pictures from when I bought my 1989 car with 21k on it, with nice silver intakes. No gold tone to them at all.
Unfortunately, the original paint is not resistant to anything north of water on a soft cloth. Even mild carwash detergents will dull the finish. Simple Green spots it nicely by removing the silver layer. Try soem engine cleaner, and you'll find it a good way to strip off the silver layer completely.
And that's how many intakes have become white, and sometimes yellow. The silver layer is completely gone, exposing the undercolor. Take that away, and you get down to a dark grey or white, depending on who finished the manifolds and for what year they were made.
There are some images around of the engine out of the car, showing the silver intakes. The cutaway illustration in the owner's manual for my S4 clearly shows them with a gold tone to them. Meanwhile, I have pictures from when I bought my 1989 car with 21k on it, with nice silver intakes. No gold tone to them at all.
